franciscan pilgrimage to assisi

After this turning point, St. Francis returned to Assisi unable to resume his privileged life. Conrad talks about how Franciss first followers were combat veterans, and in Assisi the veterans build their own sense of brotherhood, of community, by all staying together in a pensione (boarding house). Br. A pilgrimage is about entering into the experience and the depth of the experience.. But it is above all the place where, on 17 September 1224, the feast of the exaltation of the cross, Francis receives the Stigmata. We then depart Assisi for Rome, stopping first at the medieval town of Greccio, set on a beautiful mountaintop. Day 2 - Arrive Rome. We board on our motor-coach and travel through the Region of. Franciscan Pilgrimages - Home | Facebook Lunch and afternoon free. Itinerary with stages: the Pilgrimage in a few words. Saturday, June 29, Presentation at hotel with Ken Butigan on Eremos della Carceri, St. Francis hermitage. These help encourage the kind of listening that prompts deeper understanding of your personal story and the ways in which it is woven into the universal story; the ways in which your being touches and impacts all other being and matter; and the ways in which all things are in relationship with each other. At the end of our visit we can return back to the hotel with our included transfer or enjoy an optional visit of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. He is delighted to collaborate again with PaulKimmerling, for all of the reasons that Paul mentions below! Written by Michael Turtle Michael Turtle is the founder of Time Travel Turtle. PILGRIMAGE TO ASSISI - The Guild for Spiritual Guidance For Francis, it was all mountains and music. Keep in mind that Assisi was built on a hillside so everywhere you go from Hotel Giotto is either up or down steep, uneven cobblestone streets which can be difficult to walk on. After that momentous start to her pilgrimage, she found the rest of her journey inspiring, even lifechanging. Schmittgen: Pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi | Austria It is here that St. Francis persuaded Pope Innocent III to give permission to begin the Franciscan Order. A challenge that commonly follows such an awe-inspiring trip like a pilgrimage is that upon returning home, it's not long before the busyness and noise of the routines we shed for those few . He is board president of the Companions of Mary the Apostle (CMA), West Park, NY. In the classes before the pilgrimage, Graham said, the students soaked up the shared knowledge but didnt often volunteer their own perspectives. Visit serene lakes and enjoy mountain vistas, then feel the mists of the thundering waters of the largest human-made waterfall. Afterwards, on Saturday evening, we will have a farewell dinner. You will be inspired by the participants and the significant historical site. Lynn S. The Assisi Pilgrimage has inspired me to continue Francis and Clares journey of nonviolence and peace in my journey of working for peace and justice in our chaotic world. Ellie V. Friar Michael Lasky is a Franciscan Friar Conventual currently living in Rome, Italy. He found a lot of comfort in nature.. Day 7- Rome. When St. Francis visited the Vatican back in the 12th century, he attended to the needs of those people, Sr. Laura said, and participants on a Franciscan pilgrimage should be as interested in those people on the margins as they are in seeing the treasures the Vatican holds. Each pilgrim will arrive at Hotel Giotto in Assisi, Italy by 3 pm on Sunday, June 23 and depart the Hotel Giotto on Sunday morning, June 30. That audience proved especially impactful for Jenny Hedrick-Erickson, interim assistant dean of Viterbos College of Nursing and Health. We are a welcoming community of faith striving to be a blessing in the heart of the world. A tourist wont pay any attention to them. I came back with this lightheartedness and joy, walking with a lighter step. This fee covers the hotel stay for seven nights at Hotel Giotto in Assisi along with breakfast and dinner each night at the hotel and local ground transportation to and from the various sites that day. Join other pilgrims for food and fellowship. Saint Francis was born in Assisi and his tomb is in a crypt below Saint Francis Basilica, a popular pilgrimage and tourist site in Assisi. the beautiful medieval town of Assisi. We then continue to Assisi and our hotel. Overnight. Melissa Growt, assistant director of Viterbos Academic Resource Center, said she came back from the 2022 pilgrimage with a much deeper understanding of Francis and Clare and their commitment to their vision, especially the emphasis on community that is central to Franciscan ideals. About the Pilgrimage Reflections | Franciscan Sisters of Christian I decided then and there I needed to go back., A member of the FSPA Affiliation Community since 2001, Dykman returned to Assisi in 2016 as part of an FSPA leadership pilgrimage, and she immediately felt at home. We will then have a Mass that morning at Santa Maria degli Angeli inside the Porziuncola if possible. His less wealthy brothers-in-arms were executed instead of being held for ransom, often buried alive. . The Courage to Change: Wisdom from Assisi | Franciscan Media Together, we will walk in the footsteps of these peacemakers whose courageous nonviolence, compassion for others, kinship with creation, and work for peace and reconciliation have inspired people everywhere. It was a deep experience, and I suspect that its fruits will be appearing in my life for years to come. Buffet Breakfast. Paige Getty from Sept 25 Oct 1, 2022, on a spiritual pilgrimage to Assisi, walking in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology and the environment. Walk in the Footsteps of Saint Francis in Assisi - TripSavvy Every two years she leads a group of 20 Viterbo students on an eight-day trip to Italy, including a pilgrimage to Assisi. Assisi & Rome Pilgrimage - Franciscan Friars Lunch is at our leisure with the optional possibility of arranging it in the refectory of the Pilgrim of the Sanctuary. Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land P.O. Assisi Pilgrimage Online : A Virtual Journey of Peace and Nonviolence In the Footsteps of Francis and Clare A Six-Week Online Series Sponsored by Pace e Bene Thursdays, 4-6pm Pacific / 5-7pm Mountain / 6-8pm Central / 7-9pm Eastern If you are on another time zone, find your start . A pilgrimage is a sacred journey where your spirit is enlivened and moved as much as your legs. The Way of St Francis pilgrimage route in Italy (2023) - Time Travel Turtle Franciscan Italy Pilgrimage | Siena College A graduate of the Guilds AP XXVII, hesa former board member (twice!) . Discover Assisi like Francis and Clare did - on foot. We enjoy full day excursion to La Verna, the place where nature and spirituality come together in perfect balance. Hardies as soon as you can: rhardies@gmail.com. Father Conrad first visited Assisi early in his OFM journey. Then we will visit a significant site in or around Assisi and have a presentation on the lives of St. Francis and St. Clare and their lessons of nonviolence, presented by Ken and Friar Michael. In Assisi, the "Assisi" scroll is removed at the end of the pilgrimage. Louie . Technical guide of the pilgrimage The final three days were spent visiting holy sites in Rome, and a marvelous lunch, prayer service, and photo opportunity at the Generalate, the general headquarters for our international congregation. Two transfers: from Spoleto to Trevi, and Bevagna to Eremo delle Carceri. The scenic St Francis Way walk will take you through "il cuor verde d'Italia", the green heart of Italy, visiting sites that are connected to the Saint. 2018 Great Travel Service srl. Put a deposit down to hold your spot today! We welcome you and pledge ourselves to. Conrad entrusts a key to one of them, someone hes sure will take care of his comrades and bring them all home. On one pilgrimage, Fr. Id heard from so many peers what an incredible experience it was, and it really is. The retreat highlights their life events, spirituality, and writings, explored through talks, meditations, and practices, including questions for contemplation. The Franciscan Tradition. Overnight. Thats the place where it all began. A few years later after he set out to join a Papal army, but changed his mind after hearing a voice in a dream. His first task, as a result of a vision he had, was to restore ruined chapels in the vicinity of Assisi. Upon arrival we stop at the Basilica of St. John Lateran for a visit. Franciscan Pilgrimage - Review of Casa Papa Giovanni, Assisi, Italy We visit as well the Church of San Francesco dAssisi a Ripa, built in the 13th century on the site of a hospice for travelers where St. Francis lived during his stay in Rome. Embark On a Catholic Pilgrimage to Rome, Florence & Assisi April 18-28, 2023. I've always loved Assisi and look forward to my visits at Casa Papa Giovanni. 2023 Viterbo University 900 Viterbo Drive La Crosse, WI 54601, Assisi Pilgrimages Help Keep Viterbo's Franciscan Connection Strong, Student pilgrimages start in Rome, including a visit to the Vatican. In 2019, Paul led Through Beginners Eyes, a photography retreat to foster new ways of seeing the world and encourage greater creativity in photo making. 2018 Great Travel Service srl. The Peace & Justice Pilgrimage of to Assisi seeks applications for 30 pilgrims. Pilgrimages Planned for 2022 - Holy Name Province Pilgrimage Ccombines both weeks of Pilgrimages A and B into a single, two- week immersion with Franciscanspirituality and history, sacred sites, beautiful countryside, and food and fellowship. Ps: as an alternative it is possible to organize a farewell dinner with or without music in a local restaurant. The pilgrimage to Assisi will give you plenty of quiet time to reflect on St Francis's life and the lessons that we can all learn from him whilst . . During his life, Francis went to La Verna several times it therefore becomes one of the hermitages in which every year he loves to spend prolonged periods of retreat, in prayer and penance. And everybody comes back with a sense of peacefulness.. For a friar, it was like coming home, he said. Francis and Clare to nurture an encounter with Jesus Christ through the spirituality of place. The balance of the day will be at our leisure. Let the spirit of our Community support you on your journey. Wednesdays are completely unscheduled please do as you wish! For over 50 years Franciscan Pilgrimage Programs, Inc. (FPP) has created cross-cultural journeys in the spirit of SS. - C.C.I.A.A. St. Francis had received permission from Pope Honorious III to hold Midnight Mass in a cave nearthe village, so he led shepherds to the top of a nearby hill where they gathered together in a stable sheltering an ox and a donkey. Saint Francis Franciscan Media When St. Francis visited the Vatican back in the 12, The pensione closes at 10 p.m., but many of the veterans dont want to turn in that early, so Fr. Box 321490 Franklin, WI 53132-6231 Tel: 414.427.0570 Fax: 414.427.0590 www.franciscanpilgrimages.com infofpp@thefranciscans.net RD 11/27/2019 NOTES Franciscan Pilgrim ProgramsGeneral InformationPage 1 Matt Russick, TOR An Unforgettable Journey into the Lives of the Saints Join Franciscan University of Steubenville and Fr. Something to consider: We recommend arriving early to Assisi. Lunch and afternoon free. The Veterans Wellness Pilgrimage to Assisi, Italy, is a 9-day Franciscan pilgrimage where student veterans are given time for reflection, conversation, and leisure and while visiting sacred Franciscan places in Assisi and Rome. 7 talking about this. Your email address will not be published. Lunch and afternoon at our leisure to walk the streets of this medieval town and absorb the spirit of Saints Francis and Clare. To apply: fill out this application and we will be in touch with you. This morning we meet our local guide at the Piazza near St. Clare's Church and take taxis up the winding road (buses cannot make these sharp turns) to the Eremo delle Carceri (Hermitage), secluded some 2 1/2 miles outside the town of Assisi. I definitely came back with a firm understanding of what being Franciscan means, Graham said. The pilgrimage to Assisi is dedicated to St Francis, with a visit to the Basilica and celebration of Holy Mass. The application for the May 2023 Assisi Pilgrimage is now open! Viterbo is committed to keeping its Franciscan identity strong, and that includes offering Assisi pilgrimages for faculty, administration, staff, students, and alumni. Dedication of the Basilica of San Francisco in Assisi The Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land is a tax-exempt, non-profit organization pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. He has been a journalist for more than 20 years and has travelled the world full time since 2011. Responding to Pope Francis encouragement for us to hear and respond to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor, in 2019 Friar Michael founded Little Portion Farm in Ellicott City, Maryland. Our Community includes people of faith who connect with our spirituality. A celebratory dinner on the last night of the pilgrimage. Its about seeing people.. The Long Island Coalition for the Homeless awarded Br. The Wheaton Franciscans are the St. Clare Regional Community of an international congregation, the Franciscan Sisters, Daughters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (FCJM). This trip then will be a retreat time of prayer, personal renewal, and invigorating discussion, a holy pilgrimage in the long tradition of Christian spirituality. We meet our guide and enjoy a walking city sightseeing tour including the Basilica of St. Francis. This is a regular meeting of the Worship Steering Committee. His Franciscan retreat, Live the Questions: A Journey with Francis and Clare, was offered four times between 2013-2018. In the event of another pandemic or if COVID is resurging, as long as travel is still relatively safe, we will proceed with the pilgrimage, but all participants will be encouraged to follow all health and safety guidelines once in Italy. Paul enjoyed a long career in talent development, most recently as an independent consultant who designed and conducted workshops and coaching programs for executives, managers and individual contributors in small-mid-size technology companies in the NY Metro area. In Sanctitate et Doctrina In Holiness and Learning 5 Course Sequence Freshman Year Sequence Honors College Preparatory College/Career Honors English 9 CP English 9 English 9 The pilgrim Fr. Rev. For walkers, the sanctuary makes a nice half-day outing, or it can be combined in a circular driving route with a visit to Rivolato, another pilgrimage site connected to St. Francis. Carmelite Pilgrimage to Benevento, San Giovanni, Assisi & Rome Conrads approach to pilgrimages, a philosophy informed by a book by Phil Cousineau titled The Art of Pilgrimage: The Seekers Guide to Making Travel Sacred., A visit to anyplace can be a pilgrimage, Fr. Thistradition originated with St. Francis, who staged the first nativity scene onChristmasEve in 1223 whilevisitingGreccio. Those under 18 may also be accepted if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Adjacent is the Cappella delle Rose with fine frescoes by Tiberio d'Assisi, from 1518, depicting scenes from the saint's life. Assisi, located in the Umbria region of Italy, is the site of many a pilgrimage and a rare and special spot on earth linked in legend with its native son, St. Francis, a gentle saint who founded the Franciscan order and is remembered as a great lover of nature (his sermon to an audience of birds is one of the best-loved sermons of his life). Construction on the large church started in 1228 when Saint Francis was canonized. (Single room upgrades will be available for an additional cost.). Mark with their Unsung Hero Award last year. Francis and the Foolishness of God or Dr. Butigans book, Franciscan Nonviolence as well as at least one biography of St. Francis such as, Francis of Assisi: A Revolutionary Life by Adrian House. Pilgrimage to Santiago and Assisi wined. Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, OFM, better known as Francis of Assisi (Italian: Francesco d'Assisi; c. 1181 - 3 October 1226), was an Italian Catholic friar who founded the Franciscans.He was inspired to lead a life of poverty as an itinerant preacher.One of the most venerated figures in Christianity, he was canonized by Pope Gregory IX on 16 July 1228. Pilgrimage 2020 - The Assisi Project Im a Junior philosophy major here at Franciscan. 10 Days: A Franciscan Pilgrimage to Italy- Assisi, Rivo Torto, Greccio The beautiful hometown of St. Francis is one of the most beloved pilgrim sites in all the world. Several sessions of spiritual (and physical!) Meanwhile, Gregory made plans to construct a pilgrimage church to house Francis's remains. the pilgrims of this pilgrimage automatically become co-founders! Details of the trip include: A five-day, six-night walking pilgrimage to Assisi, Sept 25 . As you traverse the hills of Assisi and the streets of Rome, you will be steeped in the places and stories of our Franciscan family, and enjoy a deeper experience of being Franciscan. This morning, we enjoy an excursion to Gubbio, the city that first welcomed the Saint admiring his virtues and recognizing him as a man sent by God. The pensione closes at 10 p.m., but many of the veterans dont want to turn in that early, so Fr. We are exploring funding for partial scholarships for participants aged 21-35. Paul Kimmerlingnow calls Assisi, Italy, his home, after retiring there from New York inMarch, 2021. 15 Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Assisi | PlanetWare The JPIC Office endeavors to look at the most significant social and environmental justice issues of our time and discerns how we can best respond. Naomi Stennes-Spidahl, who came to Viterbo in 1998 as an adjunct English instructor and now is director of assessment and institutional research, said shes always had an affinity for Franciscan values and appreciated how her 2022 pilgrimage experience included people of all faiths and no faiths., The pilgrimage experience exceeded my expectations, and I had pretty high expectations from talking to others, she said. We make our way to the Vatican City to attend the General Papal Audience (subject to the Holy Fathers schedule). Haden's book studies the effect of Christian nationalism Paige Getty, Kelli Danaker, and Becky Reesewho was the. - C.C.I.A.A. Meals and drinks served aloft. After breakfast we transfer to the Rome airport for our return flight home. Upon arrival we start a guided tour of this underground cemeterial complex with a network of galleries about 12 miles long, in four levels, more than twenty meters deep. Just in the month of July (2007), the councillors of Santiago and Assisi decided to twin these two towns for the common cultural and spiritual affinities, re-proposing the pilgrimage as a real source of a "new" evangelisation. There are now several programs running in Ukraine and throughout Poland. The Assisi, Italy Peace & Justice Pilgrimage. As a Franciscan, Bishop Br. Mass with Friar Michael later that morning in the Chapel of Peace at the Basilica. Our Tax ID Number is 33-0628775. St. Francis Pilgrimages We will then travel to Eremos della Carceri where you will be able to walk the trails and see the caves on your own. (+39) 06.48.82.441 - great@uni.net - P. di Roma 844/92, We arrive in Rome and are met by our experienced tour manager who will accompany us throughout our journey. Lunches and dinners on your own (except as noted). with Michele Dunne, OFS, Executive Director of the Franciscan Action Network Conrad, who wrestles with PTSD himself because of his Iraq War combat experiences in Fallujah as a military chaplain. Then we will gather for dinner and an evening check-in and prayer. December 16, 2022 Franciscan Farewell On Sunday, October 30, 2022, the community blessed and sent forth 18 pilgrims on a 10-day pilgrimage to Assisi and Rome, Italy. Assisi under the Nazis. Rev. Come, join Delores Montpetit and her husband Ken . . 13. The Franciscan convent of Greccio was built on this spot and the Chapel of the Crib was erected in 1228, the year St. Francis was canonized.We then continue on to Rome. Assisi to Rome on the Via di Francesco - Pilgrim Paths Required fields are marked *. Viterbo Students Learn Franciscan Leadership in Italy Since the early 1980s, Ken has worked with numerous social movements, including movements for a nuclear-free future, an end to homelessness, and freedom for East Timor. We walk throughthe narrowalleysand the steep slopes of the historical centre to fully enjoy the medieval atmosphere, visit the monumental Church of St. Francis and learn about the legend of St. Francis and Brother Wolf. The church of Santa Maria Maggiore was the cathedral of Assisi before 1036 when the church of San Rufino took over the position, but what we see today dates back to the 12th century. PILGRIMAGE TO ASSISI In the Footsteps of Francis & Clare May 2023 Your Invitation IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF FRANCIS & CLARE is an immersion experience in Assisi, Italy a unique opportunity to contemplate your own spiritual path in companionship with beloved Saints Francis and Clare. Food, service and views. Mark atguildpilgrimageassisi2023@gmail.comor phone or text at +1 (848) 480-5708. Our Assisi pilgrimage begins with Mass at the Basilica of St. Francis and contemplative time at the tomb of St. Francis. Overnight. Walking through the same streets, seeing the same views, breathing the air in the same spaces as St. Francis helps to bring alive his transformed life that transformed the world. Group reflection, dinner and social beginning at 5:30pm, Tuesday, June 25, Presentation at the hotel with Ken Butigan on San Damiano. Hes also a spiritual director, bishop, priest, chaplain, retreat leader, author, crisis counselor for the homeless, and past president and executive director ofthe Psychotherapy & Spirituality Institute, which draws together the inspiration of the church with the wisdom of psychological care. Home - Contemplative Pilgrimages On November 7th, 8th, and 11th, 2020, they will present a Virtual Pilgrimage to Assisi, at NO COST! The Rt. As part, he looks to both Gods evolutionary science and spiritual heroes (such as Thch Nhat Hanh and Francis and Clare of Assisi) as sources of inspiration and hope. ASSISI, Italy For centuries, pilgrims have trekked to Assisi to walk the same steep and narrow lanes on which a rag-cloaked radical monk named Francis preached an . Required fields are marked *. Door-to-door daily luggage transfer (1 item per person), so we can walk with only day packs. Franciscan Pilgrimage Join Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service and the Franciscan Action Network on a powerful pilgrimage to Assisi, Italy in the summer of 2024 led by Franciscan Friar Michael Lasky and Dr. Ken Butigan.. Allowing after-hours activities illustrates Fr. 1-800-447-3986; viewer@ewtn.com; Catholicism. Daily reflection questions, readings, and practices to spiritually focus each day of our pilgrimage. Military Students | St. Bonaventure University Francis of Assisi's unexpected invitation came in the form of an entire year spent as a prisoner of war. Camino de Santiago: Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela, Group walk: Florence to Assisi, September 1-17, 2023, Group walk: Assisi to Rome September 24-October 10, 2023, Group walk: Lucca to Siena May 28-June 5, 2023, Group walk: Great St Bernard Pass from Lausanne to Aosta August 4-14, 2023, Walk with Efrn Gonzlez in 2023 on the Camino de Santiago. 10 Days: A Franciscan Pilgrimage To Assisi & Rome Home Catholic Tours Itinerary DAY 1: DEPART We depart for Rome. We visit the Stigmata Chapel as well as Sasso Spicco, the great overhanging rock under which Francis delighted to pray, and the beautiful Chapel of the Birds. Enter Assisi: An Invitation to Franciscan Spirituality Franciscan Media 11 reviews $ 12.99 Advent with St. Francis: Daily Reflections Franciscan Media 8 reviews $ 18.99 St. Francis of Assisi: A Biography Franciscan Media 12 reviews $ 18.99 Franciscan Prayer Franciscan Media 4 reviews $ 18.99 Francis and Jesus Franciscan Media 4 reviews $ 15.99 Your email address will not be published. The pilgrims included Sisters, Covenant Companions, Our Lady of the Angels staff, and their spouses. Date. Once you have been selected to attend the Assisi Peace and Justice Pilgrimage we will ask you to prepare for the trip by taking extra time to read, pray and journal in the months ahead. Together, here is what you have accomplished 16 facilitators, 2023 UUCC We strive to live our values and act within our community to make the world a better place.. Buffet Breakfast. The relics of Saint Francis are still to be found in this beautiful basilica, formerly known as the Papal Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi. Your flight is not included and participants will be responsible to book their own flights and arrive on time. Francis certainly seemed to be the leader and the one who was propelling things, but he had a group of people around him who supported him.. He is a member of the Province of St. John the Baptist (Cincinnati, Ohio) of the Order of Friars Minor and citizen of Canada. Married since 2002, and professed Secular Franciscans (Third Order Franciscans) since 2006, they currently live in Loreto, Italy with their three children. They get a reverence for Francis in a few short days. Conrad picked was Rick Trietley, now entrusted with leading Viterbo University as its 10, Viterbo Students Learn Franciscan Leadership in Italy, Viterbo Veterans Seek Peace on Assisi Pilgrimage, Emily Dykman: A Life of Faith and Harmony, Rev. Peace and Justice Pilgrimage to Assisi Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service Dinner will be at the hotel. Employee Assisi Pilgrimage | Viterbo University Breakfast and dinner will be provided each day at the hotel; lunch is on ones own. If you do not have one, we encourage interested pilgrims to apply for your passport as soon as we have accepted your application. Group reflection, dinner and social beginning at 5:30pm. More details will be provided. di Roma 844/92, 10 Days: A Franciscan Pilgrimage to Italy- Assisi, Rivo Torto, Greccio, Montecasale & more. Home Our Pilgrimages Plan a Trip Books About Us Blog Home Our Pilgrimages Plan a Trip Books About Us Blog voicemail: (US) 1-404-418-6683 Join a Group Unique Pilgrimage Experiences Customized Travel Walk the Caminos Local Guiding . Ken has published six books, includingNonviolent Lives: People and Movements Changing the World Through the Power of Active NonviolenceandPilgrimage through a Burning World: Spiritual Practice and Nonviolent Protest at the Nevada Test Site. We visit the upper church, orBasilica Superiore, and its 28 frescoes by Giotto depicting St. Francis life. Two guides (Revs. When it is all over, arrive at the incomparable Eternal City of Rome to enjoy an unforgettable pilgrimage made more real because you walked to get there. Pilgrims will stay in a convent of Franciscan sisters in the historic center of Assisi. St Francis Way - Way St Francis of Assisi - Cammino di Assisi The 12 Most Incredible Catholic Pilgrimages in Europe It now produces 30,000lbs of organic food a year for the poor in Baltimore. Soc. We are dedicated to helping Christian believers of all ages to more faithfully live the Gospel of Christ in the spirit of Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi. Over the course of their friendship, they have designed, delivered, and mentored a variety of retreats and educational programs for Franciscan communities, 12-step communities and the Education for Ministry (EFM) program of the Episcopal Church.