Reflections on the Year of St. Francis

retreat from Sep 26, 2026 to Oct 3, 2026

We gather to reflect upon and remember the life of our holy father Saint Francis through scenes taken from the major legend by Saint Bonaventure followed by reflections from the friars.

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Join us as we reflect on the life of St. Francis, his passing, his transition from earthly life into eternal life.

The Franciscan Friars of the Holy Spirit will each read 8 scenes from the life of Saint Francis, as we lead up to the day of the Transitus. These scenes were taken from the major legend by Saint Bonaventure. You can follow along and meditate upon these readings, and then we will follow with a reflection by one of our friars to lead us deeper into meditation on the life of our Holy Father.

Day 1: Francis and the Knight | Fr. Antony Tinker, FHS

Day 2: Francis hears the San Damiano Cross | Br. Damien Van Amerongen, FHS

Day 3: Renouncing his father and becoming a Penitent | Br. Basil Kersting, FHS

Day 4: Francis writes and has the Rule approved | Br. Lawrence Houge, FHS

Day 5: Francis and the Sultan | Fr. Paul Graupmann, FHS

Day 6: Greccio | Fr. Elijah Delello, FHS

Day 7: The Stigmata | Br. Basil Kersting, FHS

Day 8: His Transitus | Fr. Peter Teresa McConnell, FHS

Fr. Peter Teresa McConnell, FHS is a pastor for the Franciscan Friars of the Holy Spirit. He serves as Pastor for eleven mission churches on five reservations surrounding the Phoenix-metro area. Drawn by the humility and radical discipleship of St. Francis of Assisi and inspired by St. Teresa of Calcutta, he discerned his calling with the Franciscan Friars of the Holy Spirit and eventually moved to Arizona to join the growing community. Fr. Peter Teresa is a founding member of the Franciscan Friars of the Holy Spirit and currently serves as the Vocations Director.

Click here to view the friars' website!

We hope that the life of our Holy Father touches you deeply.

Retreat prayer

Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love, Where there is injury, pardon Where there is doubt, faith, Where there is despair, hope, Where there is darkness, light, Where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, not so much to be understood as to understand, not so much to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in dying that we awake to eternal life.