St. Francis of Assisi Parish will celebrate the feast of its patron saint – the saint of ecology and all creatures – with the annual Blessing of the Animals at 10 a.m. this Saturday, Oct. 5. The event will be held on the front lawn of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Brant Beach, and all are welcome.

Through the day of the event, the parish, in partnership with Friends of the Southern Ocean County Animal Shelter, is again collecting supplies to benefit our local shelter pets. According to St.