(Third in a series)

In the spirit of St. Francis, the students at St. Joseph School in Marietta celebrated a blessing of their pets on the school grounds. Because St. Francis praised all God's gifts and creatures, students were encouraged to bring their small pets to school -- those pets that could be contained in bowls, boxes or cages. Larger pets such as dogs and cats were brought at the end of the school day for the ceremony. Students not wishing to bring live animals brought snapshots or stuffed animals representing their pets.

The ceremony was planned by four teachers at the school, Sister Nancy Dourhoff, Jan Gilmore, Phyllis Morris and Sister Manuela Souto. Father John Moore, SM, pastor of St. Joseph's Church, Marietta, officiated at the ceremony. Dan Smith, an eighth grade student, welcomed all the animals as St. Francis would have done -- as fellow creatures of this earth. Francis called the animals "our brothers and sisters." All the school children participated by singing "God Made the Animals" and "If I were a Butterfly."