10 Ways Parishes Can Honor Saint Francis’s Love for All Creatures During His Jubilee Year
Earlier this year, Pope Leo XIV proclaimed 2026 as the Special Year of Saint Francis, marking 800 years since his death. This Jubilee Year is observed from January 10th, 2026 to January 10th, 2027. With the Feast of Saint Francis (Sunday, October 4th) on the horizon, there is no better time to embrace his message of peace, humility, and care for all of God’s creation — and to take tangible, compassionate action.
In his letter opening this historic year, Pope Leo XIV wrote:
“The Franciscan vision of peace is not limited to the relations between human beings, but also embraces the whole of creation. Francis, who calls the sun ‘brother’ and the moon ‘sister’, who recognizes in every creature a reflection of divine beauty, reminds us that peace must be extended to the entire family of Creation.”
This Jubilee Year offers a wonderful opportunity to “nurture that sublime fraternity with all creation which Saint Francis of Assisi so radiantly embodied” (Laudato Si’, 221).
Here are 10 inspiring, practical ways your parish community can bring Saint Francis’s love for all creatures to life this year:
1. Spotlight parishioners engaged in caring for other creatures in your bulletin or social media.
Saint Francis wrote, “Not to hurt our humble brethren is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission: to be of service to them whenever they require it." Who in your parish is doing that today? Highlight these kind-hearted individuals to celebrate them and to inspire others. This can include educators, students, veterinarians, shelter volunteers, nonprofit staff, volunteers, and others working to make a positive difference.
2. Plan a panel or speaker series focused on taking compassionate action for God’s animals.
Shine a light on simple ways to protect God’s creatures by kicking off a 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.
Plan a Blessing of the Animals, and invite your local shelter to bring a few adoptable animals to the ceremony. 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. Host a Saint Francis of Assisi Art Night.
Reflect on Saint Francis while building 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 animals. (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! Invite participants to open and close with a prayer and reflection about how Saint Francis inspires them today.
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. Serve plant-based foods at your events.
Plant-based meatballs with vegan cheese over pasta (Credit: Beyond Meat)
Sharing delicious plant-based options is a meaningful way to extend peace to all of God’s creation and reflect Saint Francis’s compassion for the creatures who share our common home. With so many delicious, affordable, and crowd-pleasing options available today, plant-based meals are an accessible way to put our values into action.
7. Collect pet food or supplies for a local shelter or food pantry.
Many families experiencing financial hardship struggle to feed their beloved companion animals. Organize a pet food drive for a local food pantry or animal shelter to help keep pets with the families who love them while easing financial stress.
8. Select a single window, and make it bird-friendly.
Saint Francis’s love for birds is known around the world. In The Little Flowers of Saint Francis, we learn of him preaching to the birds, calling them his “little sisters.” Today, bird collisions with windows kill over one billion birds per year, but simple changes can make a tremendous difference and save these beloved creatures. 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.
As Pope Francis taught, to Saint Francis, “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.” Imagine how our perspectives could change if we were to truly know the animals who are most exploited today.
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 while honoring Saint Francis.
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!)
Include a statue of Saint Francis in the garden and hold a prayer ceremony to introduce this special new addition to your community. Read from Saint Francis’s Canticle of the Creatures together during the ceremony.
Bonus: Ask your pastor about including a special intention for today’s most vulnerable animals in the Prayers of the Faithful on the Feast of Saint Francis (Sunday, October 4th).