Bring Your Pets to the Blessing of the Animals Service, Oct. 9
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Blessing of the Animals Service
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Blessing of the Animals Service
Dogs, cats—maybe hamsters, iguanas, and other animals—join ministers and the Durham Children's Choir in front of Duke Chapel for the Blessing of the Animals worship service this Sunday, October 9, at 3:00 p.m. The 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."
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 includes music from the choir and scripture readings. The Rev. Rondy Elliott, co-founder of the service, will be preaching the homily for the service. Individual animal blessings will take place immediately after the service.
Parking is available on a first-come-first-served basis in the Bryan Center Parking Garage at 125 Science Drive at a cost of $2 per hour. ADA parking is available in the parking lot immediately in front of the garage.