Stories
Wagging Tails Fill Malate Church as Priests Bless Pets for St Francis Feast
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News18•04-10-2026, 15:15
Wagging Tails Fill Malate Church as Priests Bless Pets for St Francis Feast
- •Malate Church in Manila hosts an annual pet blessing on October 4, the feast day of St Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and ecology.
- •Parishioners bring their beloved pets, mostly dogs and cats, but also a pet snail, to receive blessings with holy water from priests.
- •Father Leonito Distor, parish priest of Malate Church, emphasizes the event's connection to St Francis's advocacy for animals and plants.
- •Pet owners express gratitude for their companions' unconditional love and companionship, honoring St Francis's call to care for all creation.
- •The church also provided free pet vaccinations for dogs and cats in the parking lot as part of the event.
Key Questions Answered
Catholics mark the feast day of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and ecology, to honor his humility, compassion, and deep love for all living things. Many parishes hold community animal blessings as a way to respect and care for all of God's creation.
Parishioners brought a variety of pets to Malate Church in Manila for the annual blessing, which were mostly dogs and cats, and even included a pet snail.
Alongside the pet blessings, the church organized free pet vaccinations for dogs and cats in the church parking lot.
