PORTLAND — Animal lovers from around Maine are invited to have their animal companions blessed outdoors in celebration of Saint Francis of Assisi’s Feast Day, Oct. 4.

All pets are welcome to attend any of the Blessing of the Animals events. As prayers are offered, the pets will be gently sprinkled with holy water.

St. Francis of Assisi was known for his love of all of God’s creatures. The blessing remembers that love, and also recognizes the important place that pets hold in people’s hearts, according to a news release from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland.

Here are the confirmed events in chronological order (new events will be added as scheduled at portlanddiocese.org/blessing-of-animals-2021):

Saturday, Oct. 2

Falmouth
Holy Martyrs of North America Church, 266 Foreside Road, 9-9:30 a.m.

East Millinocket
St. Peter Church, 58 Cedar St., 10 a.m.

Lewiston
Front lawn of the Basilica of Saints Peter & Paul, 122 Ash St., 10 a.m.

Portland
St. Louis Church, 279 Danforth St., 10 a.m.

Gray
St. Gregory Church, 24 North Raymond Road, 10:30-11 a.m.

Houlton
St. Mary of the Visitation Church, 110 Military St., 1 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 3

Peaks Island
St. Christopher Church, 15 Central Ave., 11:30 a.m.

Dexter
St. Anne Church in the upper parking lot, 64 Free St., noon

Scarborough
St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 150 Black Point Road, noon

Gorham
St. Anne Church, 299 Main St., 1 p.m.

Portland
Lawn of St. Pius X Church, 492 Ocean Ave., 1 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 4

Winslow
Grotto of St. John the Baptist Church, 26 Monument St., 6 p.m.