Dogs and cats and more! Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm holds annual Blessing of the Animals

The sanctuary was bustling on Sunday as The Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-Sea in Palm Beach hosted its annual Blessing of the Animals service.

The tradition, which the church celebrates on the Sunday closest to the Oct. 4 Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, honors the saint’s love for all creatures, great and small, Bethesda said in a release last month.

The service was open to all pets — including exotic companions. Also, children could bring their favorite stuffed animals to be blessed, sharing in the spirit of joy and inclusion, the church said.

The church was packed with people and animals, Bethesda's Rector the Rev. Tim Schenck said in an email to The Daily News. "There must have been well over 100 pets. Mostly dogs, but I also saw a rabbit, ferret, several brave cats, axolotl (rare type of salamander), birds (and) kids brought their favorite stuffed animals for a blessing."

Schenck's sermon for the service was all about the animals.

"Holy chaos. That’s the vibe here this morning at Bethesda-by-the-Sea, as we gather to worship God alongside all sorts of creatures great and small. Some of which you can see, many of which you can hear, and all of which are part of God’s glorious and marvelous creation. Even when they bark during this very short sermon," he said.

Pets, Schenck said, offer glimpses of the divine presence in "the ways they just seem to know when we’re hurting and quietly curl up next to us ... In the ways they daily bring joy into our lives, especially when we’re feeling less than joyful. These are all holy moments, reminders that God never abandons us, even in the midst of life’s inevitable chaos."

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Dogs and cats and more! Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm holds annual Blessing of the Animals