Blessing of the Animals services scheduled at locations across Maine

In celebration of the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, known for his love of all of God's creatures, twenty-five Church communities around Maine 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 animals that bring joy to so many. Here are the Blessing of the Animals ceremonies listed by date and location:

September 30, 2013

Falmouth
Holy Martyrs of North America Church
266 Foreside Road at 10:30 a.m.

Gray
St. Gregory the Great Church
24 North Raymond Road at 9:30 a.m.

October 1, 2023

Bangor
St. Mary Church
768 Ohio Street at 1 p.m.

Bridgton
St. Joseph Church
225 South High Street at 2 p.m.

Dover-Foxcroft
St. Thomas Aquinas Church
43 High Street at 1 p.m.

Fort Kent
St. Louis Church
26 East Main Street at 2 p.m.
(Donations of cat or dog food for the animal shelter are requested.)

Lewiston
Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul
122 Ash Street at 4 p.m.

Machias
Holy Name of Jesus Church
8 Free Street at 4 p.m.

Rumford
St. Athanasius & St. John Church
126 Maine Avenue at 2 p.m.

Winslow
St. John the Baptist Church (Grotto)
26 Monument Street at 1 p.m.

October 4, 2023 (Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi)

Augusta
St. Augustine Church
75 Northern Avenue at 4 p.m.

Belfast
St. Margaret Episcopal Church 
95 Court Street at 4 p.m. (Joint service with Episcopal community)

Biddeford
St. James School
25 Graham Street at 7:45 a.m.

Gardiner
St. Joseph Church
110 School Street at 5 p.m.

Kennebunk
St. Anthony Franciscan Monastery
28 Beach Avenue at 11 a.m.

October 7, 2023

Cape Elizabeth
St. Bartholomew Church
8 Two Lights Road at 10 a.m.

East Millinocket
St. Peter Church
58 Cedar Street at 10 a.m.

Greenville
Holy Family Church
145 Pritham Avenue at noon

Houlton
St. Mary of the Visitation Church
110 Military Steet at 1 p.m.

Norway
St. Catherine of Sienna Church
32 Paris Street, at 10 a.m.

Portland
St. Louis Church
279 Danforth Street, at 10 a.m.

St. Pius X Church
492 Ocean Avenue at 10 a.m.

October 8, 2023

Bath
St. Mary Church
144 Lincoln Street at noon

Brunswick
St. Charles Borromeo Church
132 McKeen Street at Noon

Jackman
St. Faustina Church
370 Main Street at Noon

Peaks Island
St. Christopher Church
15 Central Avenue at 3 p.m.

Portland
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
307 Congress Street at 3 p.m.