UPDATE: Blessing of the Animals in Bloomfield, Montclair, Nutley This Weekend

The John A. Bukowski Bloomfield Animal Shelter will be holding three ceremonies for the Blessing of the Animals thsi weekend. 

The first will take place Saturday, October 1 at the Christ Episcopal Church of Bloomfield-Glen Ridge, 74 Park Avenue, Glen Ridge. The blessing ceremony will begin after a short service at 10:30 a.m.

Sunday's ceremonies will take place at the following locations:

St. James's Episcopal Church in Upper Montclair, 581 Valley Road, at the corner of Bellevue Avenue.  There will be a gathering on the front lawn (in the event of rain it will take place in the Parish Hall.)

Patch reader Karen Banda also noted that there will be a Blessing of the Animals ceremony in Nutley on Sunday at 12:45pm at Grace Episcopal Church, 200 Highfield Lane, Nutley.

"The Bloomfield/Bukowski Animal Shelter is truly blessed to be the beneficiaries of all three events," commented Banda.  "St. Francis must really love what we're trying to do!"

The public is invited to come and bring their pets to all events. Donations for the Bloomfield Animal Shelter will be most welcome.  People are asked to bring canned cat food (9 Lives, Fancy Feast, etc.), canned dog food (Alpo, Pedigree, etc.), Milk-Bones, gently used towels and washcloths, scrubbing sponges and detergent (dish or laundry).  Monetary donations are also gratefully accepted.

"Whether you feel blessed to have pets, think that your pets need blessing or just enjoy being around animals, please come to our annual service of Blessing of the Animals," said Carolyn Robertson, a volunteer at the Bukowski Bloomfield Animal Shelter.  "Please bring your donations for the shelter and invite your friends, neighbors and pets.  All people - and all pets - are welcome!"

For more information on Sunday's event, call the Parish office at (973) 744-0270 or visit its website:  www.stjamesepiscopal.org.