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The Rev. Larry Sanders pets Lynette Alicea's dog, Sebastian, at a Blessing of the Animals event outside St. Michael Church in the Old Town neighborhood on Oct. 2, 2020, in Chicago. About 40 dogs were blessed, as animal blessing events take place around this time of the year to mark the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment, on Oct. 4.
John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune
The Rev. Larry Sanders pets Lynette Alicea’s dog, Sebastian, at a Blessing of the Animals event outside St. Michael Church in the Old Town neighborhood on Oct. 2, 2020, in Chicago. About 40 dogs were blessed, as animal blessing events take place around this time of the year to mark the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment, on Oct. 4.

Blessing of the Animals

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The Rev. Larry Sanders pets Lynette Alicea's dog, Sebastian, at a Blessing of the Animals event outside St. Michael Church in the Old Town neighborhood on Oct. 2, 2020, in Chicago. About 40 dogs were blessed, as animal blessing events take place around this time of the year to mark the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment, on Oct. 4.
The Rev. Larry Sanders pets Lynette Alicea’s dog, Sebastian, at a Blessing of the Animals event outside St. Michael Church in the Old Town neighborhood on Oct. 2, 2020, in Chicago. About 40 dogs were blessed, as animal blessing events take place around this time of the year to mark the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment, on Oct. 4.
Helena Gonzalez is surrounded by dogs playing before a Blessing of the Animals event outside St. Michael Church in the Old Town neighborhood on Oct. 2, 2020. About 40 dogs were blessed by the Rev. Larry Sanders, as animal blessing events take place around this time of the year to mark the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and the environment, on Oct. 4.
Helena Gonzalez is surrounded by dogs playing before a Blessing of the Animals event outside St. Michael Church in the Old Town neighborhood on Oct. 2, 2020. About 40 dogs were blessed by the Rev. Larry Sanders, as animal blessing events take place around this time of the year to mark the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and the environment, on Oct. 4.
Dogs play before a Blessing of the Animals event outside St. Michael Church in the Old Town neighborhood.
Dogs play before a Blessing of the Animals event outside St. Michael Church in the Old Town neighborhood.
Two people watch dogs at play before a Blessing of the Animals event outside St. Michael Church in the Old Town neighborhood.
Two people watch dogs at play before a Blessing of the Animals event outside St. Michael Church in the Old Town neighborhood.
Mark Swisher tries to get a toy ball from his dog, Desmond, before a Blessing of the Animals event outside St. Michael Church in Chicago.
Mark Swisher tries to get a toy ball from his dog, Desmond, before a Blessing of the Animals event outside St. Michael Church in Chicago.
Two dogs play before a Blessing of the Animals event outside St. Michael Church in the Old Town neighborhood.
Two dogs play before a Blessing of the Animals event outside St. Michael Church in the Old Town neighborhood.
Michelle Heyland, left, holds her dog, Brady, as Renata Block holds her dog, Gigi, at a Blessing of the Animals event outside St. Michael Church.
Michelle Heyland, left, holds her dog, Brady, as Renata Block holds her dog, Gigi, at a Blessing of the Animals event outside St. Michael Church.
Dogs are corralled for a Blessing of the Animals event outside St. Michael Church in the Old Town neighborhood.
Dogs are corralled for a Blessing of the Animals event outside St. Michael Church in the Old Town neighborhood.
Dogs at the start of a Blessing of the Animals event outside St. Michael Church in Chicago.
Dogs at the start of a Blessing of the Animals event outside St. Michael Church in Chicago.
The Rev. Larry Sanders holds a Blessing of the Animals event outside St. Michael Church in the Old Town neighborhood on Oct. 2, 2020, in Chicago.
The Rev. Larry Sanders holds a Blessing of the Animals event outside St. Michael Church in the Old Town neighborhood on Oct. 2, 2020, in Chicago.
The Rev. Larry Sanders sprinkles holy water onto dogs at a Blessing of the Animals event outside St. Michael Church.
The Rev. Larry Sanders sprinkles holy water onto dogs at a Blessing of the Animals event outside St. Michael Church.
Gail Kaplan, right, gets a greeting from a dog named Gertie after a Blessing of the Animals event outside St. Michael Church on Oct. 2, 2020, in Chicago. About 40 dogs were blessed by the Rev. Larry Sanders, as animal blessing events take place around this time of the year to mark the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and the environment, on Oct. 4.
Gail Kaplan, right, gets a greeting from a dog named Gertie after a Blessing of the Animals event outside St. Michael Church on Oct. 2, 2020, in Chicago. About 40 dogs were blessed by the Rev. Larry Sanders, as animal blessing events take place around this time of the year to mark the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and the environment, on Oct. 4.

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