In remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi, whose feast day is Oct. 4, parishes around the diocese will hold special prayer services and other events, including the ever-popular pet blessing.  This tradition, which finds pet owners bringing their animal companions to church grounds for a blessing and often a treat, recalls the love St. Francis expressed for all the creatures of creation.

The following parishes have announced special events to commemorate the Feast of St. Francis:

Pet Blessings

Our Lady of Perpetual Help–St. Agnes, Atlantic Highlands, Oct. 4, 11 a.m. at St. Agnes Church, 103 Center Ave., Atlantic Highlands; noon at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 141 Navesink Ave., Highlands

St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Avon-by-the-Sea, Oct. 5, after 11:30 a.m. Mass, 424 Lincoln Avenue, Gather in small packing area off the lane behind the church, adjacent to the St. Francis statue.

Sacred Heart, Bay Head, Oct. 4, noon, 751 Main Avenue

St. Barnabas, Bayville, Oct. 4, noon, 33 Woodland Road

St. Mary, Bordentown, Oct. 4, 6:30 p.m., Outside in front of the parish center, 45 Crosswicks Street

Ascension Parish, Bradley Beach, will hold a blessing of animals Oct. 5 at 1:15 p.m. in the St. Francis Prayer Garden.

St. Francis of Assisi, Brant Beach, Oct. 4, 10 a.m.,  4700 Long Beach Blvd.

Epiphany, Brick, Oct. 4, 7 p.m., Outside the main door of church, 615 Thiele Road

Visitation, Brick, Oct. 4, 12:30 p.m., 730 Lynnwood Avenue

St. Ann, Browns Mills, Oct. 4, 11 a.m., 22 Trenton Road

St. Katharine Drexel, Burlington, Oct. 5, 1:30 p.m., All Saints Church, 502 High St., Burlington

St. Mary, Colts Neck, Oct. 4, 10 a.m., Prayer garden, 1 Phalanx Road

Resurrection, Delran, Oct. 5, 2 p.m. Weather permitting, Friary lawn at St. Casimir Church, 502 New Jersey Ave., Riverside

Villa Victoria Academy, Ewing, Oct. 3, 2 p.m., School president Sister Lillian Harrington will bless the animals, visitor welcome, 376 West Upper Ferry Road

Nativity, Fair Haven, Oct. 4, 9 a.m., 180 Ridge Road

St. Catherine of Siena, Farmingdale, Oct. 4, After 4:30 p.m. Mass, Church parking lot, weather permitting, 31 Asbury Road

St. Robert Bellarmine, Freehold, Oct. 4, noon, St. Francis prayer garden, 61 Georgia Road

St. Rose of Lima, Freehold, Oct. 5, 1:30 p.m., Leash all animals that need one, clean up after animals, 16 McLean Street

Our Lady Queen of Peace, Hainesport, Oct. 5, 1:30 p.m., All pets welcome, St. Francis Guild will be collecting monetary donations in support for the local animal shelter.  Donations can be brought to the church the day of the blessing or dropped off at the parish office through Oct. 31, 3 Lord Place.

St. Raphael-Holy Angels, Hamilton, Oct. 4 2 p.m., Main grotto of our Blessed Mother, alongside the parking lot on the St. Raphael campus, 3500 S. Broad Street

Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Hamilton, Oct. 4, noon, Our Lady of Sorrows Church peace garden, Rain date, Oct. 6 at 6 p.m., 3816 E. State Street Extension

St. Anthony of Padua, Hightstown, Oct. 4, 11 a.m., 251 Franklin Street

St. Veronica, Howell, Oct. 4, 10:30 a.m., 4215 Rt. 9 North

St. Aloysius, Jackson, Oct. 4, 12:30 p.m., 935 Bennetts Mills Road

St. Monica, Jackson, Oct. 4, 2:30 p.m., Parking lot, 679 W. Veterans Highway

St. Ann, Keansburg, Oct. 4, 3 p.m., In the church parking lot, 311 Carr Avenue

Holy Family, Keyport (Union Beach), Oct. 4, 10 a.m., 727 Highway 36 West

St. John, Lakehurst, Oct. 5, 12:30 p.m., Holy Family prayer center behind the parish center, 619 Chestnut Street

St. Leo the Great, Lincroft, Oct. 3, 1 p.m., Parish property, all are invited to bring their pets as long as the safety of our children is foremost, 50 Hurley’s Lane

St. Theresa, Little Egg Harbor, Oct. 4, noon, 450 Radio Road

Christ the King, Long Branch, Oct. 4, Following the 4 p.m. Mass, In front of church, 2nd Avenue& Chelsea Avenue

St. Denis, Manasquan, Oct. 5, 3 p.m., 90 Union Avenue

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Maple Shade, Oct. 5, 1:15 p.m.,
In school yard, 236 E. Main Street

St. Gabriel, Marlboro, Oct. 4, 10:30 a.m., Also, dedicating the St. Francis prayer circle which was completed as an Eagle Scout project, 100 N. Main Street

St. Isaac Jogues, Marlton, Oct. 4, 10:30 a.m., 349 Evesboro-Medford Road

St. Joan of Arc, Marlton, Oct. 4, 10 a.m., 100 Willow Bend Road

St. Mary of the Lakes, Medford, Oct. 4, 3 p.m., Parking lot of church, animals must be leashed or caged, 40 Jackson Road

St. John Neumann, Mt. Laurel, Oct.4, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Side parking lot, 560 Walton Avenue

St. James, Pennington, Oct. 4, 8:30 a.m., 115 E. Delaware Avenue

St. Martha, Point Pleasant, Oct. 4, Noon to 1:15 p.m. 3800 Herbertsville Road

Holy Cross, Rumson, Oct. 4, 10 a.m., In the garden adjacent to the Chapel on the campus of 30 Ward Ave.

St. Catharine of Siena, Seaside Park, Oct. 4, After the 4:30 p.m. Mass, 50 E. Street

St. Joseph, Toms River, Oct. 4, 4 p.m., On the grounds of the church, 685 Hooper Avenue

St. Maximilian Kolbe, Toms River, Oct. 4, 2 to 3 p.m., 130 St. Maximilian Lane

Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Trenton, will hold a blessing of animals in the Immaculate Conception Church worship site at 540 Chestnut Ave., Trenton, Oct. 4 following the 10 a.m. Mass. 

Sacred Heart, Trenton, Oct. 5, 11:15 Family Mass, Religious education students bring pictures of pets and stuffed animals for blessing, 343 S. Broad Street

Divine Mercy, Trenton, Oct. 7, 6:15, Religious education class time students bring pictures of pets and stuffed animals for blessing, 233 Adeline Street

St. Jerome, West Long Branch, Oct. 4, 11 a.m., Behind the church/school, all dogs must be on a leash, SPCA will have pets for adoption and donations of dog/cat food, blankets and towels will be collected for the shelter, 254 Wall Street.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Whiting, will hold a blessing of pets Oct. 5 at 2:30 p.m.

Corpus Christi, Willingboro, Oct. 4, 10 a.m., Gather at the statue of St. Francis at the carport area of the church grounds, 63 Sylvan Lane