NOT TAKEN IN AUDUBON PARK - PHOTO BY GIA ORIS VIA UNSPLASH.COM
Audubon Park Covenant Church (Website) will host its annual Blessings of the Animals service on Sunday, October 5, at 10 a.m., inviting the community to celebrate the bond between people and their beloved fur babies and to protect them with Jesus-magic.
The outdoor gathering is held on the church lawn and welcomes well-behaved, leashed or caged animals of all kinds for a special blessing. Those unable to bring their pet in person can bring a photo for a virtual blessing, and photos of pets who have passed away will also be honored during a moment of thanksgiving. Refreshments for humans and pets will be provided after the service.
The Blessing of the Animals traces back to the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the 13th-century Italian friar known as the patron saint of animals and the environment. St. Francis preached compassion for all living creatures, and churches across the world hold blessings near his feast day in early October. In Audubon Park and other Central Florida neighborhoods, congregations have embraced the tradition for years as a way to open their doors to the wider community.
The church is located at 3219 Chelsea Street [GMap].
