January 10, 2026, to January 10, 2027

Feb 15

I know it’s the middle of February, and Lent begins on Wednesday, but I would like to talk about October 3, 2026. On that day, the day before the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron of this church, we will recall his life and death at a prayer service simply call, “The Transitus.” What makes this year different is we will have the opportunity to mark the 800th Anniversary of the death of the saint from Assisi.

To commemorate this anniversary, Pope Leo XIV has proclaimed January 10, 2026, to January 10, 2027, as a Special Year of St. Francis. In a letter to the Franciscan family, Pope Leo wrote, “I wish to join spiritually with the entire Franciscan Family and with all those who will take part in the commemorative events, hoping that the
message of peace may find a profound echo in the Church and society today.” He went on to say, “In this age, marked by so many seemingly interminable wars, by internal and social divisions that create mistrust and fear, (St. Francis) continues to speak. Not because he offers technical solutions, but because his life points to the authentic source of peace.”

The decree initially states that this year is intended for all Franciscans but goes on to add, “the grace of this special year is also extended to all the faithful without distinction who, with their spirits removed from sin, visit in the form of a pilgrimage any Franciscan conventual church or place of worship dedicated to St. Francis in any part of the world. The elderly, the sick and those who for serious reasons cannot leave, home will also be able to obtain the plenary indulgence by spiritually joining the Jubilee celebrations and offering their prayers, pains or sufferings to God.”

As we celebrate this Special Year of St. Francis, all Christians are invited to see St. Francis as a model of holiness and a witness of peace. The announcement of this special year by the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans,) stated, “May the shining example of St. Francis, who knew how to make himself poor and humble in order to be a true alter Christus on earth, inspire our hearts to live with authentic Christian charity towards our neighbor and with sincere longings for concord and peace among peoples. Following in the footsteps of the Poverello of Assisi, let us transform the hope that made us pilgrims during the Holy Year into fervor and zeal of effective charity. May this Year of St Francis be for each one of us a providential occasion for sanctification and evangelical witness in the contemporary world, for the glory of God and the good of the whole Church.”

Here at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, we have two upcoming events to help us begin to celebrate this Special Jubilee Year of St. Francis.

Next Saturday, February 21st, in St. Thomas of Villanova Church, Surf City, the Secular Franciscans will be hosting A Franciscan Mission Retreat by Fr. Tony Ciorra from 10 AM – 3 PM. The doors will open at 9:30 AM. A month later, to end our Friday Lenten Soup and Stations Series, Sr. Clare D'Auria, OSF, will lead a parish retreat beginning on Friday, March 20th, with soup at 5 PM followed by the first talk given by Sr. Clare from 6:00-7:30 PM. This retreat experience will continue on Saturday, March 21st, beginning with the 9 AM Mass and ending at 3 PM. During her talks, Sr. Clare will be exploring St.
Francis as peacemaker.

All are invited to these experiences to help us understand who St. Francis was in an attempt to be who Christ is
calling us to be.