Fr. Martin Bui recites a prayer after the blessing of the animal for the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi at Saint Nicholas Catholic Church in Laguna Woods on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Fr. Martin Bui begins the blessing of the animals for the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi at Saint Nicholas Catholic Church in Laguna Woods on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Fr. Martin Bui, left, says a prayer before the blessing of the animals for the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi at Saint Nicholas Catholic Church in Laguna Woods on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
People and their pets gather for the blessing of the animals for the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi at Saint Nicholas Catholic Church in Laguna Woods on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Angela Acevedo, right, pushes a stroller with her 19-year-old dog named Lupita just in time for Fr. Martin Bui to bless her as part of the blessing of the animals for the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi at Saint Nicholas Catholic Church in Laguna Woods on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A woman brought her pet rabbit for the blessing of the animals for the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi at Saint Nicholas Catholic Church in Laguna Woods on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Fr. Martin Bui blesses a mustang horse named Cedar for the blessing of the animals on the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi at Saint Nicholas Catholic Church in Laguna Woods on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mili rests on the shoulder of Carolina Capacette as they wait for the blessing of the pets for the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi at Saint Nicholas Catholic Church in Laguna Woods on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Teddy, left, a shitzu, waits patiently at the feet of Renee Oreshkov for a blessing of the animals for the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi at Saint Nicholas Catholic Church in Laguna Woods on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
People and their pets gather around Fr. Martin Bui, bottom, as he recites a prayer before the blessing of the animals for the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi at Saint Nicholas Catholic Church in Laguna Woods on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Renee Oreshkov holds her dog Teddy as they wait for the blessing of the animals on the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi at Saint Nicholas Catholic Church in Laguna Woods on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Fr. Martin Bui begins the blessing of the animals for the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi at Saint Nicholas Catholic Church in Laguna Woods on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mega Tjandra, left, takes a photo of her pet dove named, Putih, before the start of the blessing of the animals for the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi at Saint Nicholas Catholic Church in Laguna Woods on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Fr. Martin Bui recites a prayer after the blessing of the animal for the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi at Saint Nicholas Catholic Church in Laguna Woods on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
One for Mili and one for Teddy, one for Putih and one for Cedar, Fr. Martin Bui walked through the small crowd gathered at Saint Nicholas Church offering blessings Friday afternoon.
Mega Tjandra carefully clutched Putih, her pet dove, in her hands; Teddy, a shih tzu, sat patiently at the feet of his owner, while Mili was held by hers. Bui climbed into a horse trailer to bless Cedar, a mustang.
On the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, Saint Nicholas Church held its annual Blessing of the Animals. Most of the animals were dogs, but all creatures were welcome.
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