@novelangel, there are several venues of the events and fortunately they are all nearly situated with the farthest about 20 kilometers away from our place. We are fortunate to have a car so transportation is not an issue.
You are right, @maxen, I just mentioned being Catholic because the event is officiated by a Catholic priest. But it's actually a sort of pet festival or a gathering of pet owners with their pets. That priest in the photo from PAWS.org is the same priest every year in that pet blessing held in Eastwood City. He already knows my face because I always stay behind him during the parade/procession before the actual blessing.
By the way, the program also includes some guest celebrities who mostly sing and there are also dance numbers. In the audience are some actors and actresses who are pet lovers.