The Environmental Committee sponsors one of St. Elizabeth's most inclusive and popular liturgies, the annual Pet Blessing on the Feast of St. Francis. Parishioners and neighbors of all ages, along with their animal companions, gather on the front lawn of the church, where the animals are blessed and thanks is given for all that they bring to our lives.
In conjunction with the Pet Blessing and Pet Memorial Service, a collection is held for donations of pet food and materials to support the Bergen County Animal Shelter.
In conjunction with the Pet Blessing and Pet Memorial Service, a collection is held for donations of pet food and materials to support the Bergen County Animal Shelter.
From the very beginning of the Book of Genesis, God has called us to care for animals. We honor our relationship with our domestic animals at a Pet Blessing on St. Francis Day each year on the front lawn of St. Elizabeth’s at 4 p.m. Bring your dogs, cats, mice, birds, and other two- or four-footed animals (we also bless fish) for a blessing and a species-appropriate treat. Friends and neighbors and their pets are especially welcome to this event too.
We gather to give thanks for the lives of pets with whom we have shared our lives—recently or in years past—each year as part of St. Francis Day observances. We meet in the choir stalls for this brief liturgy of thanksgiving and remembrance.