We will be offering a Pet Blessing on October 2, 2022, in the St. Joseph Pavilion at 10 a.m. (St. Ambrose in Garrettsville at 1 p.m.). During the blessing and at all weekend Masses, our PSR program will be collecting items for the Portage Animal Protective League in honor of the Feast of St. Francis on October 4. Items from the wish list below can be dropped off at the Pet Blessing, in the church Narthex before Masses, or during PSR Classes. You can donate by ordering items from Amazon.com or Chewy.com by visiting the PAPL website at https://portageapl.org/donate-supplies/.
PORTAGE APL WISH LIST
Dog Food Purina® Dog Chow Dry Dog Food, Complete Adult w/Real Chicken Pedigree® Adult Dry Dog Food Pedigree® Choice CUTS in Gravy Adult Canned Wet Dog Food Cesar® Gourmet Wed Dog Food
Dog Treats Purina® Busy w/Beggin’ Twist’d Rawhide Free Dog Chew Dog Treats Pedigree® DENTASTIX Dog Treats (All Sizes) SmartBones® SmartSticks Chews for Dogs Best Bully Sticks Prime Thick-Cut Cow Ear Dog Chews Cesar® Softies Dog Treats
Shelter Supplies Paper towels (always needed) Bleach (always needed) Heavy duty trash bags (33 gal. and up) and tall kitchen trash bags Blue Dawn® Dish Soap Hand soap (any brand)
Office Supplies Forever Postage Stamps Copy Paper (White or Colors) Two-Pocket Folders (Non-prongs) Binder Clips (all sizes)
They do not accept: Medical Donations: used medications, syringes, flea/tick medication, etc Household Goods: Furniture, pillows, carpeting or pieces of foam
Francis was known for his love of nature and animals. There are many stories about Saint Francis and his preaching to animals. It is said that one day he was talking to some birds when they began to sing together. Then they flew into the sky and formed the sign of a cross.
It was also said that Francis could tame wild animals. One story tells of a vicious wolf in the town of Gubbio that was killing people and sheep. The people of the town were frightened and didn't know what to do. Francis went to the town to confront the wolf. At first the wolf growled at Francis and prepared to attack him. However, Francis made the sign of the cross and told the wolf not to hurt anyone else. The wolf then became tame and the town was safe.
The Prayer of
Saint Francis of Assisi
Attributed to Francis Bernadone perhaps the most universally loved of Christian saints, who was born in Assisi, Italy, in 1181 or 1182. At the age of twenty-two, after a sudden illness that brought him almost to the point of death, he left his home and inheritance to follow an injunction that he felt he received from Christ himself: "Francis, go and rebuild my Church." Three great Franciscan orders quickly grew around the monks, nuns, and lay disciples who responded to his joyful example of universal love and selfless service.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.