While it was mostly dogs — more than 40 — receiving blessings during a special Christ Church Parish (Episcopal) annual ceremony Sunday, there were other animals too. Tarzan, an African Grey Congo parrot, also received a blessing. His owners are Page Wittkamp and John Hawkins of Locust Hill.
Christ Church’s rector, the Rev. Stuart Clary Wood, performed the blessings in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and ecology.
It is customary for many churches to conduct ceremonies blessing animals around the time of St. Francis’ Feast day, which is Oct. 4.
