Paws and prayers: Abu Dhabi’s annual pet blessing returns
Dubai: It will be a different kind of gathering at St. Joseph’s Cathedral this Sunday, as dogs, cats, and other beloved pets join their families for a special blessing. The cathedral’s annual “Blessing of Pets” returns on Sunday, October 4, at 3pm, with the ceremony taking place near the main stage. Families have been invited to bring their pets and take part in the parish celebration, which…
Abu Dhabi's annual pet blessing event will return on Sunday, October 4, at St. Joseph's Cathedral. The ceremony will see dogs, cats, and other beloved pets join their families for a special blessing. The event coincides with the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the 13th-century Italian friar known for his love of animals and nature.
St. Francis is regarded as the patron saint of animals and ecology in Catholicism, and churches worldwide mark his feast day by blessing animals. Pet owners gather to express gratitude for the companionship animals bring to their families and recognize their responsibility in caring for them. St. Joseph's Cathedral, the main Catholic cathedral in Abu Dhabi, serves a diverse expatriate Catholic community, offering services in several languages.
The blessing serves as a unique sight for pet-owning families, setting apart from the cathedral's regular services.
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