THE ASSISI PROJECT
SAINTS FOR ALL SEASONS 2026
FRIENDS OF FRANCIS – JACOBA OF SETTESOLI
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH

Jubilee of Saint Francis of Assisi
Eight Hundred Years – 1226-2026

All Christians are called to holiness. All Christians are called to be saints. A saint is a person who has lived a courageous and virtuous life; a life lived for God; a life lived for others; a life worthy to be imitated by others. Pope Leo XIV proclaims: “The lives of the saints teach us that it is possible to live passionately amidst the complexities of the present time without neglecting [Saint Paul’s] mandate to ‘shine like stars in the world.’”

This year, the Catholic Church celebrates the 800th Anniversary of the Life & Transitus of Saint Francis of Assisi (1226-2026). As part of our commemoration of this Jubilee Year, we look not just to Francis, but to the friends who knew him best: the holy men and women who sought to follow in his footsteps; the shining stars who sought to live the Gospel of Christ in thought, word, and deed.

In this spirit, all are invited to join Father Jim and Brother Patrick for our next Saints for All Seasons Mini-Retreat beginning with Holy Mass on Wednesday, February 4th at 5:30pm in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church in Gloucester, Massachusetts. After Mass and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Brother Patrick will offer a reflection on Blessed Jacoba of Settesoli (1190-1273), one of the dearest friends and first followers of the Poor Man of Assisi.

Following our reflection, we will pray the Franciscan Rosary and Father Jim will celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation (for those who feel called to confession). This special evening of prayer and devotion will conclude with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and veneration of a first class relic of Saint Francis of Assisi. Also, please save these dates for our upcoming mini-retreats:

Blessed Bernard of Quintavalle
Wednesday, March 25th at 5:30pm
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church

Blessed Leopold of Monteluco
Wednesday, April 1st at 5:30pm
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church

Blessed Giles of Assisi
Wednesday, April 22nd at 5:30pm
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church

Throughout the year, our challenge will be to turn what we learn about the Friends of Francis into living more faithfully as disciples. After all, Saint Francis once said: “What a great shame that while the saints actually followed in the footsteps of the Lord, we, today’s servants of God, expect glory and honor simply because we can recite what they did (Admonition 6).” Mindful of this counsel, we will seek to renew our timeless mission to live the Gospel, share God’s love, and rebuild the Church.

For more information, please contact Brother Patrick at brpatrick@ccgronline.com. Please join us! Bring a friend! All are invited! All are welcome! Saint Francis of Assisi, pray for us! Saint Clare of Assisi, pray for us! Our Lady of the Angels, pray for us! May God bless you! May the Lord give you peace!

Listen: Saints for All Seasons Podcasts

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THE ASSISI PROJECT
THE FRANCISCAN VIRTUES – EMPATHY
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7TH

Jubilee of Saint Francis of Assisi
Eight Hundred Years – 1226-2026

This year marks the 800th Anniversary of the Life & Transitus of Saint Francis of Assisi. In commemoration of this important milestone, Pope Leo XIV has declared a Special Jubilee Year which has inspired us to focus many of our adult faith formation programs on the Poor Man of Assisi. In this spirit, the Assisi Project is going back to the basics, back to the life and good example of our patron saint and his first followers who live the Gospel in thought, word, and deed.

All of our friends, followers, and fellow parishioners are invited to join us on Saturday, February 7th at 8:00am in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church in Gloucester, Massachusetts for a two hour mini-retreat that includes Holy Mass, a reflection by Father Jim and Brother Patrick, and a period of prayer and faith sharing. We will continue our reading and discussion of an amazing book called Franciscan Virtues: Fifty-Two Steps to Conversion with Saint Francis of Assisi.

This beautiful but spiritually challenging little book contains a brief weekly meditation on the virtues practiced by Saint Francis of Assisi and the saints and sinners who have tried to follow in his footsteps during the past eight centuries. In recent weeks, we have been reading about the virtues of detachment, discernment, eagerness, and empathy. But our focus at this gathering will be primarily on empathy.

Founded in 2007 by Father Jim and Brother Patrick, the Assisi Project is a Fellowship of Franciscans in Spirit with friends and followers around the world. We are dedicated to helping believers of all ages and backgrounds more faithfully live the Good News of the Poor Christ in the spirit of Saint Francis and Saint Clare of Assisi. We are also dedicated to promoting a devotion to Pope Francis (1936-2025) as a patron of peace, mercy, and fraternity in our suffering world.

For more information about the Assisi Project and its good work in our parishes, please contact Brother Patrick at brpatrick@assisiproject.com. Please join us! Bring a friend! All are welcome! May God bless you! May the Lord give you peace! Saint Francis of Assisi, pray for us! Saint Clare of Assisi, pray for us! Our Lady of the Angels, pray for us! Pope Francis, pray for us!

Learn More: The Assisi Project

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Founded by Father Jim and Brother Patrick, the Assisi Project is a Fellowship of Franciscans in Spirit that is dedicated to helping believers of all ages to more faithfully live the Gospel of Christ in the spirit of Saints Francis and Clare. In response to the pandemic, Father Jim asked Brother Patrick to look back on more than two decades of ministry as a catechist, spiritual director, and leader of retreats and pilgrimages; and to create a regular series of podcasts (audio recordings) as a way of continuing his adult faith formation ministry. As of this weekend, Brother Patrick (aka Cliff Garvey) has already created more than sixty podcasts and with more on the way! These podcasts are free and always available! Just click on the link below our library!

• The Assisi Project Podcast

For more information about the Assisi Project, please contact Brother Patrick at brpatrick@assisiproject.com. Although our podcasts are always free and always available, all are welcome to support our ministries via PayPal or smile.amazon.com; or by sending a donation to the Assisi Project, Post Office Box 3158, Gloucester, Massachusetts 01931-3158. Thanks for listening! May the Lord give you peace! Saint Francis of Assisi, pray for us! Saint Clare of Assisi, pray for us! Our Lady of the Angels, pray for us!

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