Saturday October 14th at 3 pm

Franciscan Friar Manny Andrade and BBUUC Animal Chaplain Elizabeth DeCoux will conduct a Blessing of the Animals outside the church at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 14.  The blessing is held each year near the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi.  Please bring your dogs on leash, cats in carriers, and other animals appropriately restrained, so they can receive a blessing.  If you wish to have a blessing for an animal who cannot attend or has passed away, please bring a picture, toy, or memento.  

All members and friends are invited to bless area animals tangibly by bringing donations for First Coast No More Homeless Pets, which provides low-cost spay/neuter and other veterinary services.  Low-cost spay/neuter is a crucial element in solving the overpopulation problem which leads to so many unnecessary deaths.  Low-cost veterinary services save animals from going to shelters by helping people afford to keep their animals at home.  Lee Plumb is generously coordinating this project, advising us of FCNMHP’s needs, creating cage covers from cotton you donate, and delivering the donations to FCNMHP.  Please bring your donations to the Blessing of the Animals at 3:00 p.m. on October 14, or to church on Sunday morning, October 15.  The following items are among the most needed:   

• Large bags of dry cat food (the single greatest need)
• Canned dog and cat food
• Blankets (no stuffing)
• Towels, sheets, and pillowcases
• 100% cotton cloth, minimum of one yard, which Lee will cut to the proper size for trap covers for calming feral cats

If you are handy, you can even make and donate trap covers for calming feral cats during transport:  36” by 58”, made from old sheets or other lightweight cotton, with a slit in the middle of the long side for the trap handle, no hem needed.