If the coronavirus pandemic has shown Chicagoans one thing, it’s that the companionship of a pet can be a blessing during all that downtime stuck at home.
Many Catholic pet owners are returning the favor this weekend as dozens of parishes across the Chicago area hold pet blessings to commemorate the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment.
COVID-19 precautions moved this year’s blessings outdoors.
All types of pets are welcome, but it was mostly canine congregants who received the blessing Saturday morning from the Rev. Pat Lee outside Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in the Lake View East neighborhood.
Sun-Times photographer Pat Nabong takes you there:
Michelle Quigley holds her dog Pepito during a pet blessing ceremony in celebration of the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of the environment and pets, outside Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Lake View East Saturday morning.
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Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Pat Lee, pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, reads scripture during a pet blessing ceremony in celebration of the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi.
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Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Michelle Quigley pets her dog Pepito before a pet blessing ceremony.
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Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Spice, right, looks at the camera during a pet blessing ceremony in celebration of the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi.
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Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Pets and their owners attend a pet blessing ceremony in celebration of the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of the environment and pets, outside Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Lake View East Saturday morning.
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Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
The Rev. Pat Lee, pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, blesses Kornelia Fudala’s dog Bob during a pet blessing ceremony in celebration.
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Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Michelle Quigley pets her dog Pepito after a pet blessing ceremony in celebration of the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi.
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Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Bob, left, and Sophia, right, pose for the camera after a pet blessing ceremony in celebration of the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi.
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Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Robert Kosticak, center, and his pet Blanco interact with attendees of a pet blessing ceremony in celebration of the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi.
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Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Kornelia Fudala kisses her dog Bob during a pet blessing ceremony in celebration of the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi.
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Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Margaret Ann holds her dog Edy during a pet blessing ceremony in celebration of the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi.
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Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Robert Kosticak pets his dog Blanco during a pet blessing ceremony in celebration of the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi.
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Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
The Feast Day is Sunday. More than 90 parishes across the Chicago area are hosting outdoor pet blessings through Monday, including a few more ceremonies planned Oct. 10, all weather permitting.
Animals must be safely secured or on leashes. Human attendees must wear face masks and maintain 6 feet of social distance.
