Jubilee Year of Saint Francis of Assisi

Throughout 2026, until January 2027, the Jubilee Year commemorating the 800th anniversary of the passing of Saint Francis of Assisi will be celebrated. The Holy Father has granted this Holy Year, inviting all the faithful to live a time of grace and sanctification. Our parish will serve as a pilgrimage church, where plenary indulgences can be obtained.

What is a plenary indulgence?
It is the remission before God of the temporal punishment for sins that have already been forgiven in confession. It can be received by baptized faithful who are in God’s grace and not excommunicated. A plenary indulgence can be applied for oneself or for a deceased person.

It is important to distinguish between:
• Eternal punishment, the consequence of mortal sin that separates us from God and makes us deserving of condemnation. Repentance and confession remove this punishment.
• Temporal punishment, the consequence of sin—venial or mortal—that requires purification in this life or in Purgatory. The plenary indulgence remits this temporal punishment, helping to purify the soul and draw us closer to holiness.

How can the plenary indulgence be obtained during the Year of Saint Francis?
1. Fulfill the usual conditions: sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion, and prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father.
2. Participate in the Jubilee through pilgrimage to a church dedicated to Saint Francis or administered by Franciscans.
3. Spend time in prayer, including the Our Father, the Creed, and invocations to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Francis, Saint Clare, and the Franciscan saints.

For those unable to travel, such as the elderly or sick:
• They can unite spiritually with the Jubilee celebrations, offering their prayers, sufferings, and daily hardships to God with a heart detached from sin.

The plenary indulgence can also be applied to the souls in Purgatory, and it is granted to those whose prayers and meditation foster Christian charity, peace, and harmony among peoples.