An annual initiative of the Diocese of Venice Department of Catholic Education is the development of the devotional and prayer lives of its students through a Diocesan-wide devotional project.
For 2026-2027 the devotional project is about St. Francis of Assisi, which coincides with the Jubilee Year of St. Francis, as proclaimed by Pope Leo XIV, marking the 800th year since St. Francis’s death. The diocese’s more than 6,500 diocesan Catholic school students will learn about the remarkable life of this popular saint in a continued effort to help each student grow closer to the Lord.
The focus on the devotion to St. Francis is supported by Bishop Emilio E. Biosca, O.F.M. Cap., who as a Franciscan easily saw the value of promoting a devotion to St. Francis. The devotional projects began in the 2020-2021 academic year.
Father John Belmonte, SJ, diocesan Superintendent of Catholic Education, and Dr. Jennifer Falestiny, diocesan director of curriculum and instruction, conducted a junior catechist training session on Oct. 16, 2026, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center, Venice. Father Belmonte celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the students, teachers and parents.
The junior catechist training was for eighth grade leaders from each of the diocese’s 12 elementary schools. In the coming months, these junior catechists will go into the classroom to teach their younger schoolmates about the life of St. Francis, and how to develop a deeper relationship with the Lord.
“St. Francis was a man of God who abandoned his inheritance, a fortune in money, for his true inheritance – the Gospel of Jesus Christ – a treasure given to him at baptism from God which was much more than any earthly reward,” Father Belmonte said. “This happened when he prayed for light in the darkness and gazed upon the San Damiano Cross and believed the Lord Himself was looking right at him, when he heard his name, like a gentle whisper – ‘Francis, go and repair my house, which as you see is falling into ruin.’”
That moment everything changed for St. Francis, who immediately started working on rebuilding the San Damiano Chapel, not understanding that his true calling was to lead by the example of the Gospel and help repair the Church, which was at the time fraught with corruption, Father Belmonte added.
“We are here 800 years later and as junior catechists, you will introduce this amazing saint to your classmates, which will in turn introduce them to our Lord and Savior,” Father Belmonte said. “When Francis was near death, he said to his brother friars, ‘I have done my duty, may Christ teach you yours.’ These are words to live by. May Christ help you and your classmates grow in holiness and grow closer to the Lord.”
Dr. Falestiny led the junior catechist training, telling the students that they were selected by their respective schools because of their ability and potential to be a leader in faith.
The junior catechists were presented with a training which included a lesson plan, San Damiano Cross tiles, 3-D Tau Cross kits, two books, handmade St. Francis of Assisi dolls, as well as pieces of clay.
Most of the training went step-by-step through the lesson plan, which will be presented to classrooms at all levels so all students can take part in the devotional project. The lessons will begin by asking the basic question – ‘Who was St. Francis?’ – and then examine the life of the saint, with a focus on his response to a call from the Lord and living his life a certain way, and how the students can learn to similarly hear the call of the Lord in their own lives and respond.
“Each of these lessons are differentiated by grade level (k-2, 3-5, 6-8) and customized to make St. Francis of Assisi cool and accessible for everyone,” Falestiny said.
As in previous years, the devotional project will include an art competition. Students will be encouraged to produce artwork depicting St. Francis based on the Catholic artistic tradition The junior catechists and art contest winners will gather in the spring for a Mass and reception.
This is the seventh year Diocesan Catholic schools have participated in a devotional project, with 2025-2026 focused on the Sacred Heart of Jesus, 2024-2025 focused on Guardian Angels, 2023-2024 on the Most Holy Rosary, 2022-2023 on the Most Holy Eucharist, 2021-2022 on the Saints and the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Saints, and 2020-2021 on St. Joseph.
