‘Blessing of the Animals' services set for this Sunday, Oct. 3

A special blessing of pets and animals will be held Sunday, Oct. 3, in Tuxedo and in Central Valley in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. Francis, the founder of the Franciscan monks, was known for his great love of animals and his wish for animals to live without fear. Stories are told of his pact between wolf and townsfolk, that the wolf would not bother the people as he had in the past if the townsfolk agreed to feed him. The fable illustrates poverty and charity and how the two go hand in hand but also Francis’s great love for animals and his wish that they all live a beautiful life without fear. At 10 a.m., St. Mary’s-In-Tuxedo Episcopal Church will hold its annual ecumenical service. The public is invited to bring their pet (on a leash or in a cage), a photo of your pet or your favorite stuffed animal to be blessed. As an outreach project, the church is collecting cat and dog food, old towels and blankets for the Warwick Animal Shelter. St. Mary’s is located at 10 Fox Hill Road in Tuxedo. For more information, call 845-351-5122 or go to the Web site www.stmarysintuxedo.org At 1 p.m., Pastor Dee Stevens will bless bunnies, cats, dogs and other pets on the east lawn of the Central Valley United Methodist Church. The rain date is Oct. 10.