Celebrating Saint Francis: 10 Community-Building Ideas for His Jubilee Year and Feast Day
The Feast of Saint Francis (October 4) and the Season of Creation (September 1–October 4) are just around the corner. But this year is unlike any other: we are also commemorating the Jubilee Year of Saint Francis, marking 800 years since his passing. This is a time to honor Saint Francis’s example of gentleness, simplicity, and love for the vulnerable and for all of God’s creation.
For Saint Francis, animals were never an afterthought; as Pope Francis taught, “to him each and every creature was a sister united to him by bonds of affection. That is why he felt called to care for all that exists” (LS, 19).
During this historic Jubilee Year, we can follow his example by ensuring that the animals he cherished are not forgotten but instead are welcomed, protected, and cared for in our parish celebrations.
By remembering animals in our plans, we can “nurture that sublime fraternity with all creation which Saint Francis of Assisi so radiantly embodied” (LS, 221).
We’ve compiled 10 fun, community-building ways for your parish to honor Saint Francis this year. If we can support your efforts, or to let us know about your plans, please contact us at info@saintfrancisinstitute.org.
1. Spotlight parishioners engaged in Creation Care in your bulletin or social media.
Highlight parishioners who are passionate about caring for our common home and all God’s creatures. This can include educators, students, veterinarians, gardeners, shelter volunteers, nonprofit staff, volunteers, and others working to make a positive difference.
2. Plan a panel or speaker series.
Shine a light on simple ways to protect God’s creation by kicking off a Creation Care Speaker Series or Webinar. You can also invite parishioners to join our online webinar on Tuesday, September 29th at 8:00 p.m. ET, featuring Dr. Marc Bekoff and exploring the remarkable lives of animals. (Registration details coming in August.)
3. Host a Blessing of the Animals and invite your local animal shelter to participate.
Celebrate the Feast of Saint Francis with a Blessing of the Animals that includes vulnerable animals. Consider partnering with a local animal shelter by inviting them to bring a few adoptable animals. This gives animals a break from the stress of the shelter and may connect loving families with animals in need. Highlight these special guests on your parish’s social media.
4. Make your key events primarily (or fully!) plant-based for the Season of Creation.
Vegan Beyond Meatballs and Pasta with Plant-Based Cheese (Credit: Beyond Meat)
The Season of Creation is an excellent opportunity to shift parish event menus to be plant-based, or primarily plant-based. Offering delicious plant-based options is a meaningful and consistent way to prevent animal suffering and care for the environment. It also ties perfectly into the official Season of Creation theme, Living Water, as choosing plant-based foods can significantly help us reduce our water footprint.
5. Host a book club or discussion group.
Invite parishioners to participate in a discussion group based on our 30-Day Harmony with All Creatures Journey. Or, consider hosting a book club using one of the books featured on our Catholic Theologians page.
6. Host a Saint Francis of Assisi Art Night.
Have fun and build community with art! Contact a local painting event studio and inquire about hosting a custom art night where participants paint a pre-designed image of Saint Francis of Assisi surrounded by animal friends. (Some companies will create the image for a low fee, using sample images that you provide, and will travel to your location.) If you know an art teacher who can lead this, you could even plan this in-house!
7. Host a Creation Care Food Fair.
Trying plant-based foods is one of the easiest ways to begin helping more animals and the environment - so why not make it fun? Host a plant-based tasting event where parishioners can sample foods like tofu, tempeh, plant-based sausages, vegan burger sliders, and other delicious alternatives while learning about their benefits for God’s creation. For inspiration, listen to this podcast from Texas Catholic about how one Catholic parish hosted a successful plant-based food fair, complete with a guest who taught attendees how to compost at home.
8. Select a single window, and make it bird-friendly.
Bird collisions with windows kill over one billion birds per year, but simple changes can make a tremendous difference. Choose one or more parish windows to retrofit with bird-friendly decals or to decorate with bird-friendly patterns using simple paints.
9. Organize a group visit to a local farm sanctuary.
Living in harmony with other creatures begins with knowing who they are. If you have a farm sanctuary in driving distance, organize a private group tour. You’ll forge lasting memories with your fellow parishioners or colleagues while getting to meet playful, fun-loving rescued animals.
10. Plant a native garden on your parish grounds.
With a modest budget, a little research, and volunteers, you can transform part of your parish grounds into a beautiful native garden that provides food and habitat for birds, butterflies, bees, and other local wildlife. And, like everything else we do for other creatures, we experience the benefits too!
Bonus: Ask your pastor about including a special intention for vulnerable animals in the Prayers of the Faithful on the Feast of Saint Francis (Sunday, October 4th).