800 years of a call to peace: January 2026 – January 2027
Catholics across Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains are invited to renew their commitment to peace, reconciliation and care for creation during the Special Year of St Francis, proclaimed by Pope Leo XIV to mark 800 years since the death of St Francis of Assisi.
What is the Year of St Francis?
This special Jubilee Year, beginning on 10 January 2026 and ending on 10 January 2027, celebrates the enduring legacy of the “Poverello of Assisi” and invites the faithful to walk in his footsteps by living simply, caring generously, and becoming instruments of peace in our world.
The Franciscan Jubilee Year holds particular significance for the Diocese of Parramatta, where the Franciscan spirit is deeply woven into the life of the local Church.
Our Franciscan Bishop and Communities
The Diocese of Parramatta is influenced by the Franciscan charism through Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta, who belongs to the community of the Conventual Franciscans (OFM Conv), as well as through the presence of many other Franciscan friars, religious sisters and lay communities who serve across parishes, schools, social services and outreach ministries throughout Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains.
These include:
“St Francis intuitively understood that we cannot live our lives disconnected from nature…
To live simply and poorly means to be a steward, guardian and caretaker of all the gifts we are given in trust.”
Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Homily during 2025 Season of Creation Mass
“St Francis continues to speak” – Pope Leo XIV
Proclaiming the Special Year, Pope Leo XIV said St Francis still speaks to a world marked by war and division – not through solutions, but through a life that points to the true source of peace.
Recalling Francis’ greeting, “May the Lord give you peace,” the Pope said peace is God’s gift, embracing peace with God, with one another, and with all creation.
The Special Year commemorates the Transit of St Francis, who died in 1226 after a life radically shaped by the Gospel. His witness of humility, mercy and love for the poor continues to inspire the Church to live the Gospel with joy and courage today.
This Year of Grace follows the Ordinary Jubilee of 2025 and invites the faithful to allow the hope they have received to be transformed into active charity, reconciliation and peace.
Plenary indulgences
During the Special Year of St Francis, the Church grants the opportunity to receive a plenary indulgence.
The indulgence may be obtained by Catholics who, with a spirit detached from sin:
- Participate devoutly in Jubilee celebrations, or
- Make a pilgrimage to any Franciscan conventual church or to a church or place of worship dedicated to or associated with St Francis of Assisi, anywhere in the world, and
- Fulfil the usual conditions of:
- Sacramental confession
- Eucharistic communion
- Prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father
During your visit, you are invited to spend time in prayer or meditation. Ask God that, following the example of St Francis, charity, harmony and peace may take root in your heart, concluding with the Our Father, the Creed, and invocations to Our Lady, St Francis, St Clare and the saints of the Franciscan Family.
Those who are elderly, sick or unable to travel may also receive the indulgence by spiritually uniting themselves to the Jubilee through prayer and the offering of their sufferings.
Make a pilgrimage
There are many places of pilgrimage within the Diocese of Parramatta, covering Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains, connected to St Francis in name or otherwise. These include:
- The Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Plumpton – under the pastoral care of Capuchin Franciscans
- St Bernadette’s Catholic Church, Dundas Valley – under the pastoral care of the Friars of St Francis
- Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, Kellyville and Franciscan Shrine of the Holy Innocents, Kellyville – under the pastoral care of the Conventual Franciscans
- Poor Clares Monastery, North Richmond
- Our Lady of Consolation Chapel, Rooty Hill – under the pastoral care of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary
- St Raphael’s Slovenian Catholic Church, Merrylands – under the pastoral care of the Franciscan Friars OFM
- Croatian Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Great Croatian Covenant, Blacktown – under the pastoral care of the Franciscan Friars OFM
Living the call to peace today
This Special Year reflects the Diocesan Pastoral Plan priorities of mission and prayer, and our call to be a Church that reaches out to the margins.
Catholics across Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains are invited to renew the Franciscan way of living simply, caring for creation, and becoming peacemakers in our communities.
St Francis of Assisi, pray for us.
Bishop Vincent’s pastoral letter on the Special Year of St Francis
Dear friends in Christ,
This year marks the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis. For this reason, Pope Leo XIV has proclaimed a Special Year in honour of the Poverello (“little poor man” as he was affectionately known), offering a plenary indulgence to foster spiritual renewal, peace, and reconciliation.
This Franciscan Jubilee invites the faithful to imitate St Francis’s evangelical virtues of poverty, humility, compassion and service to the poor. The Pope encourages us to be bridge builders in the time that is “marked by so many seemingly interminable wars, by internal and social divisions that create mistrust and fear”. His mission to the Sultan of Egypt was a witness of love, mutual respect and dialogue. For this reason, St Francis is revered not only by Christians but also by Muslims, and Assisi is internationally recognised as the centre for inter-religious dialogue and reconciliation.
The Pope also emphasised that peace with God, peace among humans, and peace with creation are “inseparable dimensions”. The Franciscan vision of peace is not limited to the relations among human beings but also embraces the whole of creation. Francis, who recognises in every creature a reflection of divine beauty, reminds us that peace must be extended to the whole cosmos. This insight resonates with particular urgency in our time. Peace with God, peace among human beings and with creation are inseparable dimensions of a single call to universal reconciliation.
As a Franciscan bishop, I am deeply committed to the legacy of St Francis. I encourage you all to take advantage of the Franciscan Jubilee Year with a view to revitalising the Gospel life and witness we are called to give, personally and collectively.
Until January 10th, 2027, the faithful can obtain a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions – sacramental confession, Communion, and prayer for the intentions of the Pope – by making a pilgrimage to any Franciscan conventual church or place of worship dedicated to St Francis anywhere in the world. Here are the following places in our Diocese:
- The Good Shepherd Church, Plumpton
- St Bernadette’s Church, Dundas Valley
- Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Kellyville
- Franciscan Shrine of Holy Innocents, Kellyville
- Poor Clares Monastery, North Richmond
- Our Lady of Consolation Chapel, Rooty Hil
Furthermore, the elderly, the sick, and those who, for serious reasons, cannot leave their homes can obtain the plenary indulgence by spiritually joining in the jubilee celebrations and offering their prayers, pains, or sufferings to God. I pray for a spiritually enriching year through the intercession of Our Lady of Poverty and St Francis.
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Most Reverend Vincent Long Van Nguyen OFM Conv
Bishop of Parramatta