It is in the month of October that we Franciscans celebrate the feast of our founder, St. Francis of Assisi (Oct. 4th). On the evening before his feast day, we commemorate his transition from this earthly life to eternal life in a beautiful and moving ceremony called, Transitus (Oct. 3rd).

        In one of his most famous writings, The Canticle of Creation, St. Francis sings to God for the gifts of Brother Sun and Sister Moon, along with the wind, water, and fire. And then he writes: “Praise be to You, my Lord, through our Sister Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us, and who produces various fruit with colored flowers and herbs.”

        Pope Francis also echoed those praises in his Encyclical Letter, Laudato Si (Medieval Italian for “Praise be to You”). Pope Francis challenges us to recognize that human impact on Creation, the environment we all share, is a moral issue.

        We wish you and your family a blessed Feast of St. Francis of Assisi and invite you to join us in prayer on October 3rd for Transitus. We will be celebrating Transitus at the Mount Saint Francis Chapel in Indiana at 7:00 pm. (Transitus will be celebrated across the Province – Please see below for some of the other locations.) If you are in the area, please join us. If you cannot physically join us, we still invite you to pray at this time, and to remember God’s bounty and the joy St. Francis found in God’s Creation.

Peace and All Good to you!

Fr. John

Some more locations for Transitus (All celebrations are beginning at 7pm unless otherwise noted.)

Mount St. Francis Chapel, Mount St. Francis, Indiana
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Louisville, Kentucky
Chapel at Holy Cross Retreat Center, Mesilla Park, New Mexico
St. Benedict Parish, Terre Haute, Indiana (followed by fellowship in Hellmann Hall)
St. Bonaventure Parish, Bloomington, MN
Our Lady of the Woods Chapel, Bellarmine University, Louisville, KY (at 9:00 pm)

Blessing of the Animals 

Franciscan Retreats and Spirituality Center, Prior Lake, MN – 10/1 at 2pm
Holy Cross Retreat Center, Mesilla Park, NM – 10/4 at 7pm
Incarnation Parish, Louisville – 10/1 at 1:30pm
St. Anthony Parish, Angola, Indiana – 10/1 at 1:00pm
St. Mary of the Annuciation, Floyds Knobs, Indiana – 10/1 at 12:30pm
St. Joseph University Parish, Terre Haute, Indiana – 9/30 at 10am

St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Clarksville, Indiana – Feast of St. Francis – 10/1 at 12pm
St. Joseph University Parish, Terre Haute, Indiana – Feast of St. Francis – 10/4 at 5:15pm