By Julia Mericle
Contributing Writer
As Francis Week approaches, University Ministries is preparing a variety of events to get the campus involved. The festivities run from Sunday to Saturday, Oct. 5, with the Feast of Saint Francis taking place on Friday, Oct. 4.
“Francis Week is a celebration of our Franciscan identity on campus,” Julianne Wallace, associate director of faith formation, worship and ministry, said. “What we do is each day there is a different event that celebrates one aspect of the Franciscan identity.”
Father Francis Di Spigno, O.F.M., executive director of University Ministries, said this is a week to embrace our campus’s connection to Saint Francis.
“Saint. Bonaventure’s theology wasn’t created in a vacuum,” Father Francis said. “It comes from his experience through the lens of Saint Francis of Assisi.”
The week will kick off with a Family Weekend mass at 10:30 a.m. in the Reilly Center Arena. A brief break from the events will take place on Monday, due to the appearance of All Bonaventure Reads author Kristen Iversen.
The events will resume on Wednesday, Oct. 2, with “Syria: A Franciscan Response.” This event will take place in the Merton Center at 5:30 p.m. and will include a meal and conversation about the crisis in Syria and how to translate Franciscan values into difficult situations.
The same day in the University Chapel, guest speaker Pauline Albert will present a lecture entitled “Making Better Social Worlds Today Through Learning From Francis and Clare of Assisi.”
Thursday brings one of students’ favorite events of the week: the “Lady Jacoba Coffee Break,” which will take place outside of Plassmann Hall from 9:15 to 11:30 a.m., according to Wallace.
“Lady Jacoba was a friend of Saint Francis who would always bring the Franciscan brothers little almond cakes and almond cookies,” Wallace said. “Free cookies and coffee will be offered to students, faculty and staff in remembrance of this story.”
Thursday also marks the Transitus of Saint Francis, or the transition of Francis from death into new life, at 7 p.m. in the University Chapel.
“Saint Francis was somebody who really embraced death,” Wallace said, “Which is a kind of strange notion because most people fear death and don’t want the people around them to die. Saint Francis had such a beautiful way of doing it, and we as Franciscans celebrate his death every year.”
The service is not a mass, but will include a theatrical interpretation, complete with music and lights.
Friday, Oct. 4 is the culmination of Francis Week, with a celebration of the Feast of Saint Francis at 12:30 p.m. in the University Chapel, followed by a day of service on Saturday, Oct. 5.
“One of the hallmarks of not only Franciscanism, but Christianity, is that talk is cheap,” Father Francis said referring to the service opportunities. “How does that translate into our daily lives?”
Some students at St. Bonaventure are more informed about Franciscanism through Clare College courses, such as Catholic Franciscan Heritage.
“I am taking Catholic and Franciscan Heritage right now,” Joe Ferencik, a sophomore philosophy major, said. “Because of that, I can appreciate this day fully that brings together not only the university but also the Franciscan community around the world.”
Father Francis emphasized that students do not need to be Christian to be involved with the planned activities. He noted all are welcome and respected, and he hopes that is something the students at St. Bonaventure take away from this week.
“Francis not only attracted people 800 years ago,” he said. “Francis continues to attract people to his spirituality and his perspective of what the world is about, what god is about, and how the two of them come together.”
