Families bring their pets to the Blessing of Animals
Students from St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School hold up stuffed animals and a photo of their pet as Fr. Michael Nguyen blesses them during the Blessing of the Animals at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School in Yorba Linda on Wednesday, October 4, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Students from St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School hold up stuffed animals and a even a photo of their pet to have Fr. Michael Nguyen bless them during the Blessing of the Animals at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School in Yorba Linda on Wednesday, October 4, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Holly Kalcevich holds her dog Paisley as they wait to get her blessed during the Blessing of the Animals at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School in Yorba Linda on Wednesday, October 4, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Camilla Healy, left, has her miniature horse named Tuck blessed by Fr. Michael Nguyen during the Blessing of the Animals at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School in Yorba Linda on Wednesday, October 4, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Students from St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School hold their stuffed animals as they wait to have them blessed during the Blessing of the Animals at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School in Yorba Linda on Wednesday, October 4, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Amanda Pena, 13, left, holds her dog April as it gets blessed during the Blessing of the Animals at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School in Yorba Linda on Wednesday, October 4, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Students, parents and others wait with their pets under a large canopy to have them blessed during the Blessing of the Animals at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School in Yorba Linda on Wednesday, October 4, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Fr. Michael Nguyen, center, blesses pets during the Blessing of the Animals at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School in Yorba Linda on Wednesday, October 4, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School students, Zoee King, 10, left and Reid Currie, 11, check out Erica John’s golden retriever Leo during the Blessing of the Animals at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School in Yorba Linda on Wednesday, October 4, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A large gathering of students, teachers and parents showed up with their beloved pets to St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School’s annual Blessing of the Animals event in Yorba Linda on Wednesday.
For Catholics, Oct. 4 is a day to celebrate the patron saint of animals and ecology, Saint Francis of Assisi. It’s tradition to celebrate the saint’s love for animals of all shapes and sizes by bringing their pets for a special blessing.
For over 10 years, the Catholic school has welcomed all animals — from dogs and cats to chameleons and fish and even stuffed animals — for this event.
It is a fun celebration for people of all ages to rejoice in their love for their animal companions. Organizers said they expected about 800 people, as well as their pets, to attend the festivities.
