Dear Parishioners,
In 2026, the global Church enters a profound moment of thanksgiving as we commemorate the 800th anniversary of the passing of St. Francis of Assisi. This Jubilee Year invites us to pause, reflect, and rediscover the Gospel joy that shaped Francis’ life and continues to inspire believers around the world.
For us at Sacred Heart, this milestone resonates within our very walls. Our long tradition of compassion, hospitality, and service in the heart of downtown Tampa is a living reflection of the Franciscan spirit.
A Saint for Our Time | St. Francis embraced the Gospel with a simplicity and courage that transformed not only his own heart, but the Church itself. His love for the poor, his reverence for creation, and his unwavering trust in God’s providence remain a powerful witness for our own time. In an age marked by division and distraction, Francis reminds us that holiness begins with small acts of love, humility, and peace.
Throughout this Year of Grace, the Church encourages the faithful to enter more deeply into the Franciscan spirit through prayer, service, and renewed attention to those on the margins. It is a time to “begin again,” as Francis so often urged, allowing God to rekindle in us a desire for compassion, reconciliation, and joyful discipleship.
As we join the universal Church in celebrating this milestone, may the example of St. Francis inspire us to walk more closely with Christ, to care tenderly for one another, and to become instruments of peace in our families, our parish, and our world.
Living the Values in Downtown Tampa | The heartbeat of the 2026 Jubilee at Sacred Heart is found in the four pillars of Franciscan life that have long defined the parish’s identity:
- Joyful Diversity: Celebrating the unique beauty of every person who walks through the heavy oak doors.
- Inclusive Welcome: Extending kindness not just to regular attendees, but to the “hidden” neighbors living on the margins of the city.
- Compassionate Service: Moving beyond words to take direct action in serving the hungry and marginalized.
- Persistent Faith: Recognizing that the work of the Gospel is never finished, and that the parish must constantly evolve to meet the needs of a changing Tampa.
A Partnership in Faith: The Franciscan Center | This Jubilee is not a journey we take alone. Sacred Heart is proud to deepen our collaboration with the Franciscan Center to help the faithful enter more deeply into this spirituality.
Throughout the year, the parish will actively promote and support the Center’s various Franciscan programs. From retreats to workshops, these offerings will provide vital opportunities to study the life of the Saint, engage in contemplative prayer, and connect with the broader Franciscan community in Tampa.
A Season of Celebration | The Jubilee year will reach its liturgical peak in October. While the Pope leads global celebrations in Assisi—including a historic public veneration of the Saint’s remains—Sacred Heart will host its own local liturgies.
Highlights include the Transitus service, a moving commemoration of the Saint’s final moments and his embrace of “Sister Death,” as well as the traditional Blessing of the Animals.
The Jubilee Schedule
- Thursday, October 1: Blessing of the Animals | Time TBD at The Franciscan Center (3010 N Perry Avenue)
- Friday, October 2: Transitus Service | 6:30 p.m. in the church
- Saturday, October 3: Vigil Mass for the Solemnity of St. Francis | 5:30 p.m. in the church
- Sunday, October 4: Solemnity Masses | Across our standard Sunday Mass schedule in the church
- Thursday, December 10: Blessing of the Christmas Crèche | Time TBD. at The Franciscan Center (3010 N Perry Avenue)
Join the Journey | As we navigate this Year of Grace, the invitation remains open to all. We invite you to look at the world through the eyes of St. Francis, to find the Risen Christ in the poor, and to build bridges where the world raises boundaries.
We invite all parishioners to follow the example of St. Francis by becoming instruments of peace through our outreach ministries, including Bikes from the Heart, Giving from the Heart, Hands of Hope, Loving Hearts, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
Additionally, the parish is exploring new ways to visualize this spirit, including a film screening of the life of St. Francis and a proposed outdoor mural on the Parish Center facing Twiggs Street—a permanent artistic reminder of our patron’s enduring legacy.
This year, let us walk more closely with Christ, care tenderly for one another, and truly begin again.
Peace and All Good,
Fr. Mike
Pope Leo XIV’s Prayer For The Special Year Of St. Francis:
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.
