At schools and parishes throughout the Diocese of Camden, four-legged and other creatures and their two-legged caretakers came together to get an annual blessing on or near Oct. 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and the environment.
At left, Father Peter Saporito, pastor of Our Lady of Pompeii Parish, Vineland, relaxes with his own dogs after blessing a number of animals, including a couple of horses.
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Zoey, a chihuahua, awaits a blessing at St. Vincent de Paul School, Mays Landing on Oct. 4;
John Paul II Regional School students held up pictures of their pets for a special blessing by Father Joseph Capella;
Msgr. M. Joseph Mannion, pastor of St. John Parish, Collingswood, gets some help from Gregory DelColumbo, grade 5, who is dressed as St. Francis;
A couple of pugs get acquainted before the blessing at Our Lady of Pompeii.