In celebration of the Oct. 4 Feast of St. Francis of Assisi and the culmination of the Season of Creation, more than 20 diocesan parishes will hold a blessing of the animals. Below are the dates, times, and locations of many animal blessings in the area.
Remember to bring your little creatures of God leashed or caged and come prepared to clean up after your pet.
Send
us a picture at [email protected] of your pet blessing with a short caption as we highlight these gatherings on social media.
“All things of creation are children of the Father and thus brothers of man. God wants us to help animals if they need help. Every creature in distress has the same right to be protected.” — St. Francis of Assisi
Bishop Ireton High School
201 Cambridge Rd, Alexandria
Oct. 3 at noon.
Holy Spirit Church
5121 Woodland Way, Annandale
Oct. 4 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the grounds in front of the church.
Our Lady Queen of Peace Church
2700 19th St. S., Arlington
Oct. 2 at 10 a.m., in the courtyard of the church.
Sacred Heart Church
12975 Purcell Rd., Manassas
Oct. 4 at 4 p.m.
St. Agnes Church
1910 N. Randolph St., Arlington
Oct. 3 after the noon Mass in front of the rectory.
St. Andrew the Apostle Church
6720 Union Mill Rd., Clifton
Oct. 2 after the 9 a.m. Mass by the statue of St. Francis.
St. Ann Church
5300 10th St. N., Arlington
Oct. 2 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. by the Shreve cemetery.
St. Anthony of Padua Church
3305 Glen Carlyn Rd., Falls Church
Oct. 3 at 10 a.m. in the courtyard, and Oct. 4 at 3:45 p.m. also in the courtyard.
St. Bernadette Church
7600 Old Keene Mill Rd., Springfield
Oct. 4 at 6 p.m. in front of Lourdes grotto.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church
12807 Valleywood Dr., Lake Ridge
Oct. 3 at 1:45 p.m. in front of Seton Hall.
St. Francis de Sales Church
37730 St. Francis Ct., Purcellville
Oct. 4 at 4 p.m. in front of the church.
St. Francis of Assisi Church
18825 Fuller Heights Rd., Triangle
Oct. 2 at noon.
St. James Church
905 Park Ave., Falls Church
Oct. 2 at 9:30 a.m. outside the church, at the corner of Park Avenue and Spring Street.
St. John Neumann Church
11900 Lawyers Rd., Reston
Oct. 3 at 1 p.m. by the flagpole.
St. Joseph Church
750 Peachtree St., Herndon
Oct. 2 at 10 a.m. in front of the church.
St. Louis Church
2907 Popkins Ln., Alexandria
Oct. 4 at 6 p.m. in front of the church.
St. Luke Church
7001 Georgetown Pike, McLean,
Oct. 3 at 1 p.m. in the church parking lot.
St. Mark Church
9970 Vale Rd., Vienna
Oct. 4 at 4 p.m.
St. Mary of Sorrows Church
10500 Zion Dr., Fairfax, Va. 22032
Oct. 9 at 9 a.m. on the new church lawn.
St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church
1009 Stafford Ave., Fredericksburg
Oct. 2 at 10 a.m. in the Blessed Mother Prayer Garden in front of the church.
St. Veronica Church
3460 Centreville Rd., Chantilly
Oct. 3 from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. by the St. Francis Statue outside the parish office.
