It’s blessing of the animals day at Trinity Church in Menlo Park

About a dozen local pets came to be blessed at Trinity Church in Menlo Park this morning, but as the Rev. Matthew Dutton Gillett had said in advance: “Stuffed animals are welcome too.”

That drew baby Olivia, her dad and a stuffed rabbit, who was promptly blessed by Aaron Klinefelter, the associate for children and family ministries.

The little white dog pictured below seems to be seeking reassurance from its owner, or maybe just striking a solemn pose.

Many Christian churches in the United States celebrate the Feast of St Francis of Assisi on October 4 each year, or a Sunday close to that date. The feast commemorates the life of St Francis, who was born in the 12th century and is the Roman Catholic Church’s patron saint of animals and the environment. Hence, it’s a popular day for pets to be “blessed”.

Photos by Frances Freyberg (c) 2018