Date: 10/3/2009
Time: 10:00 AM TO 3:00 PM

4070 Mission Ave.
Oceanside, CA 92057

---

Event Description: If you're not familiar with St. Francis Day, it is when parishioners and community members bring their pets - dog, hamsters, birds, you name it - to the church to be blessed by the priests. Old Mission Montessori School (OMMS) and the Mission San Luis Rey Parish celebrate this annual blessing of the pets with food, fun, spirituality, and a huge variety of pets! Prior to the blessing the pets (and their owners) conduct a Pet Parade where they form two lines and receive their annual blessing. Last year we had a tarantula and the year prior a huge lizard. There will be opportunities to make a Pilgrimage to St. Francis with a guided tour of the artwork and spirituality that imbues Mission San Luis Rey Parish, and special St. Francis pet medals will be available to purchase for a nominal fee. During the event, OMMS creates a festival environment. Attendees enjoy crafts, face painting, cookie decorating, food booths, a silent auction, and the "Horse Drop" fundraiser. You won't believe this one...we put squares with numbers out on the field and wherever the horse 'drops' the winner gets the raffle prize of up to $1,000. Tickets sell for $10 each. Parking and admission are free. What: St. Francis Day Festivities - pet blessings and parades, family activities, food, raffles, silent auction and more Where: Front lawn located at 4070 Mission Ave., Oceanside, CA 92057 Who: Mission San Luis Rey Parish, Old Mission Montessori School, Knights of Columbus When: Saturday, October 3rd, 2009. Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; Blessings at 11:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. The Pilgrimage with St. Francis will be ongoing throughout the day.


Directions:
Front lawn of Mission San Luis Rey Parish in Oceanside, corner of Rancho del Oro and Mission Ave.

---