Father Perry Cherubini blesses the animals with a gentle sprinkling of holy water during the 2024 ceremony.
Each year, St. Joseph Catholic Church Pastor Perry Cherubini blesses the animals by sprinkling them with holy water.
The Blessing of the Animals ceremony will be held again at noon on Saturday, Oct. 4, at the St. Joseph’s Parish Center parking lot at the corner of 44th Street and Central Avenue in Sea Isle City.
“We invite you to bring your pets, whether they are furry, feathered, scaly or hairy. All pets are welcome,” the church said in a statement.
The Blessing of the Animals is a tradition conducted in remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. The ceremony, which marks St. Francis of Assisi’s feast day, includes a reading from the Book of Genesis.
Last year, more than 50 dogs and two cats were blessed by Father Cherubini as he walked through the parking lot and gently sprinkled the animals with holy water.
