To celebrate the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi on Oct. 4, many Catholics hold a ceremony for blessing of pets, including at big city cathedrals. I’ve always wondered what sort of benefit blessing was supposed to give a pet “animal companion”, but I suppose that it makes their owners “human caretakers” feel better. But a church in Berkeley has gone far beyond the annual animal blessing ceremony to welcome animals as members of their congregation. Continue reading →