The premises of St. Sebastian’s Church in Madhavaram will turn into a mini-sanctuary on October 5. At 11 a.m. there will be a special prayer followed by blessing of pets, a tradition followed by this catholic church for some years now to celebrate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi (on October 4 every year), the patron saint of ecology.
As in previous years, pets including cats, dogs, parrots and love birds are expected to line up for the blessing. “Last year, we had close to 50 pets assembled outside the church for the blessing,” says Fr. Micheal Anand, parish priest. He says a majority of those coming for the special blessing are from the parish but they do not say no to outsiders.
The “selfie booth” created for this occasion is the highlight where visitors can take pictures of themselves with their animals with the image of the patron saint in the backdrop.
The church (since 1953) comes under the Order of Friars Minor, which was founded by St. Francis of Assisi, a saint from the 13th century known for his love for animals as much for people. Most churches under this congregation celebrate the feast, opening it for pets as a reminder of the need to live sustainably and in harmony with nature. For pet parents, it is an occasion to seek a blessing for the animals that serve as their companions.
