Franciscan Jubilee | 800th Anniversary of the Transitus of St. Francis
Eight hundred years ago, St. Francis of Assisi embraced Sister Death and passed to eternal life. The founder of the Franciscan Order spent his life caring for the poor and promoting peace during a turbulent time, all while accompanied by his Franciscan brothers, sisters and friends.
Centuries later, the Franciscan Friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe are proud to carry on his legacy through humble service to the people of God throughout the United States, from Alaska to Puerto Rico, and through missions in Cuba and Jamaica.
As we commemorate the 800th anniversary of the Transitus of St. Francis in October, 2026, we join Pope Leo XIV in his hope that St. Francis’s message of peace will find “a profound echo in the Church and society today.” May the Lord give you His peace!
Sacred Heart Church is a Catholic parish and part of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, staffed and served by Franciscan friars. But who are the Franciscan friars? Our friar priests bring with them the heritage, history, and hopefulness of their religious order, an order founded over 800 years ago by St. Francis of Assisi. This is a heritage and history written in the stories of St. Francis of Assisi, Franciscan Saints, Prayers, and Feast Day celebrations.
The friars invite you to learn more about the core values of what it means to be a “Franciscan” in the 21st century. St. Francis taught his brothers and sisters these values by stories, and so we, too, offer these to you. Click the buttons on the right and/or below to learn more.
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)
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.
What is the Jubilee Year?
At the behest of Pope Leo XIV, the Apostolic Penitentiary has decreed a Jubilee Year of St. Francis will be celebrated from January 10, 2026, to January 10, 2027. Immediately following the Jubilee Year of Hope, the Jubilee Year of St. Francis invites all pilgrims to transform their hope into action, following the example of St. Francis of Assisi to become models of holiness of life and constant witnesses of peace. | Read the Decree
Plenary indulgence | Inspired by the “Pardon of Assisi” granted by Pope Honorius III to St. Francis, a plenary indulgence will be granted to all faithful who make a pilgrimage to any Franciscan conventual church or place of worship dedicated to St. Francis in any part of the world and complete the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion, and prayer for the Holy Father’s intentions). If you are unable to undertake a pilgrimage, the plenary indulgence will be granted to you if you spiritually join the Jubilee celebrations and offer your prayers, pains or sufferings to God.
Portions of this text are attributed to the Franciscan Friars of Our Lady of Guadalupe Province, (C) 2026
