Bishop Frank J. Dewane has designated St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Grove City to serve as a pilgrimage destination for the Diocese of Venice in the extraordinary Jubilee Year honoring St. Francis of Assisi on the 800th anniversary of his death.
By decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary issued on January 10, 2026, at the request of Pope Leo XIV, the Church has solemnly proclaimed a special Year of St. Francis of Assisi, running from January 10, 2026, to January 10, 2027. This Jubilee Year commemorates the 800th anniversary of the passage into Heaven of Saint Francis of Assisi (1226), the Seraphic Patriarch and one of the most beloved saints in Christian history.
More than a remembrance of the past, this Jubilee is offered as a gift of grace for the entire Church – not only for the Franciscan Family, but for all the faithful – so that this anniversary may become a moment of authentic spiritual renewal in our own time.
Father Cory Mayer, Pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, said he was deeply moved that Bishop Dewane designated the Parish as a Jubilee Pilgrimage Site for the Diocese.
“It is a profound honor for us to open our doors as a place of encounter, prayer, and renewal for all who seek the Lord,” Father Mayer said. “I personally invite all to come and find rest in the presence of Christ. Our Church and the Poor Clare Adoration Chapel will be open to welcome pilgrims every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and at other times by arrangement.”
The Papal Decree emphasizes the enduring relevance of St. Francis in today’s world. His radical Gospel life – marked by poverty, humility, peace, and love for creation – continues to speak powerfully to a humanity wounded by division, violence, and indifference. The Holy Father invites all Christians to “become saints in the contemporary world, following the example of the Seraphic Patriarch,” transforming hope into concrete charity and a sincere commitment to peace. In this jubilee, the Church calls the faithful to rediscover Francis not merely as a gentle lover of nature, but as a man conformed to Christ Crucified, whose life was a living proclamation of the Gospel, and a model of Christ’s peace.
Throughout the entire Year of St. Francis, the Apostolic Penitentiary grants the possibility of obtaining a plenary indulgence, applicable either to oneself or in suffrage for the souls in Purgatory.
“A pilgrimage is more than a journey of the feet; it is a journey of the soul,” Father Mayer said. “As a Jubilee site, those who visit our Parish may receive a Plenary Indulgence under the usual conditions (Sacramental Confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father). This is a beautiful opportunity to experience the depth of God’s mercy and to begin anew.”
With pastoral sensitivity, special consideration is given to the elderly, the sick, and those unable to leave their homes. They, too, may obtain the indulgence by spiritually uniting themselves to the Jubilee celebrations, offering their prayers and sufferings to God with trust and love.
The Year of St. Francis presents itself as a time of favor and grace, offered freely to all. As the Holy Father expresses his hope, may this Jubilee awaken anew in hearts “feelings of Christian charity toward one’s neighbor and an authentic desire for harmony and peace among peoples.”
Eight centuries after his death, St. Francis still calls the Church—and the world—to conversion. This Jubilee Year invites us not only to honor him, but to walk in his footsteps, rebuilding the Church through lives transformed by the Gospel.
“In a world often fractured by noise, materialism, and conflict, St. Francis speaks to us across the centuries,” Father Mayer said. “His radical embrace of simplicity and his love for every creation of God remind us that we are all part of one family in God. This Jubilee challenges us to move from the “Hope” we have shared into active charity, rebuilding the Church through lives transformed by the Gospel. Please come and visit us at St. Francis of Assisi Parish. Our doors and our hearts are open to you.”
For more details on the Jubilee Year, the schedule of events and additional resources being offered by St. Francis of Assisi Parish, please visit Saint Francis Jubilee 2026 | SFOA Church. If you have any questions or would like to make group reservations for a pilgrimage, please call the Parish Office at 941-697-4899.
Jubilee Prayer cards
In celebration of the Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi, the Diocese of Venice has provided Jubilee prayer cards to each Parish in the Diocese. The prayer cards are available in English and Spanish and include the prayer written by Pope Leo XIV for the 800th Jubilee of St. Francis, which asks the saint to intercede for the faithful, inspiring hearts to live in peace, humility, and faithful witness to Christ during this holy year.
Prayer for the Jubilee Year of St. Francis
Saint Francis, our brother, you who eight hundred years ago went to meet Sister Death as a man at peace, intercede for us before the Lord.
You recognized true peace in the Crucifix of San Damiano, teach us to seek in Him the source of all reconciliation that breaks down every wall.
You who, unarmed, crossed the lines of war and misunderstanding, give us the courage to build bridges where the world raises up boundaries.
In this time afflicted by conflict and division, intercede for us so that we may become peacemakers, unarmed and disarming witnesses of the peace that comes from Christ.
Amen.
Pope Leo XIV
