Priests bless pets at Malate Church

Priests at Malate Church in Manila blessed pets and plants on October 4 to honor the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and ecology. Parishioners brought various animals to the service, including dogs, cats, and a pet snail, to receive holy water from the priests.

Father Leonito Distor, the parish priest, said the church advocates for these blessings to connect the community with the feast of St. Francis. In addition to the blessings, the church organized free vaccinations for dogs and cats in the church park.