Pet Blessings

Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, marks the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment. To commemorate this observance, Archdiocese of Chicago parishes and shrines will host outdoor pet blessings over the weekend, beginning on Saturday, Sept. 28 and continuing through Saturday, Oct. 12, weather permitting.

Furry, feathery, fluffy, slimy, and spikey friends of all shapes and sizes are welcome to the celebrations. Here are some highlights of the 2024 pet blessings.

4 p.m.

Church of St. Mary, 175 E. Illinois Rd., Lake Forest, at St. Mary’s Green on Illinois Road across from the church.
St. Cletus, 600 W. 55th St., La Grange, in the church parking lot by the statue of St. Francis of Assisi.
St. Anne, 120 N. Ela St., Barrington, in parish courtyard, located behind the St. Anne School gym. Attendees are invited to bring a pet, pet photo or collar to be blessed.

5 p.m.

Our Lady of the Lakes at the St. Bede worship site, 36455 N. Wilson Rd., Ingleside, in front of St. Bede School.
Our Lady of the Lakes, at the St. Peter worship site, 557 Lake St., Antioch, in front of the church.

5:30 p.m.

Old St. Patrick’s, 610 W. Adams St., Chicago, at the Bartelme (Mary) Park, 115 S. Sangamon St., located in Chicago’s West Loop (a few blocks west of the church).

6 p.m.

Queen of Apostles, 2330 W. Sunnyside Ave., Chicago, on the front lawn of the Queen of Angels rectory.
St. Gregory of Nyssa at the St. Marcelline worship site, 822 Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg. Blessings will take place under the tree in front of the church.
St. Michael, 1633 N. Cleveland Ave., Chicago. Playtime for dogs and cookout for parishioners (hot dogs will be served) from 4 - 6 p.m. on the parish lawn. Blessing of pets will take place at 6 p.m.
St. Thomas the Apostle, 5472 S. Kimbark Ave., Chicago, on the parish lawn.

6:30 p.m.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 1101 23rd Ave., Melrose Park, in front of the church. Blessings will be offered before and after the 6:30 p.m. Mass.

8:30 a.m.

St. Benedict, 2215 W. Irving Park Rd., Chicago, following the 8:30 a.m. Mass., in front of the church on Irving Park Road.

9 a.m.

St. Clement, 642 W. Deming Pl., Chicago, in the plaza outside of the church. Blessings will take place at 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.

9:30 a.m.

Our Lady of the Woods, 10731 W. 131st St., Orland Park, in the circle drive.
Sacred Heart will share a blessing with St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, which will take place at 11007 S. 76th Ave., Worth.
St. Thomas of Villanova, 1201 E. Anderson Dr., Palatine, on the front lawn or under the canopy if severe weather occurs.

10 a.m.

Our Lady of Hope, 9711 W. Devon Ave., Rosemont, in the church parking lot. Pets will receive a St. Francis medal, holy card and a treat.
St. Alphonsus, 1429 W. Wellington St., Chicago, on the veranda of the church.
St. George, 6707 W. 175th St., Tinley Park, in the church parking lot.
St. Norbert and Our Lady of the Brook, 1809 Walters Ave., Northbrook, in front of the church.
St. Stanislaus Kostka, 1351 W. Evergreen Ave., Chicago.

10:30 a.m.

Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament at Queen of the Rosary, 750 W Elk Grove Blvd., Elk Grove Village, in front of the church.

11 a.m.

St. Mother Theodore Guerin at the St. Cyprian worship site, 2601 N. Clinton St., River Grove.

Noon

Holy Cross, 724 Elder Lane, Deerfield, on the front lawn of The House on The Hill.
Holy Virgin Martyrs, 4157 Atlantic Ave., Schiller Park, in the parking lot near the prayer garden.
Mary, Mother of God at the St. Gregory the Great worship site, 5545 N. Paulina St., Chicago, in the courtyard parking lot.
Mary, Mother of God at the St. Ita worship site, 5525 N. Magnolia Ave., Chicago, at the school courtyard.
Mary, Mother of God at the St. Thomas of Canterbury worship site, 4827 N. Kenmore Ave., Chicago, in front of the church on the steps.
St. Edna, 2525 N. Arlington Heights Rd., Arlington Heights, in front of the church.
St. Gilbert, 301 E. Belvidere Rd., Grayslake, in the east parking lot next to St. Gilbert Chapel.
St. Matthew, 1001 E. Schaumburg Rd., Schaumburg.
St. Mother Theodore Guerin at the St. Celestine worship site, 3020 N. 76th Ct., Elmwood Park.

1 p.m.

Immaculate Conception, 7211 W. Talcott Ave., Chicago, at the parish greenspace.
Sts. Bruno and Richard at the St. Richard worship site, 5025 S. Kenneth Ave., Chicago.
St. Elizabeth Seton, 9300 W. 167th St., Orland Hills, at the Gubbins Center for Faith Formation.
St. Francis of Assisi, 15050 S. Wolf Rd., Orland Park, at the St. Francis Center.
St. Zachary, 567 W. Algonquin Rd., Des Plaines, at the Marian Garden adjacent to the church.

1:30 p.m.

St. Julie Billiart, 7399 W. 159th St., Tinley Park, on the south side of the church. Participants are asked to bring a donation of pet food, pet toys, kitty litter, etc. that will be donated to a local pet shelter.

2 p.m.

Sts. Bruno and Richard at the St. Bruno worship site, 4839 S. Harding Ave., Chicago.