Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

In a letter to the Franciscan religious communities of men and women, Pope Leo wrote that he declared the Jubilee Year of Francis, "hoping that the message of peace may find a profound echo in the Church and society today."

The Jubilee Year (January 10, 2026 - January 10, 2027) observes the 800th Anniversary of the Transitus of Francis of Assisi, that is, the death of the saint of peace on October 3, 1226. During this year of grace, pilgrims throughout the world may seek spiritual renewal and the gift of a plenary indulgence through prayer, conversion of heart, and pilgrimage to Franciscan sites of worship. Local pilgrimage sites include: Old Mission Santa Barbara, Mission Santa Inés (Solvang), the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels, and

Saint Francis of Assisi Church (Los Angeles).

To celebrate this year, a parishioner has donated an image of St. Francis. The image is a print from the one of the oldest known depictions of Francis, which is part of a fresco by Cimabue painted between 1285 - 1290. Located in the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, the image is based on descriptions given to the artist by those who knew Francis personally. It portrays a young, skinny Francis with stigmata (the spontaneous appearance of bodily wounds corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus as mystical sign of union with Christ's suffering). The image is located next to the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

As Francis lay dying, he exclaimed, "Our Sister Death" and he "went toward here as a man finally at peace." Pope Leo offered this prayer to echo and "to instill in all of us perfect joy and harmony" of Saint Francis and a prayer for peace in our time:

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.

May the intercession of Saint Francis of Assisi led us to peace.



Father Gil

Thank you! Your generosity in the Annual Paulist Appeal sustains the Paulist mission and our community especially in training new Paulists and caring for our senior priests. There is still time to make a gift. If you haven't donated, please consider a gift to help our community. A gift of any amount is deeply appreciated by the men in our house and community.

You may donate at online at paulist.org/apa.

In the gospel this Sunday, Jesus connects love not just with feeling, but with faithfulness. Love is shown by how we live, how we follow his way, and how we care for others. His love is not distant or abstract – it is revealed in presence, in mercy, and in action. “I will not leave you orphans,” he says, reminding us that love always makes a home in the lives of those who need it most.

When we support the Together in Mission Annual Appeal, we are living out this love by being the hands and voice of Christ for others, to help those who feel forgotten, to walk with those who are alone, and to witness to the truth that God is still present in our world. 

Please make your gift today at Together in Mission Annual Appeal. Thank you.

For peace in every nation: for an end to the war in Iran, Ukraine. For all those wounded and killed and for the safety of service members in harm's way. For peace, may the light of the Holy Spirit transform hearts so that all may seek the way of peace together, let us pray to the Lord:

For our immigrant sisters and brothers living in fear of deportation, may the Lord accompany them through the ministry of the Christian community:

For the healing, comfort, and peace of the sick, Richard Welch, Catherine Peacock, Dan Bianco, Nancy Campbell, Gary Orfield, Manolo Velez, Anne Wadad Shalhub, Victoria T. Picard, Amparo Haber, Shirley Ruess, Sister Irene Wright, Melinda Nadres, Greg Tinsley, Jack & Vicki Phillips, Tel Ramon, Mary Pat Cooper, Todd Wiench, Bernadette Tee, Estrella and John Monzon, Charles Candel, Marisa Kavanau, Carol King Wolcott, John Wolcott, Angel Appleton, Clark Gassan, Lohriena Lohrie Counts, Nora McCormick Heinen, Weldon Tilley, Paul Lannan, Eileen Gaffney.

For the eternal rest of our beloved departed, Debbie Battaglia, Madeleine Lord, Cecile Bianco, Mary Loberg, Mary Claire Arbus, Dolores Diaz, Grace Hiney, Robert Cimiluca, Antonia T. Semar, Gary Bourgeois, Andrew Politz, Pauline Zaloski, James Wilkie, Father Richard Chilson, CSP, Father Daniel McCotter, CSP, Zenaida B. Chua, Antonia T. Semar, Mike Lanning, Jaroslan Witkoski, Susan Burkhard, Connie Pobre, John A. Woodward IV, Terry Casey, Darrel Bengry, Joan Doyle, Cristina Mirendolf, Elaine Vucelich, Marietta Lavin, Jeffrey Graham, Renee Good, Alex Pretti, Robert J. Burns, John 'JJ' Goldrick, Dellie Abad, James Kennedy, José Fernandez, Terry O'Malley Seidler, Rich Puppione, Christie Farmer, Alfred Ruess, Christohper Hudlin, Alan Culver, Laura James, Anne Marie Hannick, Father Greg Goethals, SJ, Ron Schuster, Bobby Burks, Father Jack Lynch, CSP, Arlene Havel, Phil Duncan, Michele Kearin, Father Brad Schoeberle, CSP, Mary Tokuza, Haruko Hiromura, Donny Kie, Cesar Robeniol, Nellie Scholar, may they rest in peace.