This week, the Franciscan community together with the rest of the Catholic world is celebrating the feast of St Francis of Assisi who lived in the Italian region of Umbria between 1182 and 1226, and founded the biggest Religious Order in the Christian world.

During the last few days, the Franciscan Friars organized several activities at St Anthony's Church related with Saint Francis. The highlight of the celebrations took place this morning during the blessing of the pets and horses. The ceremony was held by Fra Alfred Sciberras ofm. The bond between person and pet is like no other relationship and no wonder why so many people enjoy the opportunity to take their animal companions to church for this special blessing.

At 5.30pm, a concelebrated Mass led by Archpriest Dun Frankie Bajada with the participation of the orchestra and St Anthony's Choir closed the week-long celebrations.

St Francis of Assisi, one of the most beloved of the saints, died on October 3, 1226, at the old Porziuncola chapel that he had restored years earlier, in an area just below he town of Assisi, and was canonized less than two years later, on July 16, 1228, by Pope Gregory IX.

The followers of St Francis arrived on the island of Gozo some 200 years later, that is in the late Middle Ages, and they have remained with us since. They join the thousands of churches all over the world, where St Francis of Assisi is venerated and his followers are revered.