Year of St. Francis
Launching The Year of St Francis at Our Lady of the Angels
The Pope declared 2026 the Year of St Francis - to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis of Assisi. The Pope has also granted a plenary indulgence to anyone taking part in certain worship - attending mass in a Franciscan church, receiving communion - and going to confession.
To mark this momentous occasion, we have organized a series of events for the rest of the year and there is something for everyone.
Every family will receive a booklet with all the details - but the highlights are:
- 14th June - the animal blessing (St Francis was a great lover of animals and nature)
- 1st August - 26th September - we have nine Novena themes based on Franciscan themes including a double exhibition, combining the Relics of the Franciscan Saints and the Eucharistic Miracles designed by Saint Carlos Acutis. We have guest speakers at every Mass and a way for everyone to take part if you wish to.
- 3rd October, 5.30pm Mass only - the special liturgy of the Transitus (marking the actual date of St Francis’ passing from this world to the next).
- 4th October, 10.30am mass - Mass of St Francis (Archbishop John Wilson).
Our St Francis Committee have been working really hard since January to put this all together so we hope you will support these events - you are welcome at one or all of them. We will remind you as each event comes up.
Please take a booklet with all the details - and keep it safe. There is also an especially designed prayer card for every adult and bookmark for every child - with the Peace Prayer of St Francis.
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.
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.
Novena Week 3: Br. John Cavanagh OFM Cap will speak on the theme, “Humility - Less of Me”. Humility was at the very heart of St. Francis’ life. He recognized that every good gift comes from God and desired only to reflect Christ, never to draw attention to himself. Calling himself a Friar Minor a ‘lesser brother’, Francis chose the path of simplicity, service, and joyful dependence on God. He found Christ in the poor, the forgotten, and the vulnerable, teaching his brothers to lead not by seeking honor, but by serving with love.