Story and Photos By Katie McFadden

Rockaway’s animals are blessed! Friday, October 4, marked the Feast of St. Francis of Assissi, the patron saint of animals. In the biggest turnout ever, around 100 pets and their people came out to St. Francis de Sales’ Prayer Garden to receive blessings.

Everything from dogs to turtles, guinea pigs to birds, bearded dragons and even baby chickens were blessed on Friday afternoon. Father Jim Cunningham led a prayer and handed out coins to the blessed pets while Deacon Vincenzo LaGamba went around the garden, dousing everyone’s four-legged friends in holy water. Meanwhile, they announced that Monsignor John Bracken was actually in Assissi, Italy, to bring everyone’s blessings to the hometown of St. Francis of Assissi.