As autumn arrives, the people of Paulina may have noticed something odd at St. Peter Chanel.

A procession of animals, everything from dogs and cats to hamsters, bunnies and even a turtle were led to the grounds in front of St. Joseph Church for a special ceremony called the Blessing of Pets.

This custom is conducted in remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi’s love for all creatures.

Francis, whose feast day was Oct. 4, loved the larks flying about his hilltop town. He and his early brothers, staying in a small hovel, allowed themselves to be displaced by a donkey.

Francis wrote a Canticle of the Creatures, an ode to God’s living things. “All praise to you, Oh Lord, for all these brother and sister creatures.” And there was testimony in the cause for St. Clare of Assisi’s canonization that referred to her little cat.

Fr. Vincent Dufrense and Deacon Garland Roussel gathered with children, parents, grandparents and pets for a special blessing of their family pets. Each pet held by its owner was blessed by prayer and sprinkling of Holy Water. Some of the pets welcomed the spritz, however some of the cats could be seen with flattened ears as the drops of water reached them. The owners, big and small, were happy and may even have gained some spiritual benefits during the process.