The Rev. John Schmeidler douses a turkey with holy water as it is held by its owner, Jedzia Hicklin, 11, outside St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. Jedzia and other students from St. John’s, as well as community members, brought their animals to the church Friday to be blessed in recognition of the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, which is Sunday.

The lawn of St. John’s Catholic Church and School was filled Friday afternoon with dogs, cats, rabbits — and even a turkey.

Students and parishioners took their pets to the church to be blessed during the celebration of the feast of St. Francis of Assisi.

Father John Schmeidler said St. Francis was known for his love of all things in God’s creation and as a person who cared for animals. Students also have been celebrating the life of St. Francis by collecting items for the Lawrence Humane Society that they will donate next week.

Catholic churches around the nation perform blessing ceremonies for pets in conjunction with the feast of St. Francis on Oct. 4.

In his Capuchin Franciscan robe, Schmeidler moved through the crowd of people and pets, asking each owner the pet’s name before blessing it with holy water.

More than 30 pets were blessed Friday. They ranged from small lizards and turtles to ferrets, cats and dogs of all sizes.

Crosby Dold, a student at St. John’s, her father, Scott, and sister Kennedy brought their 2-year-old Newfoundland dog, Mulan, to be blessed.

Crosby said Mulan had been blessed last year, but she wanted to bring her again so that “she can get a fresh start.”

Jim McDonald, Lawrence, accompanied Winston, the family’s 5-year-old bulldog. McDonald’s daughter Bailey is a third-grader at the school.

He said he thought having Winston blessed would be fun for Bailey and also a good thing for the community of the school.

A sense of community also was important to Ben Hill, a St. John’s fifth-grader. After his Dutch rabbit Amelia was blessed, he said, “She’s in our Catholic family now.”