Father Fowler says a prayer for the pets as students, parents and teachers gather on the playground with their pets.

Father Fowler says a prayer for the pets as students, parents and teachers gather on the playground with their pets.

Sawyer Damon and his frogs

Father Fowler says a prayer for the pets as students, parents and teachers gather on the playground with their pets.

Colleen Talty and her dog

Father Fowler says a prayer for the pets as students, parents and teachers gather on the playground with their pets.

Gideon Mann with his dog and a stuffed animal friend and Johnathan Kellen with his pet’s picture.

Father Fowler says a prayer for the pets as students, parents and teachers gather on the playground with their pets.

Mallory Robin with her tortoise

Father Fowler says a prayer for the pets as students, parents and teachers gather on the playground with their pets.

Father Fowler says a prayer for the pets as students, parents and teachers gather on the playground with their pets.

Sawyer Damon and his frogs

Sawyer Damon and his frogs

Sawyer Damon and his frogs

Colleen Talty and her dog

Sawyer Damon and his frogs

Gideon Mann with his dog and a stuffed animal friend and Johnathan Kellen with his pet’s picture.

Sawyer Damon and his frogs

Mallory Robin with her tortoise

Sawyer Damon and his frogs

Father Fowler says a prayer for the pets as students, parents and teachers gather on the playground with their pets.

Colleen Talty and her dog

Sawyer Damon and his frogs

Colleen Talty and her dog

Colleen Talty and her dog

Colleen Talty and her dog

Gideon Mann with his dog and a stuffed animal friend and Johnathan Kellen with his pet’s picture.

Colleen Talty and her dog

Mallory Robin with her tortoise

Colleen Talty and her dog

Father Fowler says a prayer for the pets as students, parents and teachers gather on the playground with their pets.

Gideon Mann with his dog and a stuffed animal friend and Johnathan Kellen with his pet’s picture.

Sawyer Damon and his frogs

Gideon Mann with his dog and a stuffed animal friend and Johnathan Kellen with his pet’s picture.

Colleen Talty and her dog

Gideon Mann with his dog and a stuffed animal friend and Johnathan Kellen with his pet’s picture.

Gideon Mann with his dog and a stuffed animal friend and Johnathan Kellen with his pet’s picture.

Gideon Mann with his dog and a stuffed animal friend and Johnathan Kellen with his pet’s picture.

Mallory Robin with her tortoise

Gideon Mann with his dog and a stuffed animal friend and Johnathan Kellen with his pet’s picture.

Father Fowler says a prayer for the pets as students, parents and teachers gather on the playground with their pets.

Mallory Robin with her tortoise

Sawyer Damon and his frogs

Mallory Robin with her tortoise

Colleen Talty and her dog

Mallory Robin with her tortoise

Gideon Mann with his dog and a stuffed animal friend and Johnathan Kellen with his pet’s picture.

Mallory Robin with her tortoise

Mallory Robin with her tortoise

Mallory Robin with her tortoise

Pet Blessing at St. Agnes School

Catholic Courier | 10.12.2017

Section: Southern Tier

On Wednesday October 4^th the playground at St. Agnes School became a menagerie of animals reminiscent of Noah’s Ark as the school celebrated Pet Blessing Day. Students in Grades PreSchool through Grade 6 brought in all sorts of ‘pets’, from stuffed animals and pictures of their pets to the real thing: there were the traditional dogs and cats, as well as a tortoise, guinea pigs, gerbils, rabbits, parakeets, frogs and even a bearded dragon.

Pet Blessing Day in celebration of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi has been a tradition at the school for many years. In the past, the celebration has included visits by cows, horses, goldfish, snails, butterflies, chickens and goats as well as the standard cats and dogs. It really is a chance to enjoy and recognize all of God’s creatures in honor of St. Francis of Assisi who is the patron saint of animals. The students bring in their pets for a visit and a blessing, this year bestowed by Father Michael Fowler, Parochial Administrator for St. Agnes, St. Rose and St. Paul of the Cross Parish. Father Fowler spent a few minutes talking about St. Francis with the children before bestowing a blessing and mingling through the crowd sprinkling the animals with holy water.

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