Since Pope Leo XIV declared a Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi from January 10, 2026 to January 10, 2027, in commemoration of the saint’s 800th death anniversary, parishes in the diocese have coordinated different activities in honor of the saint.
Holy Spirit, Hemet:
Holy Spirit parish began coordinating an opportunity for families to bring home a blessed St. Francis statue for a week, return it to the church and let another family bring it to their home. This opportunity began in August, and the parish has had 11 families who have participated so far. The statue comes in a care package that includes a handmaid Franciscan rosary, a St. Francis prayer book, a packet with information on St. Francis and his story, and coloring pages for children.
“Having the statue of Saint Francis of Assisi in our home for a week was a truly special blessing,” said Ruben Gutierrez, whose family received the statue from Oct. 11-16. “We came together each day in prayer, reciting the prayers that accompanied the statue as well as the Seven-Decade Crown Rosary.”
Ruben, alongside his wife, Pauline, and son, Dillon, are members of the Jubilee committee and coordinators of the parish Homeless Ministry, and Dillon is also an active member of Youth Ministry.
“This experience brought the spirit of St. Francis into our home and gave us an opportunity to reflect on the example of Saint Francis’ humility, his love for all of God’s creation, and the importance of living a life full of peace and kindness and service to others,” Ruben said. “We feel truly blessed to have been chosen to participate in this special Jubilee celebration at Holy Spirit Catholic Church.”
St. Matthew, Corona: (contributed by parishioner Pam Fischer)
Parishioners of St. Matthew parish in Corona in the Living our Faith Ministry coordinated a presentation, “Saint Francis after 800 years: The Gospel without Compromise,” on Oct. 19.
Parishioner Sean Golden researched this remarkable saint to go beyond birds, the wolf story, and his love of nature.
As Golden continued to tell the story of St. Francis’ life, there were many opportunities for input from those in attendance. Questions such as “Where is Christ waiting for you in someone you would rather avoid?” and “What portion of the Gospel are you still keeping back for yourself?” made the example of St. Francis’ life relevant to us today.
Several members in attendance had traveled to Assisi, Italy, and their personal experiences added to the fascinating discussion. One member even rents an apartment for a month every year, in order to recharge her spirit with the atmosphere and holiness of the place.
St. Matthew’s Living Our Faith Ministry meets once a month to address topics of interest in the Catholic faith. Through presentations, discussions, guest speakers and videos, the purpose is to answer the questions we have about the Catholic Church so we can truly live our faith at home, at school, at work, and in our communities.
Pam Fischer is a Living Our Faith Ministry Member.