July 20, 2011
St. Francis Day in a Box! 2011
Continue in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi, with resources to take you beyond the pet blessing
-
Let us know how you celebrate St. Francis Day.
-
The Chronicals of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
-
The Friends We Keep, by Laura Hobgood-Oster.
-
I Will See You in Heaven, by Jack Wintz, O.F.M.
St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and the environment, is celebrated worldwide. While the official feast day is Oct. 4, faith communities nationwide hold pet blessings and other events throughout the fall season to honor the saint’s devotion to God's creation.
St. Francis Day in a Box! has materials to promote small group discussion; Sunday school projects; film screenings and more.
“St. Francis Day in a Box allows you to explore issues St. Francis would be taking on in the 21st century church,” said Christine Gutleben, director of The HSUS Faith Outreach program. “Consider St. Francis Day as the beginning of a conversation in your community, as a good time to look at our responsibilities toward animals in the care of creation.”
Your $15 toolkit includes:
- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader DVD ((Walden Media, Twentieth Century Fox)
- C.S. Lewis as Advocate for Animals by Gerald Root, Ph.D.
- The Friends We Keep: Unleashing Christianity’s Compassion for Animals by Laura Hobgood-Oster (Baylor University Press)
- Animal Protection Ministries: A Guide for Churches, The HSUS
- I Will See You in Heaven by Jack Wintz, O.F.M., (Paraclete Press)
- Francis: The Journey and the Dream, 35th Anniversary Edition on audio book, by Murray Bodo, O.F.M., (St. Anthony Messenger Press)
- Catholic Update, special edition newsletter (St. Anthony Messenger Press)
- Eating Mercifully documentary DVD and discussion guide, The HSUS
- The CAFO Reader: The Tragedy of Industrial Animal Factories (Watershed Media)
- "O God, Your Creatures Fill the Earth," hymn (Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, 2011)
- A Religious Case for Compassion for Animals, by Matthew Scully from The HSUS Faith Outreach booklet series
Bring the spirit of St. Francis alive in your congregation! Order now
Reviews of St. Francis Day in a Box!
“These materials are inspired by the vision of Francis of Assisi, a medieval saint who loved animals and considered every creature to be a brother or sister. Francis is everybody’s saint, as he is recognized as a man who loved all things living.”
—Daniel Kroger, O.F.M. Publisher and CEO St. Anthony Messenger Press
"A welcome addition to our annual pet blessing."
—C. Edwards, Parish Deacon, Chicago, Ill.
"[It] has something for parishioners of all ages and is a valuable ecumenical tool."
—K. Azzarello, Catholic parishoner, Greensburg, Penn.
Donate to order now
This package is only $15 and is available for a limited time. Whether you are planning a special service for St. Francis Sunday, a pet blessing ceremony or other event, the St. Francis Day in a Box is sure to help engage your community in the care of God's creation. Order now