Jubilee celebration announced for St. Francis Year

CHANGANASSERY, Kerala (Indian Catholic News) — The Archdiocese of Changanacherry has announced the archdiocesan observance of the St. Francis Jubilee Year, mandating at least two representatives from every parish attend and inviting all faithful to embrace the Franciscan spirit.

“The noble values taught to us by St. Francis are a profound love for Jesus, simplicity, humility, compassion towards the poor, reconciliation, peace, fraternity, and love for God’s creation,” Syro Malabar Archbishop Thomas Tharayil of Changanacherry wrote in his circular that he instructed be read out during Sunday Mass on Sept. 13.

He announced that the observance of the Jubilee Year at the archdiocesan level will be held at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Poonthoppu, located in Alappuzha, formerly known as Alleppey, a coastal hub in Kerala state.  The archdiocesan assembly “shall commence on Friday, 2 October, at 9:30 AM with the Holy Qurbana, and shall conclude at 1:00 PM with an agape meal,” he wrote.

Requirements have been established for parish attendance across the region. “At least two representatives from every parish within the Archdiocese are required to attend this sacred solemnity,” the circular states.

“Furthermore, it is strictly mandatory that at least five persons from each parish within the foranes” attend, and that attendees must inform their respective forane vicars in advance regarding the exact number of participants attending.

“Together with St. Francis, let us follow Jesus with love,” Archbishop Tharayil stated. “May we continually translate into practice in our daily lives the peace, fraternity, and stewardship of creation that he demonstrated to us”.

The circular notes that Pope Leo XIV “has explicitly clarified that a plenary indulgence, subject to the customary conditions, shall be available to the faithful who worthily participate in these Jubilee celebrations, as well as to those who undertake a pilgrimage to Franciscan churches or holy places associated with the saint”.

Pope Leo XIV declared the Year of St. Francis of Assisi, spanning from 10 January 2026 to 10 January 2027, with the objective of inspiring the entire Church with the evangelical spirit of the saint. The year commemorates the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ death.

Full statement available: original Malayalam and AI generated English translation.