Sunday, October 3, 2010 2:30 PM
Blessing of the Animals
Washington National Cathedral’s 2010 Blessing of the Animals will officially welcome Carmina, the new Cathedral cat adopted by the Cathedral Choral Society from the Washington Humane Society (WHS). The event marks the seven hundred thirty-fourth anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and the environment, whose feast day the Cathedral celebrates with its Blessing of the Animals service on Sunday, October 3, at 2:30 pm on Cathedral’s west steps. All pets and their caretakers are invited to attend.
Lois Wye, board member of the Washington Animal Rescue League (WARL) will participate in the brief service led by the Rev. Gwendolyn W. Tobias, along with Christine Gutleben of the Humane Society of the United States. Following the service, attendees may present their companion animals for individual blessings by Cathedral clergy.
Representatives from both WHS and WARL will bring special four-legged guests seeking adoptive homes, and WARL will be accepting pet food donations to its Rescuers’ Food Bank, which collects donated food, toys, and equipment for cats and dogs and distributes them to income-disadvantaged guardians free of charge.