Philippines: Calapan Catholics Celebrate St. Francis Feast with Call to Care for Creation

Dogs, cats and their human companions gathered at the Sto. Niño Cathedral in Calapan on October 4 for the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, with the celebration calling Catholics to recognize care for animals as part of their responsibility to protect God’s creation.

Calapan is the capital of Oriental Mindoro province in the MIMAROPA region of the Philippines.

The gathering, held during the Catholic Church’s Season of Creation, began with an 8 a.m. Mass at the cathedral grounds, followed by the blessing of pets.

Under the theme “Part of Creation with Life,” the celebration invited participants to see animals not simply as pets but as part of the web of life entrusted to humanity’s care.

The observance reflected the message of Laudato Si’, the encyclical of Pope Francis on care for the common home, which calls people to recognize the interconnectedness of human beings and the rest of creation.

Pope Leo XIV has continued this emphasis, calling care for creation a Christian vocation and urging an “authentic ecological conversion” in which encounters with Christ are reflected in the way people relate to the world around them.

In his 2026 message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, Pope Leo said the ecological crisis calls for a conversion of heart that bears fruit in respect for the gift of creation. He also called on Christians to safeguard the different “ecosystems” entrusted to them, including creation, human relationships and the human heart.

The message resonates with the spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi, whose love for creation inspired the Church’s ecological reflection and the title of Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’.

Ditas Anorico, a government employee, brought the dogs of her daughter, Kaethe, to the celebration.

“We selected these dogs, Megu and Cloe, among seven, hoping they would improve their behavior after the blessings and celebration,” she said.

“I see churchgoers smiling at our furry companions, either old or young,” said her son, Zab, a psychology student at Divine Word College of Calapan. He added that pets can provide emotional and mental support.

Organizers also distributed food for dogs and cats from sponsors, to the delight of participants.

Participants were encouraged to “pray with love, care with kindness, respect every life, and protect the common home.”

The celebration also featured a “Cutiest and Smartest Pet” competition, with the winning pet receiving a prize.

More than a simple blessing of animals, the gathering offered a concrete reminder of the Christian call to move from admiration of creation to responsible care for it.

As Pope Leo XIV said during a Mass for the Care of Creation in September, contemplation of creation should lead people to recognize their responsibility to preserve the harmony of creation and renew their relationships with all creatures.

For the faithful gathered in Calapan, that call began with something simple: caring for the animals beside them and recognizing that every creature is part of God’s creation and worthy of care.

“Every creature matters. Be part of the change.”