Blessings offered to pets as Alle-Kiski Valley churches mark the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi

Alle-Kiski Valley churches were among those celebrating the Feast of St. Francis this weekend with pet blessings.

St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Brackenridge held its blessing service Saturday, while Christ Our Hope Anglican Church in Harrison offered blessings for pets Sunday.

The ceremony is held annually, often Oct. 4, the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, during which people bring their pets to church to receive a blessing. It commemorates Francis’ love for all of God’s creatures, acknowledges the interdependence between humans and animals and invokes blessings for good health and long lives.

At St. Barnabas, they were remembering the Rev. Francis Yesko, known as Father Frank, who died in May after a yearlong battle with multiple health issues. There were also free hot dogs, “Father Frank’s Franks.”

At Christ Our Hope Anglican Church on Sunday, Father John Bailey offered blessings to dogs over about an hour in the late afternoon after participating in the Allegheny Valley Association of Churches’ annual Walk for Hunger.

Heading the 120-member congregation since 2013, Bailey said he’s offered the pet blessing off-and-on over the last five to 10 years.

Catherine Erb, who lives next door to the church, first brought over Ziba, a somewhat shy 2-year-old boxer, before she and boyfriend Jeff Robitaille came back with Hank, a much more energetic and outgoing 1-year-old still full of puppy-like energy.

Brian C. Rittmeyer | TribLive

Zach Zylinski of Harrison was out for a walk with 15-year-old Cooper when they stopped for a pet blessing the Rev. John Bailey was offering at Christ Our Hope Anglican Church in Harrison on Sunday, Oct. 5.

Zach Zylinski of Harrison was out for a walk with 15-year-old Cooper when they happened by the church toward the tail end of the hour and stopped for a blessing from Bailey.

Bailey gave a special blessing to Jeff and Kathy Murray’s Ruby, a 12-year-old pit bull mix, who is suffering from cancer that quickly returned after a surgery.

Brian C. Rittmeyer | TribLive

The Rev. John Bailey of Christ Our Hope Anglican Church blesses 12-year-old Ruby during a pet blessing outside his church in Harrison on Sunday, Oct. 5. Ruby is suffering from cancer, which her owners, Jeff and Kathy Murray of Harrison, said quickly came back after a recent surgery.