MORE than 300 people brought their pets to be blessed at the St Francis of Assisi Pets Mass held at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Caringbah, on Sunday.
Dogs, cats, canaries, guinea pigs, turtles and their owners were all blessed by Father Danai Penollar at the Mass, the first of its kind to be held at the church.
The Pets Mass was the idea of Father Danai, the new priest at Our Lady of Fatima. During the Mass he spoke of St Francis's love for all creation and remembered his own childhood pet, Brownie the dog.
Father Danai said that apart from some barking, most animals were well-behaved.
"I think we will be holding an ever bigger event next year, judging by the many happy comments," he said.