JANUARY 2026 - JANUARY 2027
Pope Leo XIV declares 'Special Year of St Francis of Assisi'
Our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, has proclaimed a Special Year of St Francis to mark the 800th anniversary of the death of our patron, St. Francis of Assisi. This Franciscan Jubilee Year, inaugurated on the 10th of January by decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary, will continue until January 2027.
During this sacred time, the faithful may receive a plenary indulgence by fulfilling the usual conditions (Confession, Holy Communion, and prayer for the intentions of the Pope) and by making a pilgrimage to any Franciscan church or shrine dedicated to St Francis anywhere in the world - this includes our church, St Francis of Assisi, Port Glasgow!
Those who are elderly, sick, or housebound may also receive this grace by uniting spiritually with the Jubilee and offering their prayers and sufferings to God.
In a world marked by conflict, division, and insecurity, this Jubilee invites us to imitate the Poor Man of Assisi, following Christ more closely and becoming witnesses of peace, and reconciliation, emphasized by the Order of Friars Minor and the Holy Father.
As a parish dedicated to St Francis of Assisi, this is a profound invitation for renewal. Let us embrace this Year of Grace together and walk the path of peace with our beloved patron.
St Francis - pray for us!
We rejoice to welcome his statue into the sanctuary, with his relics placed before it.
May all who visit our parish church find peace, renewal, and the grace of the plenary indulgence as we honour the saint whose name we proudly bear.
“We have been called to heal wounds, to unite what has fallen apart, and to bring home those who have lost their way.” - St Francis.