Blessing of the Animals 2023
In celebration of the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, known for his love of all of God's creatures, several churches will hold Blessing of the Animals prayer services.
Animal lovers are invited to bring their pets to have them blessed and gently sprinkled with holy water. The services are a way of thanking God for the pets that bring joy to so many.
Here are the Blessing of the Animals ceremonies listed by date and location:
September 30, 2013
Holy Martyrs of North America Church, Falmouth
The Parish of the Holy Eucharist will hold the blessing of the animals on September 30 at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Martyrs Church, 266 Foreside Road in Falmouth.
St. Gregory Church, Gray
The Parish of the Holy Eucharist will hold the blessing of the animals on September 30 at 9:30 a.m. outside St. Gregory Church, 24 North Raymond Road in Gray.
October 1, 2023
Holy Name of Jesus Church, Machias
St. Peter the Fisherman Parish will hold its first annual Blessing of the Animals prayer service on the front lawn of Holy Name of Jesus Church, 8 Free Street in Machias, at 4 p.m.
St. Athanasius & St. John Church, Rumford
The Parish of the Holy Savior will hold a Blessing of the Animals prayer service in the Franklin Street parking lot of St. Athanasius & St. John Church, 126 Maine Avenue in Rumford, from 2 to 2:30 p.m.
St. John the Baptist Church, Winslow
Corpus Christi Parish will hold the Blessing of the Animals on Sunday, October 1, at 1 p.m. in the St. John the Baptist Grotto at St. John the Baptist Church, 26 Monument Street in Winslow.
St. Joseph Church, Bridgton
St. Joseph Parish will hold the Blessing of the Animals on Sunday, October 1, at 2 p.m. at St. Joseph Church, 225 South High Street in Bridgton.
St. Louis Church, Fort Kent
St. John Vianney Parish will hold the Blessing of the Animals on Sunday, October 1, at 2 p.m., outside the rectory garage next to St. Louis Church, 26 East Main Street, Fort Kent. Folks are invited to bring pets of any kind as well as farm animals for a blessing. Bring your camera and get a "family" photo taken, and if possible, bring a donation of cat or dog food for the local animal shelter or food pantry.
St. Mary Church, Bangor
St. Paul the Apostle Parish will hold the Blessing of the Animals on Sunday, October 1, at 1 p.m. at St. Mary Church, 768 Ohio Street in Bangor.
St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Dover-Foxcroft
Our Lady of the Snows Parish will hold a Blessing of the Animals service on Sunday, October 1, at 1 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 43 High Street in Dover-Foxcroft.
October 4, 2023
Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul, Lewiston
A Blessing of the Animals Service will be held outside the Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul, 122 Ash Street, at 4 p.m.
St. Anthony Franciscan Monastery, Kennebunk
As part of two days of celebration of the Transitus of St. Francis of Assisi and the Feast of St. Francis, the St. Anthony Franciscan Monastery in Kennebunk will hold the Blessing of the Animals on Wednesday, October 4, at 11 a.m. outside the monastery chapel entrance. The monastery is located at 28 Beach Avenue in Kennebunk.
St. Augustine Church, Augusta
The Blessing of the Animals will be held at 4 pm. outside St. Augustine Church, 75 Northern Avenue in Augusta.
St. Brendan the Navigator Parish, Camden
Father Divine Fossoh, parochial vicar of St. Brendan the Navigator Parish, will join in a Blessing of the Animals prayer service that will be held Wednesday, October 4, at 4 p.m. at St. Margaret Episcopal Church, 95 Court Street in Belfast (a block away from St. Francis of Assisi Church).
St James School, Biddeford
Students will gather in the schoolyard for morning prayer at 7:45 a.m. during which there will be a Blessing of the Animals service. St. James School is located at 25 Graham Street.
St. Joseph Church, Gardiner
The Blessing of the Animals will be held outside St. Joseph Church, 110 School Street in Gardiner, at 5 p.m.
October 7, 2023
Holy Family Church, Greenville
The Blessing of the Animals will be held outside Holy Family Church, 145 Pritham Avenue in Greenville, at noon.
St. Bartholomew Church, Cape Elizabeth
St. John Paul II Parish will hold the Blessing of the Animals at St. Bartholomew Church, 8 Two Lights Road in Cape Elizabeth, on October 7 at 10 a.m.
St. Catherine of Sienna Church, Norway
St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish will hold the Blessing of the Animals at St. Catherine of Sienna Church, 32 Paris Street in Norway, at 10 a.m.
St. Louis Church, Portland
A Blessing of Animals prayer service will be held at 10 a.m. at St. Louis Church, 279 Danforth Street in Portland.
St. Mary of the Visitation Church, Houlton
The Heart of St. Francis Fraternity will sponsor the Blessing of the Animals on Saturday, October 7, at 1 p.m. outside St. Mary of the Visitation Church, 110 Military Street in Houlton.
St. Peter Church, East Millinocket
Christ the Divine Mercy Parish will hold the blessing of the animals at St. Peter Church, 58 Cedar Street in East Millinocket, on October 7 at 10 a.m.
St. Pius X Church, Portland
The Blessings of the Animals will be held October 7 at 10 a.m. at St. Pius X Church, 492 Ocean Avenue in Portland.
October 8, 2023
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Portland
A Blessing of Animals prayer service will be held at 3 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street in Portland.
St. Charles Borromeo Church, Brunswick
The Blessing of the Animals will be held at noon outside St. Charles Borromeo Church, 132 McKeen Street in Brunswick.
St. Christopher Church, Peaks Island
The Blessing of the Animals will be held outside the church on 15 Central Avenue at 3 p.m.
St. Faustina Church, Jackman
The Blessing of the Animals will be outside St. Faustina Church, 370 Main Street in Jackman, at noon.
St. Mary Church, Bath
The Blessing of the Animals will be held at noon outside St. Mary Church, 144 Lincoln Street in Bath.
