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Pets get blessings in honor of St. Francis

Priests at St. Symphorosa Parish blessed parishioners' furry friends in front of the church Oct. 6, 2018. Pet parents bring their animals to celebrate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment, around his feast day on Oct. 4 each year.
Senior priest Father Norman Trela greets a dog at St. Symphorosa Parish during a blessing of animals in front of the church on Oct. 6. Pet parents bring their animals to celebrate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment, around his feast day on Oct. 4 each year. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Senior priest Father Norman Trela gets a lick from one of the dogs at St. Symphorosa Parish during a blessing of animals in front of the church on Oct. 6. Pet parents bring their animals to celebrate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment, around his feast day on Oct. 4 each year. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Father Idzi Stacherczak, pastor at St. Symphorosa Parish, blesses Tito the ferret in front of the church on Oct. 6. Pet parents bring their animals to celebrate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment, around his feast day on Oct. 4 each year. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Smokey the cat ventured out of his carrier for a blessing at St. Symphorosa Parish Oct. 6 Father Idzi Stacherczak, pastor, blessed animals in front of the church in honor of the Oct. 4 feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Father Idzi Stacherczak, pastor at St. Symphorosa Parish, blesses Remy, an English toy spaniel, in front of the church on Oct. 6. Pet parents bring their animals to celebrate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment, around his feast day on Oct. 4 each year. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Pets wait in line with their people as Father Idzi Stacherczak, pastor at St. Symphorosa Parish, blesses animals in front of the church on Oct. 6. Pet parents bring their animals to celebrate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment, around his feast day on Oct. 4 each year. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Pets wait in line with their people as Father Idzi Stacherczak, pastor at St. Symphorosa Parish, blesses animals in front of the church on Oct. 6. Pet parents bring their animals to celebrate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment, around his feast day on Oct. 4 each year. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Two dogs watch the treat truck pull up in front of St. Symphorosa Church. Father Idzi Stacherczak, pastor at St. Symphorosa, blessed animals in front of the church on Oct. 6 in honor of the Oct. 4 feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A dog waits for his turn at the treat truck while Father Idzi Stacherczak, pastor at St. Symphorosa Parish, blesses animals in front of the church on Oct. 6. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Dogs nose out the best selections at the treat truck after getting their blessing. Father Idzi Stacherczak, pastor at St. Symphorosa Parish, blessed animals in front of the church on Oct. 6. Pet parents bring their animals to celebrate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment, around his feast day on Oct. 4 each year. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

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