Washington, DC, September 23, 2009
A Day of Celebrating the World and All its Inhabitants
Back to Press Releases »WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sunday, October 4, is the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment. In celebration, Washington National Cathedral is offering several free public events.
10:10–11 am — The Sunday Forum: The World is Blue: Why Saving Oceans Will Also Save Us. Species driven to the verge of extinction, coral reefs bleaching and dying out, huge “dead zones” of marine life. Recent decades have had a greater—and more dangerous—impact on our oceans than all the rest of history combined. Renowned oceanic explorer and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Sylvia Earle suggests that the next 10 years will be pivotal in saving, or losing, our oceans. Join Dean Sam Lloyd and environmentalist Earle as they look at the role oceans play in the survival of our planet and our spiritual relationship to creation.
11:15 am–12:15 pm — Sunday Service celebrating the world and its inhabitants.
12:45–1:30 pm — Panel Discussion: Fragile: The State of Our Oceans, Waterways and Marine Life. With Kitty Block, vice president of International Humane Society and Sylvia Earle, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence.
1:30 pm — Adoptable Animals from Washington Animal Rescue League (WARL) and Washington Humane Society (WHS) arrive for Annual Blessing.
2:30 pm — Annual Blessing of the Animals. Brief prayer service and individual blessings begin on Walker Court, located in front of the Wisconsin Avenue-side entrance.
The public and their companion animals are welcome.
For more information on Washington National Cathedral please link to www.nationalcathedral.org.
SOURCE: Washington National Cathedral