According to the Vatican’s decree, Pope Leo has established that a special Year of St. Francis is proclaimed from Jan. 10, 2026, until Jan. 10, 2027.
The Holy Father noted that the purpose of the celebration is to encourage that every Christian, "following the example of the Saint of Assisi, may himself become a model of holiness of life and a constant witness of peace."
“An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1471)
In order to gain the indulgence for the Year of St. Francis, one must fulfill all of the following conditions:
- Visit any Franciscan conventual church or place of worship dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi or connected to him in an way, praying the Our Father, the Creed, and invoking the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Clare and all the Saints of the Fransiscan family
- Be a Catholic in the state of grace and in good standing with the Church
- Be detached from all sin
- Receive the Sacraments of Confession and the Eucharist (within several days of the pilgrimage)
- Pray for the intentions of the Pope
Franciscan churches and places of worship in Northwest Indiana include:
Confirm that a location will be open to the public before planning a visit.
Holy Name of Jesus
Cedar Lake
St. Joseph the Worker
Gary
Ss. Monica and Luke
Gary
St. Mary of the Lake
Gary
Franciscan Health
Crown Point
Dyer
Michigan City
Munster