October 7th was a very special day for the Kindergartners and First Graders at St. Anselm Catholic Academy when Fr. Fred Cintron visited the 3 classes for the 5th Annual Blessing of the Stuffed Animals. Fr. Fred explained that he was visiting the children and teachers in celebration of St. Francis of Assisi, who loved all people and animals. Fr. Fred told the children that he had brought his own teddy bear appropriately named “Teddy” and a relic of St. Francis. He explained that the relic was something belonging to St. Francis and that he would be using the relic to bless each child and their special “pet”. The children readied their stuffed animals or photos of a beloved family pet to be blessed. The result was a menagerie that included dogs, cats, owls, sea creatures, and even a teddy bear or two. Fr. Fred blessed each child and then asked the name of the stuffed animal or family pet in the photo and blessed each one. A heartfelt thanks to Fr. Freddy for his St. Francis blessings that meant so much to the children.
All the best,
The St. Anselm Publicity Committee