St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade and St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Townsend have been designated as official pilgrimage sites for the Franciscan Jubilee, commemorating the 800th anniversary of the Transitus, the passing into eternal life of St. Francis of Assisi in 1226.
The Jubilee Year is intended to be a season of intense spiritual renewal for the entire Church, focusing on three core pillars of peace: peace with God, peace among humanity, and peace with creation. The faithful are encouraged to adopt the Franciscan charisms of joy, poverty, and ecological stewardship.
Pope Leo XIV has proclaimed an extraordinary Franciscan Jubilee Year, running from Jan. 10, 2026, to Jan. 10, 2027. The Holy Father has offered a plenary indulgence to the faithful. To obtain this indulgence during the Jubilee, pilgrims must fulfill the following requirements: make a pilgrimage to a designated site, such as St. Francis of Assisi churches in Fairfield Glade and Townsend; spend time in prayer during their visit; and make an act of conversion as the indulgence is tied to a spirit of conversion and the pursuit of holiness.
Under standard Church decree, a plenary indulgence also typically requires the individual to be in a state of grace, have a complete detachment from sin, and fulfill the three usual conditions: sacramental confession, eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father.
To view a video of a kickoff event on May 16 at St. Francis of Assisi in Fairfield Glade, to learn more about the plenary indulgence and requirements, or to see a schedule of Jubilee events held on first Fridays and third Saturdays, visit saintfrancisfairfield.org/franciscan-jubilee-year.
Upcoming events at the Fairfield Glade church include a St. Francis of Assisi Octave celebration on Oct. 3-4, with a Transitus Mass at sunset. Father David Mary Engo, FFM, who spoke at the May event, will be at St. Francis-Fairfield Glade again on Jan. 9 for a Jubilee-closing Mass with Bishop Mark Beckman.
St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Townsend has developed a package for pilgrims to use as they visit, which includes a Jubilee-year program that highlights different parts of the parish, a parish-history pamphlet, a St. Francis prayer card, and information on how to gain an indulgence on a visit to the Townsend parish. The packages are in a display box in front of the parish resource center near the sidewalk between the center and the church.