Cold-blooded, four-legged, housebroken or not — all were welcome at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church this weekend to receive a special blessing.

The ceremony, observed by congregations at the beginning of October, celebrates St. Francis of Assisi, the 13th-century Italian friar known for his love of animals.

At his East Long Beach church Saturday, Rev. Michael Fincher recited prayers attributed to St. Francis and then took care to bless each individual pet — or a picture or stuffed animal brought as a stand-in.

“It’s just really a way of honoring our role as stewards of God’s creation,” Fincher said. “And one of the ways that we exercise that is care for those of God’s creatures that are in our own homes, our pets.”

Rev. Michael Fincher blesses Bob and Carol Corb’s dog, Kaia, 11, during the Blessing of the Animals at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Long Beach, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Abby Koerkenmeier holds her cat Samson as it gets blessed by Rev. Michael Fincher during the Blessing of the Animals at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Long Beach, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Rev. Michael Fincher ends the Blessing of the Animals with a prayer at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Long Beach, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Babydoll stays close to his owner as Rev. Michael Fincher blesses the dog during the Blessing of the Animals at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Long Beach, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Max, left and Stan seem to smile after being blessed during the Blessing of the Animals at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Long Beach, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Jim Perreten brings a photo of his cat Phoenix as Rev. Michael Fincher prays during the Blessing of the Animals at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Long Beach, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Cody gets blessed by Rev. Michael Fincher during the Blessing of the Animals at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Long Beach, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Rev. Michael Fincher prays during the Blessing of the Animals at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Long Beach, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Freckles gets blessed at the Blessing of the Animals at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Long Beach, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Kai sits in the lap of Cecilia Florio as Faustim Florio sets next to them during the Blessing of the Animals at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Long Beach, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.