Feast of Saint Francis and Blessing of the Animals 2020
Resources
We invite you to browse these additional resources for animal lovers young and old throughout the day to deepen your understanding and engagement with the Feast of Saint Francis!
About Saint Francis
One of Saint Francis's most famous writings, more commonly called "Canticle of Brother Sun."
Children’s Activities
Cathedral Educators Ashley and Ruth join the daily ACT preschool class to make origami peacocks! You can follow along through the video and download the pattern for reference: https://www.stjohndivine.org/uploads/pages/Origami-Instructions-1588277947.pdf
Celebrate St. Francis Day by coloring some of the many animals that are part of the extraordinary stained glass windows at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Begin with St. Francis himself and then choose from bible stories, medieval legends, or scenes from everyday life.
We can also celebrate St. Francis by making our own animal face masks so we can pretend to be animals, too! Download instructions for how to make a basic mask, plus suggestions for how to make a cat, bunny, bear, and fox. But you can use your imagination to make any animal!
Music
The Missa Gaia (or Earth Mass), composed by Paul Winter and Paul Halley, has been sung on St. Francis Day for almost 40 years. This 1982 performance was recorded in the Cathedral.
Jie Yi conducts Rose of the Compass and the Cathedral Choir in "Mu Ge (Pastoral Song)," a Mongolian folk melody arranged by Qu Xixian.
Kent Tritle conducts Rose of the Compass and the Cathedral Choir in "Now I walk in beauty," a traditional Navajo prayer with music by Gregg Smith.
A Gaelic Blessing by John Rutter
Kent Tritle conducts the Cathedral Choir and Raymond Nagem in John Rutter’s “A Gaelic Blessing.”
Animal Care Organizations We Love
Center for Avian and Exotic Medicine
The Center for Avian and Exotic Medicine is the only exclusive avian and exotic veterinary hospital in New York City. They have taken care of the Cathedral’s resident peacocks Jim, Harry, and Phil for years, and recently took in Jim for almost three months to treat a foot infection.
The Wild Bird Fund provides medical care and rehabilitation to native and passing migrant wildlife so that they can be released back into the wild and educates New Yorkers about the rich diversity of the city’s wildlife and how to help it thrive. The Wild Bird Fund has provided emergency assistance to past generations of Cathedral peacocks, along with their diligent care for thousands of wild birds throughout the city.
WINORR- Wildlife In Need of Rescue and Rehabilitation
WINORR is a non-profit volunteer organization providing professional care for sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife.
ACC NYC strives to find loving homes for homeless and abandoned cats, dogs, and rabbits, both by adopting animals directly to the public and by partnering with more than 200 dedicated animal placement organizations. They are frequent participants at the Cathedral’s annual Feast of Saint Francis, bringing adoptable cats and dogs to the afternoon fair. If you’re interested in adopting a new pet, read more about some featured pets or visit their website at https://www.nycacc.org/.