Following Christ with St. Francis: Celebrating the Franciscan Jubilee

On October 4, Pius XI Catholic High School joins Catholics around the world in honoring St. Francis of Assisi. This year, his feast carries special significance: the Church is celebrating a Jubilee Year marking the 800th anniversary of his passing into eternal life.

Proclaimed by Pope Leo XIV, the Year of St. Francis extends from January 10, 2026, through January 10, 2027. It offers an invitation to renew our faith, deepen our conversion, and follow Jesus more faithfully through the example of this beloved saint.

At the heart of Francis’s life was a profound love for Jesus Christ. He embraced poverty and humility, served those on the margins, and sought to live the Gospel with his whole heart. His love for creation was an expression of gratitude to God. His pursuit of peace flowed from his desire to follow the crucified and risen Lord.

Francis also held a deep reverence for Christ’s presence in the Holy Eucharist. His example reminds us that a life of Christian service draws its strength from prayer, worship, and communion with God. As we draw closer to Jesus, we learn to love our neighbors more generously.

For our Pius XI community, this Jubilee invites us to reflect on the Franciscan values that guide our school: dignity, peace, and respect. These values take on their fullest meaning when rooted in the Gospel.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” – Colossians 3:12-15

We celebrate this Franciscan heritage with hearts overflowing with gratitude for the School Sisters of St. Francis, one of Pius XI’s founding religious orders. Following in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi, the sisters have made Christ’s love visible through lives of faith, service, and compassionate care for others. Their ministry is woven into the very heart of our school, a precious legacy that continues to shape who we are and how we love. We are forever blessed by their faithful presence, their generous hearts, and the countless ways they have nurtured generations of students in faith and learning.

At Pius XI, our Franciscan values of dignity, peace, and respect give deeper meaning to our core values of service, integrity, inclusion, community, and excellence. Because every person is created in God’s image, we serve with compassion and welcome others with care. Because Christ calls us to peace, we act with integrity, seek reconciliation, and build a community rooted in trust. Because our talents are gifts from God, we pursue excellence with humility, developing those gifts for the good of others. In these everyday choices, we carry forward the witness of St. Francis and answer our own call to live the Gospel.

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The invitation to holiness reaches into ordinary school life: welcoming a classmate who feels alone, responding patiently during a disagreement, serving someone in need, or taking a quiet moment to pray. Each is an opportunity to respond to God’s grace and allow His love to shape us.

As we celebrate St. Francis, we invite our students, families, faculty, staff, and alumni to embrace this Jubilee through prayer, participation in Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and acts of charity. May this year help us grow in love for Christ and in generosity toward one another.

St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us.