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Pet Blessings planned at Hampton Roads churches in October

Posted in Beyond, Community, Fun Stuff, tagged , , , , , on September 28, 2017| 1 Comment »

It’s that wonderful time of year when Hampton Roads churches
welcome your pets for a special blessing,
in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi.
We’ve rounded up a selection of pet blessings for you.
This year, we’ve added churches in Newport News.
Check with your church if you don’t see its name listed here:

Sunday, October 1
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church…Norfolk……………4 PM
Historic St. Luke’s Church….Smithfield……………………..2-4 PM
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church….Newport News……….1 PM
Use River Road entrance.
Wycliffe Presbyterian Church….Virginia Beach………….2 PM
Accepting donations of pet toys and food for a local animal shelter. 

Wednesday, October 4
St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church….Virginia Beach…4:30 PM
In picnic pavilion.

Saturday, October 7
Christ the King Catholic Church….Norfolk…………………………………9:15-10:15 AM
In school parking lot. Accepting donations of pet food for Norfolk SPCA
Church of the Holy Family….Virginia Beach………………………………11 AM
Hidenwood Presbyterian Church….Newport News………………….10-11 AM

 

Sunday, October 8
Emmanuel Episcopal Church side yard….Virginia Beach……..3 PM
Episcopal Church of the Ascension….Norfolk……………………….11 AM-Noon
Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd…Norfolk………………..10:15-11:30 AM
Nimmo United Methodist Church….Virginia Beach……………8:30 AM
Trinity Episcopal Church….Portsmouth……………………………….10:30-11:30 AM

Saturday, October 14
Hilton Christian Church….Newport News………..10 AM
St. Mary Catholic Church….Chesapeake………….10 AM

Sunday, October 15
Baylake United Methodist Church…..Virginia Beach….4PM

We have attempted to accurately reflect each church’s information for the event, but be sure to check with your preferred church for accuracy and any last-minute schedule changes, especially in the event of inclement weather.

 

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Pet Blessings this weekend – weather permitting

Posted in Community, tagged , , , , on October 1, 2015| 1 Comment »

Will Joaquin steal Francis’s thunder? We hope not. We’re praying this storm drifts out to sea and leaves the East Coast well alone. In the meantime, churches around Hampton Roads have scheduled Pet Blessings to take place this weekend, in memory of St. Francis of Assisi, a great friend to animals.

St. Francis 008

Check with your favorite church to see if their event is continuing as planned.

Sunday, October 4th

Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd……….…10:15 AM 

Episcopal Church of the Ascension………………..…11 AM 

Historic St. Luke’s Church………………………………..2 PM 

Wycliffe Presbyterian Church……………………..…….3 PM 

St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church………………..3 PM 

Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church……………………4 PM 

Sunday, October 11th

St. Mary Catholic Church……………………………………4 PM 

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Get your pets blessed at area churches this weekend

Posted in Community, Fun Stuff, tagged , , , , , , , on September 30, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Following the example of Saint Francis of Assisi, area Christian churches are offering pet blessings this week.

Find the one closest to you:

St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church
5345 Virginia Beach Blvd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
757-497-8330
Blessing of the Animals will be held Saturday, October 4th at Noon in the Pavilion.
All animals are welcome.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Christ the King Catholic Church
3401 Tidewater Dr.
Norfolk, VA 23509
757-622-1120
Blessing of the Animals on Saturday, October 4th at 9 AM in the school parking lot. Donations of pet food for the Norfolk SPCA will be gratefully accepted.

Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church
6400 Newport Ave.
Norfolk, VA 23505
757-423-8305
Blessing of the Animals on Sunday, October 5th at 4 PM in the church parking lot.
Bring your pet (on a leash or contained) or bring a picture of your pet.

The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd
7400 Hampton Blvd.
Norfolk, VA 23505
757-423-3230
Sunday, October 5th at 10 AM
Blessing of the Animals and Holy Eucharist Rite II
“Bring your cats and dogs and cows that go moo,
Your sheep and llama and your bull named Blue,
Your fish, your pig or your Siamese cat,
And yes, you are welcome to bring your pet bat.
Have you a turtle? One, maybe two or three,
Or ferrets and snakes that sit on your knee?
Is your dragon real or maybe just myth?
Either way bring it to church on October 5th!
An animal blessing is what we will hold
For animal lovers both young and old.
So, clean out those cages and wash up your pet.
Bring them all out and a blessing they’ll get.”

Episcopal Church of the Ascension
405 Talbot Hall Road
Norfolk, VA 23505
757-423-6715
Sunday, October 5th at 11 AM – Noon
Blessing of the Animals & Holy Eucharist Rite II
Where: Nave
We will hold our annual Blessing of the Animals service in the River Pavilion at 11:00. Bring your 4-legged, feathered, leathered, furry, finned (or stuffed) family members for a rollicking time of song and joy. Invite your friends and neighbors, and once again we will be taking donations of items (we could use paper towels, bleach, bowls, leashes, collars, treats, food [puppy & adult], puppy pads. etc.) to help New Leash K-9 Rescue: https://www.facebook.com/NewLeashK9Rescue

Lili-Of-St_Lukes-233x300

Historic St. Luke’s Church
14477 Benns Church Blvd.
Smithfield, VA 23430
757-357-3367
Come and celebrate with us at our Annual Blessing of the Animals, Sunday, October 5th at 2 PM, to honor the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of Animals.
During this traditional ceremony acknowledging all living creatures as part of creation, each pet will receive an individual blessing.
Contact us for more information or check out our gift shop to pick up our book about the event, called Lili of St. Luke’s.

All efforts have been made to ensure that the above-listed information is correct. We recommend you call the church of your choice to check the date, time and location before leaving home!

******************************************************************
Also happening this weekend:

Bark in the Park & 5K Doggy Dash 
to benefit the Chesapeake Humane Society.

Register here.

Click to enlarge.

Click to enlarge.

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Bless their little hearts!

Posted in Beyond, Community, tagged , , , , , , , on October 5, 2012| 2 Comments »

The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of Animals, was celebrated on October 4th, but you can still have your pets blessed at area churches.

Here are four to choose from:

Christ the King Episcopal Church
October 6th at 10 AM (outdoors)
4109 Big Bethel Road
Yorktown, VA 23693
757-865-7227


Episcopal Church of the Ascension
October 7th at 11 AM (River Pavilion)
Accepting donations for Go Pet Rescue
405 Talbot Hall Road
Norfolk, VA 23505
757-423-6715

Trinity Episcopal Church
October 7th at 4 PM
500 Court Street
Portsmouth, VA 23704
757-393-0431

Historic St. Luke’s Church
October 14th from 2-3 PM
“Lili of St. Luke’s” book for sale in gift shop
14477 Benns Church Boulevard
Smithfield, VA 23430
757-357-3367

A Blessing for Animals  
Blessed are You, Lord God, for all living creatures You have made. 
You keep them in Your care and not one of them is lost without You knowing. 
They glorify You, each in its own way, and speak to us of Your beauty and love. 
Bless them and keep them from harm. They unquestionably accept their place in the rhythm of Your creation. 
May we respect them and cherish them for they are Your gift to us; through them may we come to know You better and praise You, their Creator. 
Blessed be the love and joy that they bring to us.
Amen. 

Looking for more inspiration? 

Pet Prayer List

Prayers for Pets

Prayer Links

Pet Loss Poems

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Pet Blessings this weekend!

Posted in Community, tagged , , , on September 28, 2010| Leave a Comment »

St. Francis ministers to the animals

 

     In honor of the Feast Day of St. Francis (October 4th), Patron Saint of Animals, some area churches will hold a Blessing of the Animals.  Here are just a few: 

  • Saturday, October 2nd at 9 AM…..Christ the King Church…..1803 Columbia Ave in Norfolk…..Please bring your animal friends…..Donations of food for shelter animals is appreciated….. www.ctkparish-norfolk.org
  • Sunday, October 3rd at 11 AM…..Episcopal Church of the Ascension…..405 Talbot Hall Rd. in Norfolk…..Meet in the River Pavilion out back…..Donations of food, rags, toys, or other items that can be used in a shelter or foster home are appreciated….. www.ascension-norfolk.org
  • Sunday, October 3rd at 2 PM…..Historic St. Luke’s Church…..14477 Benn’s Church Blvd. in Smithfield…..Please bring items for the Isle of Wight County Animal Shelter which desperately needs dry and canned food for kittens, cats, or dogs; dog and cat treats; blankets; and clay, non-clumping litter…..A book written about our event, “Lili of St. Luke’s,” is available in our gift shop….  www.historicstlukes.org
  • Sunday, October 3rd at 4 PM…..Blessed Sacrament Church…..6400 Newport Ave. in Norfolk…..Father Joe will bless your pets (live, stuffed animals, or pictures of your pets)…..  ALL types of animals are welcome…..We will gather in the parking lot of the Church…..A cookies & punch reception to follow….. www.blessed-sacrament.com  
  • Sunday, October 3rd from 4-5 PM…..Trinity Episcopal Church…..500 Court St. in Portsmouth…..All are invited to bring their pets for a blessing at this annual service in the church…..The collection will benefit the Portsmouth Humane Society….. www.trinity-portsmouth.org  

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Pet Blessings

Posted in General, tagged , , , on August 19, 2010| 2 Comments »

        

St. Francis ministers to the animals

      If you’ve been to our clinic, you may have noticed the picture (above) of St. Francis.  Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals and the environment, according to the Catholic faith.  Many churches around the U.S. emulate St. Francis’s love for animals by organizing pet blessings in October.  Two such churches in our area are Christ the King Catholic Church in Norfolk and Trinity Episcopal Church in Portsmouth. 

     Now, I realize it’s a bit early yet to announce the local pet blessing events, but as I was searching for a “happy” topic (as promised), I thought how nice it would be to have a special little blessing at the ready for our pets in the privacy of our homes.  And then I raised my eyes heavenward and caught sight of St. Francis hovering in the air above my desk.  [In all fairness – and so you don’t call the men in white coats on me – St. Francis is actually in a frame, which is hanging by a chain looped around a nail.] 

     I’m willing to bet St. Francis was most at peace when ministering to the animals.  Oddly enough, he did not win the title of patron saint of veterinarians – that honor instead goes to St. Blaise.  By now, all the non-Catholics reading this have no idea who I’m talking about and would rather I get on with the business of blessings.  So here it is… 

     I discovered a website called AnimalChaplains.com (http://animalchaplains.com/BlessingsforAnimalsandCaregivers.html) and I hope they won’t mind my borrowing three of my favorite prayers found on their site and attributed to others. 

Franciscan Pet Blessing
Blessed are you, Lord God, Maker of all living creatures. You inspired St. Francis to call all animals his brothers and sisters.
We ask You to bless this animal. By the power of Your love, enable it to live according to Your plan. Amen.

Dear Father, hear and bless Thy beasts and singing birds; and guard with tenderness small things that have no words.  – Author Unknown 

A Blessing for Animals 
Blessed are You, Lord God, for all living creatures You have made. 
You keep them in Your care and not one of them is lost without You knowing. 
They glorify You, each in its own way, and speak to us of Your beauty and love. 
Bless them and keep them from harm. They unquestionably accept their place in the rhythm of Your creation. 
May we respect them and cherish them for they are Your gift to us; through them may we come to know You better and praise You, their Creator. 
Blessed be the love and joy that they bring to us.
Amen. 
~ From www.MyCherishedPet.com 

     Whenever I am especially worried about one of our patients or my pet, I pray for its recovery.  Naturally, we rely on modern medicine as well, but prayer just feels good.  Do you have a favorite blessing or prayer for your pets that you’d like to share?  Please tell us about it.  ~~  Jen

 

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