The Feast of Saint Francis and Blessing of the Animals

Sunday, October 5

11 a.m. Service

11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Outdoor Fair

2 p.m. Spotlight Tour: The Stained Glass Menagerie - Spotlight on Animals

 

A day inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, whose life exemplified harmony between humans and nature, begins with a performance of the Earth Mass/Missa Gaia by artist-in-residence Paul Winter and his Consort as well as the resident Omega and Forces of Nature dance troupes.

The celebrant at the service will be The Rt. Rev. Mark S. Sisk, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York. The Very Rev. Dr. James A. Kowalski, Cathedral Dean, will preach. An outdoor fair, open to all, where Cathedral clergy will bless pets will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Persons who do not have passes are advised to arrive at the Cathedral 1-2 hours early. Seating will be on a first come first served basis for those without passes.

Limited seating is due to reinstallation of the Cathedral’s Great Organ, the final stage of cleaning and restoration caused by the 2001 fire.

No passes are necessary for Choral Evensong Service at 6 p.m. on Sunday, October 5th.

At 2 p.m. The Public Education and Visitor Services Department is offering a special Spotlight Tour, The Stained Glass Menagerie. Celebrate the Feast of St. Francis with with a tour focusing on the vast diversity of animal life that populates the windows and stones of the Cathedral. Senior Cathedral Guide John Simko helps you find a frog, an ape, and wolly mammoth, lean about the birds and the bees, and discover a saint riding on the back of a crocodile. $10 per person, $8 per student/senior. Participants meet at the Vistor Center inside the Cathedral entrance at 112th Street and Amsterdam Avenue. For more information please call (212) 932-7347.

 

The Cathedral needs financial help to welcome thousands of men, women, children and their pets to its twenty-fourth annual Feast of St. Francis, a free celebration of creation. Contributions are needed to meet exceptional expenses such as lighting, rigging, sound systems, special music, dance and additional security. Your support helps the Cathedral bring to public attention the need to care for all of creation.

 

All contributors will be included in the program Gift Roster. Every $100 you send entitles you to one reserved seat. With a gift of $250 or more, we are pleased to be able to send you a copy of the book,

by Ethel Pochocki, with engravings by Barry Moser.

For more information on how to help support this year’s Feast of St. Francis and Blessing of the Animals, please contact Dee Dee Mozeleski at 212-316-7488 or email dmozeleski@stjohndivine.org.