Father Cyrus’s Pilgrimage to Italy
Father Cyrus is on a pilgrimage to many holy sites in Italy. In particular, he visited the Padre Pio Shrine in San Giovanni Rotondo, Southern Italy, a popular Catholic pilgrimage shrine.
Click here to learn more and see images from the pilgrimage.
Blessing of the Animals
Church of the Assumption celebrated St. Francis of Assisi’s feast day – October 4th – with a Blessing of Animals by Fr. Augustine. St. Francis loved all of creation and viewed all of creation as a gift from God to be appreciated and cared for. During the Blessing of the Animals, the celebrant prays the following prayer:“Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired St. Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this pet. By the power of your love, enable it to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures. Amen.” May we always appreciate all of creation and never take for granted the beauty of God’s gift. Click here to view more photos of the blessing.
