Blessing of the pets at St. John’s Hospital

Springfield pets got their moment in the sun two days ahead of the fest day of St. Francis of Assisi—patron saint of animals—on October fourth.

Father Callistus Onumah, priest chaplain at St. John’s, gave a blessing for all animals present and absent on Sunday before sprinkling pets (dogs mostly) with holy water on the hospital’s pavilion lawn.

St. Francis’s life of love and service is followed by the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, the founding institute of Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS).