'Blessing Of The Animals' Set For Danvers On Sunday

DANVERS, MA — North Shore residents can bring their pets to be blessed as part of the 10th annual "Blessing of the Animals" Sunday on the campus of St. John's Prep in Danvers.

The blessing will be part of a celebration for the feast of St. Francis of Assisi on the lawn in front of Studzinski Library on Sunday at 1 p.m.

St. Francis of Assisi is known as the saint who could communicate with animals and felt at one with all creation. The St. John's Prep Animal Welfare Club hosts this annual event as part of their
mission to raise awareness of animal issues and appreciation for all of the animals with whom we share the planet.

The event welcomes local humane organizations Cape Ann Animal Aid, Ipswich Humane Group, Peabody Animal Life Savers and Minis with a Mission to help inform the community and advocate for animals in need.

Residents are invited to bring dogs on leashes as well as cats and other small pets in carriers.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)