St. Peter the Fisherman Parish will hold its annual Blessing of Pets on Friday, October 4, the Feast Day of Saint Francis of Assisi.

In commemoration of the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish will hold a Blessing of the Animals prayer service at St. Catherine of Sienna Church in Norway on Saturday, October 12, at 10 a.m.

In celebration of the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, St. Joseph Parish in Bridgton will hold the Blessing of the Animals outside St. Joseph Church on Saturday, October 5, at 10 a.m.

All are invited to join Bishop James Ruggieri as he celebrates the first Mass at a newly dedicated altar of the Prince of Peace at the Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul in Lewiston.

In celebration of the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, Prince of Peace Parish will hold Blessing of the Animals Services at 10 a.m. in the field outside Holy Family Church in Lewiston and on the outside lawn of Holy Trinity Church in Lisbon Falls.

Bishop James Ruggieri will celebrate Mass on the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland.

On December 25, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord. Christmas is one of the most important days of the Church year, second only to Easter itself. During the Christmas season, we celebrate the birth of Christ. It is the feast of the Incarnation, the feast of God becoming flesh. The Christmas season is a time to reflect on the gift of salvation that is born with him, including the fact that Christ was born to die for us.