COURTESY PHOTOS

St. John’s Episcopal Church will host the annual Blessing of the Pets at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 6, to celebrate St. Francis Day. The event will be located outdoors at the church, located at 2107 Tyler St. in Great Bend. Bring pets on a leash or in a carrier and bring blankets or chairs for seating. Heart of Kansas Mercantile and Red Barn will provide free treats for the pets. Each pet will also receive a St. Francis and St. Anthony pet medal. Donations of money/old towels/blankets for the Great Bend Humane Society/Animal Shelter are encouraged. If there is inclement weather the event will be moved to the following Sunday. Above: Mother Teresa Lahar is shown blessing pets at last year’s event.

This story was modified on Sept. 30, 2024, to correct the address of the church. It is located just north of Great Bend Middle School.