Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Fr. Rick Tomasone of St. Joseph Catholic Church of Warren moves through the crowd in the St. Joseph Catholic School parking lot Monday blessing animals during the “Blessing of the Pets” ceremony.

On the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, St. Joseph Catholic School celebrated with the Blessing of the Pets.

Dozens of animals, mostly dogs, were brought to the school parking lot Monday afternoon. The student body assembled, many with pictures of their pets in hand.

Fr. Rick Tomasone spoke about St. Francis of Assisi – the patron saint of animals, merchants, and ecology – and the importance of pets.

“In God’s plan, that’s what we have to do — take care of our pets,” Tomasone said. “Today, we’ll ask for the intercession of St. Francis of Assisi.”

The sixth grade read “God and Dog” by Wendy Francisco.Then, in a process hurried by rain, Tomasone hastened through the parking lot sprinkling holy water upon the students with their pictures and the assembled pets.