On Sunday, October 7, for the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, Dignity/Washington held its annual Blessing of Pets at the end of Mass. Attendees were invited to bring their (well-behaved) pets, or photos of them. As in past years, dog owners dominated the event. However, vowing not to be outdone, some cat owners indicated that they planned to attend en masse next year. From a Blessing for the occasion: “God grant us Francis’ joy and confidence that we too may be effective agents of reconciliation of all creatures to God, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.”