In an annual event held to recognize and raise funds for Laurel’s Animal Rescue League, animals were blessed Saturday, in a service held at St. John’s Episcopal Church in conjunction with the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.

In the past, the animals have been blessed by the Rev. Stan Runnels, but since Runnels’ move to Kansas, St. John’s has been without a rector. Saturday, the Rev. Susan Carney came from Ocean Springs to conduct the service.

St. John’s member Cynthia Parsley, who served as chairman of this year’s service, said the blessing of the animals was started about 20 years ago, and her church began holding it annually about four years ago.

“It started as a fund-raiser for the Animal Rescue League, but it is also an outreach project,” Parsley said.

“It is important for people to remember that animals are God’s creatures,” she continued. “They are God’s gift to us, and it is our responsibility to take care of them.”

This year, the St. John’s event raised $3,000, according to Parsley. Some of that money will be used to buy food and supplies, as in the past, but this year, half of that amount will be used for a critical need at the Animal Rescue League — spaying and neutering.

Carney said she visited St. John’s a few months ago, and Parsley and another church member, Pat Bailey, asked her if she might be interested in leading the blessing of the animals.

“This is my passion,” said Carney. “Animals are God’s way of revealing God’s self to human beings. This service validates people’s understanding of their companion animals.”