Pope Leo XIV has proclaimed a special Jubilee Year (10 January 2026 – 10 January 2027) coinciding with the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis of Assisi.
While noting previous jubilee celebrations related to the works of St Francis – such as the eighth centenary commemorations of the first Nativity scene, his composition of the “Canticle of the Creatures” and his receiving of the stigmata – the decree stated that “2026 will mark the culmination and fulfillment of all previous celebrations”, emphasising its significance.
Remarking that “Our time is not very different from that in which Francis lived and precisely in the light of this his teaching is perhaps even more valid and understandable today”, Pope Leo continues “When Christian charity languishes, ignorance spreads like immorality, and those who exalt concord among peoples do so more out of selfishness than out of a sincere Christian spirit; when the virtual takes over the real, disagreements and social violence are part of everyday life and peace becomes more insecure and distant every day, 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”…
- Read the decree in full here
El papa León XIV ha proclamado un Año Jubilar especial (del 10 de enero de 2026 al 10 de enero de 2027) que coincide con el 800 aniversario de la muerte de San Francisco de Asís.
Si bien se han celebrado anteriormente jubileos relacionados con las obras de San Francisco, como las conmemoraciones del octavo centenario del primer belén, su composición del «Cántico de las criaturas» y la recepción de los estigmas, el decreto afirma que «2026 marcará la culminación y el cumplimiento de todas las celebraciones anteriores», subrayando su importancia.
Tras señalar que «nuestra época no es muy diferente de aquella en la que vivió Francisco y, precisamente a la luz de esto, su enseñanza es quizás aún más válida y comprensible hoy en día», el papa León continúa: «Cuando la caridad cristiana languidece, la ignorancia se extiende como la inmoralidad, y quienes exaltan la concordia entre los pueblos lo hacen más por egoísmo que por un sincero espíritu cristiano; cuando lo virtual se impone sobre lo real, los desacuerdos y la violencia social forman parte de la vida cotidiana y la paz se vuelve cada día más insegura y lejana, este Año de San Francisco nos impulsa a todos, cada uno según sus posibilidades, a imitar al pobre de Asís, a formarnos en la medida de lo posible según el modelo de Cristo»…
- Lea el decreto completo aquí
From 2021 to 2025 we have held our retreats in the following communities in Newfoundland and Labrador:
Anastasia was received into the novitiate on July 2,1855 and given the name Sister Mary John Baptist. Sister M. Francis Creedon presided over the reception ceremony although she was very ill at the time. Her death two weeks later on July 15 left the four remaining young sisters – M. Vincent Nugent, M. Francis Xavier Bernard, M. Elizabeth Redmond and M. Baptist Tarahan – in a very precarious situation. A letter from the four was quickly sent to the superior at Baggot Street, informing her of Sister M. Francis’ death and pleading for help. In this letter the grief and desolation of the little community is almost palpable and their request for assistance is very clear: “to prevent a convent which promises to give such glory to God from failing, for want of a few nuns capable of governing it.” The letter can be found in the Archives of the Sisters of Mercy in Dublin, but as far as is known, it was never acknowledged and no sisters were sent from Ireland to help the situation.