Blessing of the Animals Oct. 6
The Chapel will host its annual Blessing of the Animals worship service on Sunday, October 6, at 3:00 p.m. outside on the quad in front of the Chapel.
Dogs, cats—as well as hamsters, iguanas, and other animals—are invited to join ministers and the Durham Children's Choir in front of Duke Chapel for the service. Pet owners are welcome to bring their animals to the lawn in front of the chapel to receive a blessing as part of the worship service. Those bringing pets are responsible for their animals and are asked to bring only pets that will be safe around children and other animals.
The service will last about thirty minutes and feature music from the Durham Children's Choir, scripture readings and a sermon. Individual animal blessings will take place immediately after the service.
Free parking is available in the Bryan Center parking garage at 125 Science Drive. ADA parking is available in the Bryan Center Surface Lot at the same address.
The Blessing of the Animals service is inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, a thirteenth century Italian Catholic friar who lived a life of voluntary poverty and is known for his love of animals. He believed the natural world could give glory to God, writing in his song Canticle of the Sun, “Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures.”