Year of St. Francis
2026 marks the 800th anniversary of
St Francis of Assisi's death in 1226.
Pope Leo XIV declared that it will be a special Year of St Francis in which we are all called to become saints in our world, following St Francis' example. We are called to model a holiness of life and witness to peace
Pope Leo has said:
"This Year of St Francis spurs all of us, each according to our possibilities to imitate the poor man of Assisi, to form ourselves as far as possible on the model of Christ... may the hope that has seen us as pilgrims now be transformed into zeal and fervour of active charity."
The Year runs from 10 January 2026, the closing of the Jubilee Year "Pilgrims of Hope", until 10 January 2027.
Week’s Novena 9: Next Weekend our guest speaker will be Anna Johnstone. Anna is a British, Catholic convert who read Theology at Cambridge and afterwards embarked on a journey of Music, Prayer and Theology, and professional Care and Governess work that has taken her all over the world. In 2015 Anna became the Governess for the siblings of Saint Carlo Acutis, a post she held for three years, in Assisi, and she remains a family friend. Anna was immediately enthralled by Saint Carlo's mission and is deeply committed to promoting the spirituality and mission of Sanit Carlo Acutis. This will be the focus of her talks. Anna has also been entrusted with a First-Class Relic of Saint Carlo Acutis which will be available for veneration.
Transitus Vigil Mass - Saturday 3rd Oct – 5:30pm: The 5:30pm mass on Saturday 3rd October will be a special and unique celebration of the 800th anniversary of the Transitus of St. Francis of Assisi. Importantly, only as part of this Mass, you will have the privilege of witnessing a live retelling of Francis’s life and his passing from this world to the next. This will NOT be part of the Masses on Sunday 4th so please do make sure you come to the 5:30pm if you want to be part of this unique celebration. We also invite you to join us in the Angelus Centre afterwards (from 6:50pm) for a drinks and buffet celebration.
Feast Day Mass - Sunday 4th October - 10:30am: The main Mass on 4th October, the feast day of St. Francis, will be celebrated by Archbishop at 10:30am. We welcome to the parish his grace Archbishop John Wilson, Civil leaders, members of other faith communities, faithful from other parishes and St. Fidelis School staff and children who coordinate the Mass.
Exhibitions of Eucharistic Miracles and Relics: The exhibition of the Eucharistic Miracles designed by St Carlo Acutis is on display in the church from September 26 to October 10. During these days thereis also an exhibition of the relics of the Apostles and Franciscan saints at St Clare room in the Angelus Centre. The exhibitions will be open from 9 to 11 am in the morning. During the first week of the exhibition i.e., September 28 to October 3 there will be exposition of the sacrament at 6 pm and Mass at 7 pm.
His Story
Early Life: From Wealth to Restlessness
Francis was born around 1181 in Assisi, the son of a wealthy cloth merchant. His birth name was Giovanni, but his father renamed him “Francesco” (“the Frenchman”) because of his love for French culture.
As a young man, Francis lived a carefree life—enjoying fine clothes, parties, and dreams of becoming a knight. But after being captured in a local war and later falling seriously ill, he began to question his life’s direction.
Spiritual Awakening
One of the defining moments of his life came when he prayed in the crumbling church of San Damiano. He heard a voice from the crucifix saying:
“Francis, rebuild my church, which you see is falling into ruin.”
At first, he took this literally—selling his father’s goods to repair churches. This angered his father, leading to a dramatic break: Francis publicly renounced his family’s wealth and even stripped off his fine clothes, choosing a life of poverty.
A Life of Poverty and Service
Francis began living as a poor man, caring for the sick—especially those with leprosy—and preaching a message of humility, peace, and joy. He attracted followers, and together they formed a simple brotherhood.
This became the foundation of the Franciscan Order, officially recognized by the Pope in 1209.
Love for Nature and Animals
Francis is especially remembered for his deep love of nature. He believed all creatures were brothers and sisters under God.
Famous stories include:
Preaching to birds
Taming a fierce wolf in the town of Gubbio
Calling the sun, moon, and elements his “family”
His poem Canticle of the Sun celebrates the beauty of creation and is one of the earliest works of Italian literature.
Later Life and Stigmata
In 1224, while praying on a mount Laverna , Francis received the stigmata—the wounds of Christ.
Death and Legacy
Francis died in 1226, back in Assisi. Just two years later, he was canonised by Pope Gregory IX.
Today, he is:
The patron saint of animals and the environment
A symbol of peace, humility, and care for the poor
The inspiration behind the name of Pope Francis
Why His Story Still Matters
Saint Francis’s life challenges ideas about wealth, power, and success. He showed that joy can come from simplicity, compassion, and connection—with people, nature, and the divine.