Trinity Anglican Church in Port Credit hosted a blessing dozens of cats, dogs, birds, guinea pigs and other animals in a special ceremony attended by about 50 people and their pets.
Rev. Michelle Childs, who blessed the animals, told The News the ceremony originated nearly 1,000 years ago with St. Francis.
"He would wander around the European countryside talking to birds and creatures, he would sing hymns to them and read scriptures to them," she said. "As legend goes, the animals would follow him because he loved and cared for them."
One young parishoner, John Hutchinson, brought his two guinea pigs to be blessed.
"I feel happy now that their blessed," he told the News. "Really happy because I know that God loves them."
