Dear sisters and brothers,

Greetings! St. Francis of Assisi had a sense of humor. We celebrate his death on October 3, 1226, and his birth on October 4, 1182. You would think it would be the other way around. Being a Franciscan for 47 years, I am not surprised at all. St. Francis of Assisi turned the world upside down with his radical poverty, his love of Creation, his down-to-earth simplicity, and his outreach to all the People of God, especially those of other faith traditions.

This October 3, 2026, Franciscans around the world celebrate the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi in Our Lady of Angels Chapel, known as the “Porziuncola,” the little portion. Pope Leo XIV declared 2027 the Franciscan Jubilee Year. We invite you all to join us at the various liturgical celebrations to commemorate the Jubilee Year, whether in person or virtually at our livestreaming events. Kindly visit our website for the event schedule, or call 212-736-8500, Ext. 0.

Recently, we were informed by a highly respected company specializing in infrared technology and drone inspections that there are critical needs for the replacement and repair of the brick walls and masonry surrounding our church and Parish House. The estimated cost of these necessary repairs has escalated to more than two million dollars.

Our present church building was completed in 1891 and is now 135 years old. Over the years, countless repairs and upgrades have been undertaken to preserve this sacred space, maintain the integrity of our buildings, and ensure the safety of all who enter our doors. Yet, time and weather inevitably take their toll. The deterioration of the brickwork and masonry has reached a point where these significant repairs can no longer be postponed.

I humbly, yet earnestly, ask you to be especially generous in this year’s Annual St. Francis of Assisi Appeal. Your support is needed to address these urgent repairs and preserve our beloved church and Parish House – sacred places that have served generations of faithful New Yorkers. Your generosity today will help ensure that this cherished Franciscan home remains a place of prayer, hope, and service for generations to come.

For more than 800 years, Franciscans have faced challenges with faith, courage, and perseverance. With God’s grace and with the prayers and generosity of our faithful friends and parishioners, we will meet this challenge and continue our Franciscan mission in the heart of New York City.

The first Franciscans were no different from any of us. But somehow, they remembered the one commandment the Lord gave us to one another: to love one another. The first Franciscans put their lives together, and they remained together. Together they walked through these barriers to love.

We can learn from their quest for love 800 years ago to now. During this Franciscan Jubilee Year, we invite all parishioners and friends to join us in this new quest for love in a time when friction and tension are evident in our world as well as our own nation. Let us stand and reconcile with one another in the spirit of St. Francis. This is a time for grace. This appeal letter is a time to help us continue this “grace” at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi.

Grace operates best in the realm of freedom. As free people, we listen to the Lord and say, “What are you asking of me, Lord, as a Catholic?” Being a Catholic is not the same as being saved. Love saves us. The charism of St. Francis makes us free for love, for life, and human history. The Church is a means, not an end. Catholicism offers the gifts of wisdom, time, and universal solidarity. That’s all—but that’s a lot. And I truly thank you a lot for your gracious and loving gift to our iconic parish in this Annual St. Francis of Assisi Appeal.

May St. Francis of Assisi intercede for you and your loved ones and bless you with abundant graces and peace. Please know that you and your special intentions will be remembered in our celebrations of our beloved patron saint.

On behalf of the Franciscan friars, parish staff, and lay leaders, we wish you and your loved ones a blessed and joyful Feast of St. Francis of Assisi!

Blessings to all,

Father Brian Jordan, OFM
Pastor

As we celebrate St. Francis of Assisi on October 4th, the church will be decorated with magnificent flowers. All of his teaching, preaching, healing and seeking what was lost gave glory to God. He used his gifts well. Let us fill the church with the beauty of God’s creation in honor of a saint who loved nature so much.

You are invited to donate flowers in memory of a loved one or for a special intention.