The Archdiocese of Baltimore announced today that several parishes will mark the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals, by blessing animals the weekend of October 2-4. St. Francis of Assisi founded the Franciscan order in 1209 and is often depicted in liturgical art as giving sermons to animals or birds.
The following are some of the parishes planning a blessing of animals in the Archdiocese of Baltimore:
Baltimore City
St. Ambrose, 4502 Park Heights Ave. – Oct. 4, 9 a.m.
St. Casimir, Kenwood Ave. and O’Donnell St. – Oct. 2, 1 p.m.
St. Francis, 3615 Harford Road – Oct. 2, 10 a.m.
St. Brigid, 911 S. Ellwood Ave. – Oct. 3, 1 p.m.
Baltimore County
Church of the Ascension, Potomac & Poplar, Halethorpe – Oct. 2, 2 p.m.
St. Clare, 714 Myrth, Essex – Oct. 2, 5:30 p.m.
Our Lady of Grace, 18310 Middletown Rd., Parkton – Oct. 3, 2 p.m.
Frederick County
St. Timothy, 8651 Biggs Ford Rd., Walkersville – Oct. 2, 10 a.m.
Mother Seton School, 100 Creamery Rd., Emmitsburg – Oct. 4, 1:30 p.m.
Harford County
St. Ignatius, 533 E. Jarrettsville Rd., Hickory – Oct. 2, 10 a.m.
Howard County
St. Paul, 3755 St. Paul St., Ellicott City – Oct. 4, 5 p.m.
Washington County
St. Joseph, Virginia Ave. & Halfway Blvd, Hagerstown – Oct. 3, 10:15 a.m.