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'Blessing of Animals' honors St. Francis of Assisi

| 04 Oct 2016 | 08:04
    Photos by Terry Gavan St. Stephen's pastor, the Rev. Jack Arlotta, began the ceremony with a prayer.
    Photos by Terry Gavan St. Stephen's pastor, the Rev. Jack Arlotta, began the ceremony with a prayer.
    New for this year, the Rev. Jack Arlotta also brought treats for the animals and handing them to the owners, cautioning children that they were meant to be eaten only by their pets.
    New for this year, the Rev. Jack Arlotta also brought treats for the animals and handing them to the owners, cautioning children that they were meant to be eaten only by their pets.
    St. Stephen's pastor, the Rev. Jack Arlotta, pictured here with Vivienne Pitingaro, 3, and her brother Antonino, 5, with their Boxer "Meatball," blessed each animal individually.
    St. Stephen's pastor, the Rev. Jack Arlotta, pictured here with Vivienne Pitingaro, 3, and her brother Antonino, 5, with their Boxer "Meatball," blessed each animal individually.
    Grace Margiewicz, 10, with her pet chicken.
    Grace Margiewicz, 10, with her pet chicken.

WARWICK — On Saturday, Oct. 1, a variety of pets including dogs, a cat, a chicken and what have you along with their owners braved a cold light rain for the annual "Blessing of Animals," outside Warwick's Church of St. Stephen, the First Martyr.
The ceremony is held each year in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, the 12th century patron saint of animals and the environment. A host of stories that surround the life of St. Francis deal with his love for animals.
The Feast Day of St. Francis is Oct. 4 and many Christian churches throughout the Country, both Catholic and Protestant, conduct animal blessings on or about that day each year.
St. Stephen's pastor, the Rev. Jack Arlotta, began the ceremony with a prayer and then blessed each animal individually.
New for this year, he also brought treats for the animals and handing them to the owners, cautioning children that they were meant to be eaten only by their pets.
It is not uncommon, especially in good weather, for children and adults to bring all kinds of pets, large and small. And in the past that has included horses, hamsters, fish and alpacas in addition to dogs and cats.
Arlotta often mentions that a tarantella and a can of worms were among the most unusual pets brought to him in previous years.
- Roger Gavan