Students from Ursuline's lower school hold up stuffed animals or pictures of their pets during a blessing of the animals on Oct. 4. Photo courtesy of Ursuline Academy
WILMINGTON — The lower school at Ursuline Academy gathered on Oct. 4 to celebrate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi and also its fifth-grade leaders.
The feast day of St. Francis is the culmination of the Season of Creation, “the annual ecumenical celebration held from Sept. 1 through Oct. 4 that encourages us to consider how we nurture the delicate web of life,” the school said. During a Mass celebrated by Father Michael Vannicola, Ursuline’s fifth-grade leaders received their Bibles, which will remain with them through middle school and beyond.
The Mass was also an opportunity to share blessings on the students’ pets, as well as Winnie, Ursuline’s dog. Lower school students brought in pictures of their pets or a stuffed animal for a special blessing.
Photos courtesy of Ursuline Academy.
Ursuline Academy lower school students bring up the gifts during a Mass celebrating the Season of Creation on Oct. 4.
Ursuline Academy students present the gifts to Father Michael Vannicola during Mass celebrating the Season of Life on Oct. 4.
Father Michael Vannicola blesses Bibles that were given to fifth-graders at Ursuline Academy at a ceremony on Oct. 4.
An Ursuline fifth-grader receives her Bible during the annual ceremony at the school.
Fifth-graders at Ursuline hold up their Bibles that were blessed during a ceremony at the school on Oct. 4. It is an annual tradition at the school.
Ursuline Academy’s lower school celebrates Mass for the Season of Creation.
Families joined lower school students at Ursuline for Mass on Oct. 4 celebrating the Season of Creation and the school’s annual Bible ceremony.
An Ursuline student reads during Mass on Oct. 4 celebrating the Season of Creation.
Students from Ursuline’s lower school hold up stuffed animals or pictures of their pets during a blessing of the animals on Oct. 4. Photo courtesy of Ursuline Academy
Father Michael Vannicola blesses Winnie, Ursuline’s school dog.
