Longmont Catholics Celebrate 800 Years Since the Death of St. Francis of Assisi
Archbishop James Golka joined St. Francis of Assisi Parish for its annual Feastival, marking the Franciscan Jubilee with Mass, festivities and a candlelit Transitus procession.
He tore his clothes and ran when offered riches. He preached to the birds. He seemed crazy to the world. Yet, every year on October 4, people across the globe still celebrate his life centuries later.
St. Francis of Assisi demonstrates a life transformed by an encounter with Jesus Christ. The parish under his patronage in Longmont honors this reality year after year with their “Feastival,” an annual event complete with live music, dancing, games, Italian fare and more to commemorate St. Francis’ passing into Heaven.
“Our parish community strives to be welcoming and knows how to celebrate,” Dana Martinez, ministry support staff and parishioner, said. “We pulled out all the stops for this year’s festivities. It was an evening to remember.”
This year’s celebration marked 800 years since St. Francis’ death. The occasion moved Pope Leo XIV to name this a Franciscan Jubilee Year, which began January 10, 2026, and continues through January 10, 2027.
Archbishop James Golka joined St. Francis of Assisi Parish for this year's “Feastival,” celebrating the anticipatory Mass beforehand and preaching on the witness of the parish's patron.
“[St. Francis] knew being caught up in the love of God is the most important thing,” Archbishop Golka said. “More important than doing what everybody else thought he should do.”
Emphasizing the importance of calling on the intercession of the saints, Archbishop Golka said St. Francis provides the faithful with a relatable witness.
“He’s like one of us,” Archbishop Golka said. “He was utterly approachable.”
Just as the Lord revealed himself to St. Francis, Archbishop Golka encouraged the crowd that Jesus also wants to reveal himself to every person.
“Jesus is inviting his disciples and us to an encounter with him that will transcend what we normally do,” he said, commenting on the Gospel readings. “Jesus is lavishly generous in giving us the gifts of his Father. St. Francis of Assisi taught us that. St. Francis did not cling to the stuff of this world.”
Rather, St. Francis clung to the hope of Heaven. Archbishop Golka concluded by again highlighting the value of the saints’ intercession for the Church and encouraged those present to make time for true rest.
“Sabbath is putting aside an entire day to rest in God,” Archbishop Golka said, “so that you can receive his ‘shalom.’ Shalom is more than peace. Shalom is a fullness so that things are as God intended them to be.”
St. Francis became who God intended him to be, and the parish community named for him spent the evening celebrating just that.
“Mass was peaceful, inviting, and Jesus felt so close to all, which was very nice to witness,” Katherine Cober, who attended the evening with her family, said.
(Photos by Joe Carey, courtesy of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Longmont)
After a meal of Umbrian pasta, attendees danced along to live music and competed in a corn-hole tournament.
“The community was very welcoming, and the event well-prepared,” she said. “We enjoyed the treats, especially the black cherry sorbet! The cornhole tournament was really fun, and it was very nice to hang out with the community.”
To close the evening, those present returned to the church in a candlelit procession for the Transitus, a traditional Franciscan prayer service commemorating the saint’s passing, led by Deacon Brandon Justice.
"We wanted to end with a prayer to celebrate the life of St. Francis, and Deacon Justice had this wonderful idea,” Fidel Cuellar-Torres, parish director of music and communications, said. “There’s something beautiful about Catholic processions–you see one forming, and you just want to be in it.”
Beginning with Night Prayer from the Church’s Liturgy of the Hours, parish staff wove in elements of the Transitus liturgy they had seen online.
“This prayer puts things in perspective,” Cuellar-Torres said. “You see the life of Francis, his conversion, and then his closeness to the Lord at his death. In a way, the whole evening was meant to parallel the events of his life, one that was transformed by Christ.”
St. Francis of Assisi Parish will continue celebrating their patron throughout the year! You can find their upcoming events and pilgrimage opportunities here.
