BLUFFTON—Schools and parishes opened their lawns and hearts for their annual pet blessings as a way to celebrate the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. Above, students from St. Gregory the Great School brought their animals — both real and stuffed — to receive a blessing from Father Marek Sotek, parochial vicar of St. Gregory the Great Church. This year marked a first for the parish when the Guarisco family led their horse, Max, up for his blessing. The school has had some big dogs in attendance before, but never an actual horse.
