By Chris Leone, OFS • National Councilor
We have Black History Month, Autism Awareness Month, and many others. Let’s promote October as Franciscan Month. Franciscan Month was conceived in 2023 and launched at St. Francis College in Brooklyn, NY, by Brother Gregory Cellini, OSF, a Franciscan Brother of Brooklyn.
In 2024, our reach broadened to the Archdiocese of Newark and the Dioceses of Metuchen and Paterson in New Jersey, as well as the Archdiocese of New York and Dioceses of Brooklyn and Rockville Centre in New York. In 2025, we expanded nationwide with the support of all the Orders of the Franciscan Family.
The mission of Franciscan Month is to celebrate the 800-year charism of the Franciscan way of life, to build awareness about this way of life, and to invite and inspire people of all faiths to live it.
Our intention for 2026 is to promote the Franciscan values of simplicity, care for creation, peacemaking, the dignity and integrity of each person and service to the poor, marginalized and forgotten – especially during this Jubilee Year of St. Francis.
We will accomplish this with a focus on engaging Franciscan colleges, universities and high schools; Franciscan and diocesan parishes; and selected U.S. retreat centers. The friars will speak at the Masses in their parishes.
We are asking Secular Franciscans to promote Franciscan Month in the diocesan parishes where they are parishioners by asking their pastors for permission to speak at the Masses on the weekend of September 26-27, and to include a bulletin announcement that weekend. A script and bulletin announcement will be provided. Once you receive permission from your pastor, reach out to me for the script. cleoneofs@gmail.com
The Franciscan Month team is preparing a series of coordinated events and a large-scale digital campaign for October. Recognizing the reach and impact of digital media, our primary emphasis will be on spreading awareness of Franciscan spirituality and its values through online platforms. This includes weekly themed blogs, videos, and social media content, alongside in-person events developed in collaboration with our target communities.
Our ultimate goal is an official Vatican designation of October as Franciscan Month.
Please visit our website – www.franciscanmonth.org
St. Francis and scenes from his life.
By Master of San Francesco Bardi – 13th century.
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