Pastor Brian Elster blesses Miss Darling Daphne Diva, a pug owned by Frances Emmons, of Lawrence, outside of Trinity Lutheran Church, 1245 New Hampshire St., on Saturday morning during the annual Blessing

About 60 people and their pets celebrated the weekend Feast of St. Francis of Assisi — the patron saint of animals and ecology — Saturday by participating in a “Blessing of the Animals” at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1245 New Hampshire St.

“We want to have a moment of praise for how our animals help us understand we are connected to the world and the environment,” Pastor Brian Elster said to attendees of the event Saturday morning.

The attendees and their pets, on leashes or held in arms, formed a line to have Elster put holy water on each pet’s head and say a blessing for their health and well-being. Most of the pets brought for blessings were dogs, but some people brought photographs of cats or other pets to be blessed as part of the commemoration day of St. Francis, which is Sunday.

Pastor Brian Elster blesses Miss Darling Daphne Diva, a pug owned by Frances Emmons, of Lawrence, outside of Trinity Lutheran Church, 1245 New Hampshire St., on Saturday morning during the annual Blessing

Frances Emmons, of Lawrence, waited in line with her pug, Miss Darling Daphne Diva. Emmons said the event was a way for her to show love for her longtime pet and a chance for Diva to visit with other dogs.

“She’s been with me 15 years, and I just wanted to come out and have her blessed,” she said.

Alfie, a 2-year-old miniature poodle owned by Andrea Moreau, of Lawrence, waits to be blessed outside of Trinity Lutheran Church, 1245 New Hampshire St., on Saturday morning during the annual Blessing

The event also included informational pamphlets and the chance for attendees to ask questions of representatives from the Kansas Humane Society, Douglas County Emergency Preparedness and Pawsh Wash.

Humane Society volunteers Alyssa Parrish, left, and Becca Kurtz, both of Lawrence, watch over Sue, a Siberian husky mix, as she waits for her turn to be blessed outside of Trinity Lutheran Church, 1245 New Hampshire Street on Saturday morning during the annual blessing of the animals event in honor of St. Francis.

Animal blessings are a common way to celebrate the feast day, and this was the second year for the event at Trinity Lutheran. In the spirit of St. Francis, one goal of the event was to encourage caring for and preserving all elements of the environment, said event committee member Susan Hadl.

Pastor Brian Elster blesses Buxtehude, a 12-year-old puggle owned by Susan Hadl, a member of the event committee, outside of Trinity Lutheran Church, 1245 New Hampshire Street on Saturday morning during the annual blessing of the animals event in honor of St. Francis of Assisi.

“We need to be good stewards of all God’s creations,” she said. “The animal population fits into that quite nicely, and people can relate to that.”