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Have A Cricket That Needs Blessing? Tonight's Your Night

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By DANIELA VELÁZQUEZ | TBO.com

Published: October 4, 2007

Your four-legged friends can get some divine intervention.

So can any other crawling, hopping or slithering creatures brought to the Franciscan Center, 3010 Perry Avenue, Tampa, for a "Blessing of the Animals" at 6 tonight as part a celebration of the feast of St. Francis of Assisi.

"People used to think of him as the patron saint of animals," said Ellen Hochschwender, director of the center's public relations. But now many think of him as the saint of ecology.

"Everything in creation is a manifestation of God's love and power, including animals and our environment," Hochschwender said.

The center's animal blessing ceremony has been held for more than 15 years, she said.

In that time, ferrets, crickets, snails and even equine from the Tampa Police Department's mounted posse have been blessed.

Blessing of animals will also be held:

*Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to noon Oct. 6 at St. Clements Episcopal Church, 706 W. 113th Ave., Tampa. All pets are invited, and refreshments will be served. For information, call (813) 932-6204.

*Sunday at 1 p.m. at Sacred Heart Academy, 3515 N. Florida Ave., Tampa.

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