Pope Francis has declared a Year of Consecrated Life, celebrating and highlighting the role of women and men religious in the Church’s service to God’s people.

Friar Bob Baxter, OFM Conv., led the first tour of the day at the Mt. St. Francis Open House.

The Conventual Franciscan Friars around the world are joining in this celebration. Through a series of open houses and other meetings, we are telling the story of our journey in the path of St. Francis of Assisi.

St. Anthony Friary in Clarksville, Indiana hosted a very successful Open House on Sunday, February 8th. In all about 50 young people, mostly high school and college age, along with a few parents, visited us from three parishes. Mount St. Francis also hosted an Open House on Sunday, February 15th. Guests were given a ‘behind-the-scenes’ tour of the friary and then were asked to stay and visit for a bit and enjoy some delicious snacks.

Friars Joe West, Florian Tiell, and Tom Merrill welcomed visitors to their open house on Sunday, February 8.

Mrs. Thelma Ellenbrand Stumler remembers visiting Mount St. Francis in the late 1920s/early 1930s.

L to R: Thelma, Friar Fabian Keenan, Edgar Ellenbrand (circa 1927)