Lourdes President

I have shared the pilgrimage with a remarkable group of people.  They primarily come from CHI, representing the health care centers of the Sisters of St Francis.  These committed women and men are actively seeking to fulfill the mission and values which guide their institutions. They are also simply people with rich and sometimes complicated … Continued

Throughout our time on the pilgrimage we have been learning about the lives of Francis and Clare.  Fr. John is well versed on Francis and Sr. Kathy on Clare.  Their devotion to the saints is palpable.  I have learned a great deal about these two saints – their families, the time in which they lived … Continued

We spent Monday morning at the Basilica San Francesco.  We had mass in the Chapel which holds the tomb of St Francis.  The Basilica is beautiful, filled with breathtaking frescos, wonderful wood and sculptures.  We visited throughout the levels of the Basilica and were oriented to the impact of the most recent severe earthquake.

On Sunday we traveled to LaVerna which is about 2 hours from Assisi.  It was a very windy, rainy day. LaVerna is the place where Francis received the grace of the Stigmata.  He visited LaVerna six times in his lifetime.  Francis desired to know God through the love in Christ’s heart and to share in … Continued

Both Francis and Clare ministered to the lepers on this site.  It sits in the valley below Assisi.  A small chapel remains on site where I was blessed to have time for reflection.