Blessing of the Animals

  • Ella Fail, seventh grader, with Duncan

  • From left, Hynn Gon Moon and her husband, Eun Jin Paek, holding Lilly, with their son, Ethan Moon, kindergartner, holding Rollo by leash.

  • from left are Sophia Dunaway holding Francis, Alexcia Miskie with Alvin, Mary Grace Bishop and Jane Perry Collins with Millie and Caroline Lovegroup holding Hendon.

  • Morgan Underwood with Rosie

  • Cates Green and first-grader Mack Roberts, a bystander, with horses Diva, left, and Moonshine

  • Sixth-grader Norah Sawyers with Cheeseburger

In the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, Episcopal School of Knoxville started the day with its annual Blessing of the Animals on school campus grounds, 950 Episcopal School Way off Lovell Road, Wednesday morning, Oct. 4.

Children, teens, parents, faculty and grandparents gathered with their dogs, cats, a couple of horses, guinea pigs, hedgehogs and even some stuffed animals for a blessing from the church’s Episcopal priests, the Very Rev. John Ross, dean at St. John’s Cathedral, and the Rt. Rev. Brian Cole, bishop of East Tennessee.

While some pets made friends, others were a little apprehensive — but all got a blessing.