30th Annual Feast Of St. Francis Of Assisi

    When:
    October 5, 2014 @ 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm
    Click to view map
    Where:
    The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine
    1047 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10025
    USA
    Cost:
    Free

    The Animal Kingdom Gathers Together Inside The Cathedral Of St. John The Divine

    For The

    30th Annual Feast Of St. Francis Of Assisi

    Guests Encouraged to Bring Their Pets to Receive Special Blessing

    Sunday, October 5th

    Feast of St Francis - St John DivineService: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

    Outdoor Fair/Pet Blessing: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

    Cathedral of St. John the Divine
    1047 Amsterdam Avenue (at 112th Street)
    Manhattan

    More than 25 animals, large and small, including a camel, donkey, miniature horse, tortoise, sheep, kangaroo, swan, peacock, ox, alpaca, llama, snake, rabbit, ferret, sugar glider, iguana, turkey, bat, duck and many others, will parade up the center aisle of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine to receive a special blessing as part of the 30th Annual Feast of St. Francis of Assisi at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, located at 1047 Amsterdam Avenue (at 112th Street) in Manhattan, on Sunday, October 5th beginning at 11 AM; the procession of animals will happen toward the end of the ceremony at approximately 12:30 PM.

    The day is a celebration of the life of St. Francis of Assisi and his advocacy for harmony between human beings and the natural world.  At this signature Cathedral service, the Missa Gaia (or Earth Mass) composed by Paul Winter and Paul Halley, brings together a massed choir of hundreds of voices, conducted by Kent Tritle, Director of Cathedral Music, a dance performance by Forces of Nature, and musical performances by the Paul Winter Consort, all in celebration of the beauty of the animal kingdom.

    Guests are encouraged to bring their pets to the Cathedral to be a part of the celebration and to receive a special blessing.  In years past, thousands of dogs, cats, birds, reptiles and their owners have attended the event.  An outdoor fair where Cathedral clergy will bless pets will be held from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.