It was wonderful to see the staff, students and community gather together for our beginning of school year Mass.
We thank Fr. Jeffrey for the beautiful Mass and for his reflection on this time as a Jubilee Year, in recognition of the 800th anniversary of St Francis since his death. His words reminded us that a jubilee is more than a moment on the calendar — it is an invitation to renewal, reconciliation, and a deeper awareness of God’s mercy at work among us.
Pope Leo XIV shared a prayer inspired by Saint Francis, offering it as a guide for living this Year of Grace with humility and compassion. Let us now pray the words he has given us, and carry their spirit into our daily lives:
Saint Francis, our brother, you who eight hundred years ago
went to meet Sister Death as a man at peace,
intercede for us before the Lord.
You recognized true peace in the Crucifix of San Damiano,
teach us to seek in Him the source of all reconciliation
that breaks down every wall.
You who, unarmed, crossed the lines of war
and misunderstanding,
give us the courage to build bridges
where the world raises up boundaries.
In this time afflicted by conflict and division,
intercede for us so that we may become peacemakers:
unarmed and disarming witnesses of the peace that comes from Christ.
Amen