Dear Friend of Carmel Mission,
Each year around October 4, the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the students of our Junipero Serra School have a special “Blessing of the Animals.” It is always wonderful to see the enthusiasm, love and care that the students have for their cats and dogs, as well as guinea pigs, lizards and the occasional turtle.
The love of animals is not restricted to the young however, so this year we are going to have a Blessing of the Animals for our parish community on Friday, October 4 at 5:30pm in the large courtyard. The feast of St. Francis has become a traditional day to honor and celebrate the important role of our animal companions in our lives. St. Francis was a great lover of animals and the natural world, finding a powerful expression of God’s love in all of creation, and feeling a profound responsibility to be a good steward of the earth and its creatures. He once said “Ask the beasts and they will teach you the beauty of this earth.”
In the history of humankind, animals of many species have played a very influential role in the development of our society. Throughout the world domestic animals accompany and assist people in their work, other animals provide food and nourishment for people, and all of them are a part of the ecosystem that keeps our planet healthy and viable. In our community, some animals provide life–saving and life-changing assistance to those in need. For all of us with beloved pets, their companionship and unconditional love is a reflection of the unconditional love of our Creator God.
We hope you will join us with your animal friends next Friday to thank God for the joy and healing they bring to our lives, and to ask God to bless and protect them as cherished members of God’s creation and our families.
In the great love of Jesus Christ,
Fr. Paul
Please take a moment to read our Carmel Mission Weekly Bulletin.