Church to host 'pet blessing' on Saturday

All Saints’ Episcopal Church will conduct the annual Blessing of the Pets in honor of St. Francis Day at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5.

To celebrate the memory of this beloved patron saint of the animals, the church pledges to pay half of the adoption fees for 10 adult dogs and 10 adult cats at either the Flathead County Shelter or the Northwest Humane Society.

The Blessing of the Pets has included people (and pets) of all denominations. This year, the church will be using prayers which recently have been made available by the Episcopal Church to its 109 dioceses which are found throughout 16 countries.

The church has also developed a service for the burial of companion animals and prayers will be offered at this service to remember these animal members of families. People wishing to honor their companion animals who have died, are welcome to bring a toy, a picture of the pet or another article which reminds them of the pet for that portion of the service.

The Episcopal Church is one of the first of the major Christian denominations to develop these prayers and make them available for such services.

Each pet will receive a certificate, a St. Francis medal for his or her collar, and a treat.

All pets must be on leashes, in crates or kennels or otherwise restrained for their and other’s safety.

All Saints’ Church is located at 2048 Conn Road, between Whitefish and Columbia Falls. For more information, please contact 862-2863.