Francis Week 2026

Posted on September 20, 2026

Earlier this year, Pope Leo XIV proclaimed 2026 the Year of St. Francis for the 800th anniversary of the death and transitus of St. Francis. It is our Church's hope in which every Christian faithful, following the example
of the Saint of Assisi, may ourselves become models of holiness of life and a constant witness of peace.

Please join Elon CCM in a special way this year as we celebrate Francis Week. Here is our current schedule of events:

- Mass on the Grass & Sunday Supper
Sunday, October 4
Our 5:00 p.m. Mass on the Grass will take place at Belk Amphitheater (outside Lindner Hall) in the Lambert Academic Village. We will begin with our annual Blessing of Animals - a Franciscan tradition! And after Mass, we will walk as a community to the CCM House to enjoy our monthly Sunday Supper.

- St. Francis's Cookie Baking and Pilgrimage Reflections
Tuesday, October 6
Blessed Jacoba of Settesoli (1190-1273) was a Roman noblewoman and an early follower of St. Francis of Assisi. Blessed Jacoba would bake almond cookies for Saint Francis when he visited her home in Rome.Years later, as Saint Francis lay dying, he sent for Blessed Jacoba and asked that she bring some of her almond cookies with her. To this day, many Franciscan communities still bake these cookies for feast days in memory of Saint Francis. Join us as we bake these cookies on campus in the Moseley kitchen from 5:30-7pm!

In addition, several students who went on CCM's pilgrimage to Italy this past summer will share their stories and interactions from the Franciscan sites.

- Friar Fest
Thursday, October 8
It's time for our first-ever Friar Fest! Father Peter and his fellow Franciscan friars invite you to join them at their house off-campus to experience a little bit of the religious life. We will begin with a common evening prayer practice - the Liturgy of the Hours. Then, dinner is served! Come enjoy some great conversations with the Franciscans that serve the Elon and Burlington communities and learn more about St. Francis. RSVPs are required!