At our recent College Assembly, I shared my reflections on the life and service to God of St Francis of Assisi, having spent time in Assisi and walking part of ‘The Way of St Francis’ during my period of leave. As we enter the Season of Creation, which commences on 1 September and ends on 4 October, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, I thought I would share with you part of the reflection I shared with students and staff:

Francis was born into a wealthy family in the 12th century.  And just like you, he was energetic, ambitious, and filled with dreams as a teenager.  Francis had dreams of becoming a knight and gaining glory on the battlefield. But shortly after riding off to fight against Perugia, a nearby town, he ended up in their prison, a broken and disillusioned young man. It was after his return from prison, and during the recovery that followed, that Francis’ life was changed. After a transformative encounter with a leper, in which he believed he had encountered Jesus, he gave up his worldly goods and his inheritance.  He realized that what is most important in life is not our material possessions, but rather what is in our hearts and the connections we forge with others.  While praying one day and asking for God’s guidance, Francis heard God ask him to “go out and rebuild his church” which was in a time of crisis.   

Having received this calling, Francis gave up his life of wealth and privilege to embrace a life of poverty and devotion to God. He embraced a life of minimalism and focussed on helping the less fortunate, both the sick and the poor.  

In a world that is obsessed with possessions and acquiring more, the story of Francis reminds us that true happiness doesn’t come from what we own, but from the relationships we nurture, the experiences we cherish, and the kindness we show to others.

Francis’ spiritual journey led him to embrace all living creatures as his brothers and sisters, extending his love even to the birds of the air and the animals of the field. His commitment to nature and the environment was truly ahead of his time. Saint Francis saw the beauty in all living things and recognized them as part of God’s creation. He referred to the sun, moon, and stars as his siblings and respected the Earth as our shared home. Today, as we grapple with environmental challenges, we can draw inspiration from his love of nature and work together to protect our planet for future generations.

As we consider the life of Saint Francis, we see a deep-seated compassion for all living beings, a genuine concern for the welfare of the less fortunate, and an unyielding commitment to building a more just and harmonious world. Saint Francis recognized that true greatness lies not in the accumulation of wealth or power, but rather in the selfless giving of oneself to uplift others and create a better world for all.

In a world where so many people are focussed on themselves rather than thinking about others, his life reminds us that the path to true happiness lies in the cultivation of empathy, love, and understanding. St Francis challenges us to examine our own lives and consider how we, too, can contribute to the betterment of humanity and the planet we share.

As Pope Francis wrote in Laudato Si’, “Everyone’s talents and involvement are needed to redress the damage caused by human abuse of God’s creation. All of us can cooperate as instruments of God for the care of creation, each according to his or her own culture, experience, involvements and talents.” (LS 14).

Prayer for our Earth

All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love, that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
O God of the poor, help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives, that we may protect the world and not prey on it, that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.
Touch the hearts of those who look only for gain at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing, to be filled with awe and contemplation, to recognize that we are profoundly united with every creature as we journey towards your infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle for justice, love and peace.

Pope Francis, Laudato Si’, 2015.

We Pray For

We ask for your prayers for members of our community and their families who have recently lost loved ones:

Sister Margaret Cassidy csb
Past Pupil (1952), Past Staff

Taylor Santiago
Past Pupil (2016)

We pray that our loving God hold them gently in the palm of His hand.

Nicole Mangelsdorf
Principal