Belfast Cathedral will welcome ‘Pets on the Steps’
The Dean of Belfast and Dean’s Vicar will be on the steps of the Cathedral on Sunday 4 October between 2–3.00 pm, to coincide with St Francis of Assisi Day, and encourage people to bring their pets to receive a blessing.
Belfast Cathedral has hosted its annual Pet Service since 2017 with superb success but restrictions around COVID–19 have prevented it taking place in the usual way. However, the Dean of Belfast, The Very Revd Stephen Forde, was keen to not miss this special event entirely.
He said: “Although we cannot have our annual Pet Service this year, due to the Covid restrictions, we still want to recognise how significant people’s pets have been to them, particularly during the months of lockdown. We hope by welcoming people to bring their pets to the steps of the Cathedral for this simple blessing, we are able to offer members of the public an alternative to our extremely successful Pet Service. This opportunity for thanksgiving and blessing celebrates the importance of pets and working animals in the lives of so many people in these very difficult times.”