Blessing of the Animals at Immanuel Anglican

On the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, Immanuel Anglican Church of Destin, Florida welcomed a host of furry guests for its annual Blessing of the Animals. Each year the event is a time to praise God for his creation and to ask him to give the creatures of the world health and contentment, to protect them and relieve their suffering, and to strengthen and help people to care for and love them.

Fr. Rob+ Cornelison and deacon Jon Bryan led a brief service at Immanuel’s outdoor chapel, after which each animal and their humans received individual blessings. In addition to cats and dogs, the church has also blessed pigeons and guinea pigs during past years’ events.

“We are thankful for an opportunity to have a beloved family member blessed,” shares Diane Lauterbach, a member of Immanuel and a Destin resident. “It’s also a great time to celebrate other pets and their families in our community.”

This atmosphere draws area residents, like Tammy and Autumn Weidenhamer and their dog Jasper, back year after year. “It’s a wonderful community event to bring animals and humans together. We come back every year for a blessing.”