Celebrating St. Francis with the Blessing of the Animals at St. Anthony Foundation

October 8, 2024

On Friday, our community gathered on the Golden Gate Greenway in front of St. Boniface Church to celebrate the Blessing of the Animals, a tradition inspired by the life of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment. The beloved San Francisco event coincides with the Feast Day of St. Francis, observed annually on Oct. 4.

Following a performance by the De Marillac Academy Children’s Choir, Franciscan friars blessed hundreds of animal loved ones with holy water during this joyful and inclusive event, which emphasized the value of all creatures, great and small. In our community, pets are companions to their humans, much like we accompany our guests, and this celebration recognized that bond. Our pets serve as living examples of what it means to walk alongside those we serve.

Special thanks to Geoffrey McFarland, our manager of community engagement, for organizing the festive afternoon.

We also extend our gratitude to Shared Spaces, Community Safety Services, and the Tenderloin Community Benefit District for their ongoing support in making the Greenway the safest and cleanest street in the Tenderloin. Animal Care & Control San Francisco provided free microchipping, vaccinations (to the disdain of most cats), and Full Belly Bus distributed free pet food, toys and leashes.

“Like we do in our Dining Room every day, providing 1,600 to 1,800 meals 365 days per year, we’re going to feed the animals that show up today,” said Dr. Larry Kwan, CEO, St. Anthony Foundation. As the most accessible one-stop resource in the Tenderloin, St. Anthony Foundation is committed to providing whole-person care, meaning health, social, and spiritual care for each member of our community, and this includes our guests’ animal companions.

The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, National Park Service, and California Academy of Sciences were also present to share nature education and foster connections to neighboring green spaces.

“This is the vision we have for the Golden Gate Greenway,” said Dr. Kwan. It was indeed an inspiring vision brought to life.

Thanks to KRON4, NBC, and Telemundo for sharing our story.