St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals and the environment. His Feast Day is October 4. Because Francis expressed his devotion to God through his love for all of God’s creation, the custom of offering blessings of animals around or on his Feast Day grew up.
Beginning on Thursday, October 3, clergy in the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth will be offering blessings of animals in a variety of settings including church lawns and porches, park pavilions, and parking lots.
On Saturday at the Pride Festival in downtown Fort Worth, clergy from St. Alban’s, Theatre Arlington; St. Stephen’s, Hurst; St. Martin’s, Keller; and St. Luke’s in the Meadow, Fort Worth, will be offering pet blessings at a booth at the festival. Members of their congregations will have joined them in marching in the Pride Parade earlier that morning.
Also on Saturday, in Keller, Martin-in-the-Fields will be offering blessings for pets and for stuffed animals. For shyer animals they will offer drive-thru blessings in the parking lot.
And in Granbury on Saturday, the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd will be having their Blessing of the Animals at the Hilton Garden Inn on Lake Granbury, where they will join a convention of 60 rescued Cavalier King Spaniels. There is more detailed information below on all of these events.
Times and places for blessings
Thursday, October 3
Stephenville
6 pm – St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 595 N. McIlhaney, Stephenville, will be offer Blessing of the Animals on the parish lawn. Treats for animals will be provided.
https://www.stlukesstephenville.org/
Phone – 254-968-6949
Map
Friday, October 4
Hurst
6 pm – St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 463 West Harwood Road, Hurst, TX 76054, will bless household pets in front of the church in the Gazebo at the Village Plaza shopping center. Pet food offerings are welcome for the 4Saints Episcopal Food Pantry.
http://www.ststephensepiscopal-hurst.org/
Phone: 915-479-4669
Map
Saturday, October 5
Fort Worth
9 am – All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 5001 Crestline Road, Fort Worth, TX 76107. Pet Blessings will offered on the lawn. Every animal will receive an individual blessing.
http://www.asecfw.org/
Phone: 817-732-1424
Map
10 – 11 am – St. Christopher Episcopal Church, 3550 Southwest Loop 820, Fort Worth, TX, 76133, will be offering Blessings of the Animals. http://www.stchrisfw.org/
Phone: 817-926-8277 (church)
Map
Decatur
10 am – The Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, 905 S. Church Street, Decatur, TX 76234, along with the First United Methodist Church of Decatur. People are asked to donate supplies for the Wise County Animal Shelter. There will be a hot dog lunch afterward.
Phone: 940-222-8705
Map
Granbury
10 – 11 am – The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 4530 Acton Highway, Granbury 76049, will hold a Blessing of the Animals at the Hilton Garden Inn, 635 E. Pearl Street, Granbury. Dogs, cats, horses, birds; bring them all. They will be joining 60 rescued Cavalier King Spaniels at their convention, so they can receive their blessing too.
http://www.goodshepherdgranbury.org/
Map to church
Phone: 832-723-3129
Map to Hilton Garden Inn
Keller/Southlake
5 pm – St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, 223 S. Pearson Lane, Keller, Texas, 76248. There will be a Blessing of the Animals in which current pets are blessed and pets no longer with us are remembered. Children can have their stuffed animals blessed. The outdoor worship service will be in the north fields by the Labyrinth and Memorial Garden.
5:45 – 6:15 pm – Drive-thru blessings for shyer pets in the parking lot.
http://www.stmartininthefields.org/
Phone: 817-431-2396
Map
Sunday, October 6
Arlington
10 am – St. Alban’s Episcopal Church worshiping in Theatre Arlington will have a short worship service and Blessing of the Animals in Gene Allen Park, next door to the downtown Arlington Library. Please have animals on leashes or in crates for their safety. People are asked to donate paper towels, Clorox® wipes, Windex®, hand sanitizer, and dog and cat treats for the Arlington Animal Shelter. A professional photographer will be on hand to take photos. Each pet owner will get a gift bag with a St. Francis medal, a prayer card, and treats for the pet.
http://www.saintalbansarlington.org/
Phone: 817-264-3083
Map to Gene Allen Park
Fort Worth
10 am – St. Luke’s in the Meadow Episcopal Church will have a family-friendly worship service followed by the Blessing of the Animals in the pavilion at Oakland Lake Park, 1645 Lake Shore Drive, Fort Worth, 76103,
http://www.stlukesfw.org/
Phone: 817-534-4925
Map to Oakland Park
4-5 pm – Trinity Episcopal Church, 3401 Bellaire Drive So., Ft. Worth, TX 76109, will have a Blessing of the Animals on the front lawn. Bring your companion animals on a leash or in a crate for a prayer service and blessing. Each pet will receive a St. Francis medallion.
http://www.fortworthtrinity.org/
Phone: 817-926-4631
Map