FrancisCorps, P. O. Box 11166, Syracuse, NY (2026)

06/02/2026

It has been a true blessing for FrancisCorps 27 to walk in the footsteps of Saint Francis and Clare of Assisi during the Jubilee Year of Saint Francis!

Amanda, Madeline, and Karlie have returned to Syracuse after spending nine days on their Charism Pilgrimage. During their pilgrimage, they visited Assisi, Greccio, Rome, and Vatican City and were blessed with beautiful weather throughout their journey. They deepened their understanding of the lives and lasting impact of Saints Francis and Clare, grew in their appreciation of the Franciscan Charism, and strengthened their faith.

We are so thankful to everyone who kept us in your prayers throughout this pilgrimage. We are also incredibly grateful to our generous benefactors, whose support makes this Charism Pilgrimage a part of the FrancisCorps experience. Thank you!

While we did our best to keep you updated along the way, there are still some moments we have yet to share. Be on the lookout over the next few weeks as we share a couple more moments from the pilgrimage!

Pictured are Amanda, Madeline, and Karlie with Assisi visible on the hill to the left of them in the photo.

-

We are still accepting applications for the 2026-2027 program year. To learn more about or apply to FrancisCorps, we invite you to tap the link in our bio or visit www.franciscorps.org! ✨

05/30/2026

Teaching the Minister General of the Conventual Franciscan Friars how to take a .5… Check! ✅

This afternoon, on our last day in Italy, Karlie, Amanda, and Madeline met Friar Carlos Alberto Trovarelli, OFM Conv., the 120th successor of Saint Francis of Assisi and the worldwide leader of the Conventual Franciscan Friars. They had the opportunity to share who they are, where they have served this year, and what they have learned about Saint Francis and the Franciscan charism.

It was such a joy to be with Friar Carlos and learn more about his life, vocation, and experiences as a Franciscan friar. We are truly grateful and blessed that he shared his time with us.

-

We are still accepting applications for the 2026-2027 program year. To learn more about or apply to FrancisCorps, we invite you to tap the link in our bio or visit www.franciscorps.org!

05/29/2026

Charism Pilgrimage Day 7

This morning, we departed Assisi and began our journey to Rome. Halfway to Rome we stopped in Greccio, where in 1223, Saint Francis first celebrated the reenactment of the Christmas nativity.

During our time in Greccio, we reflected on St. Francis’ deep love for the Nativity and the Eucharist, a reminder that the story of Christ did not end in Bethlehem, but continues now through His real presence among us.

Visiting Greccio was such a full circle moment for the volunteers as they had celebrated the same tradition of the reenactment of the nativity back at our home parish in December.

After our time in Greccio, we continued on with our journey to Rome, where we spent the late afternoon with a walking tour of the city.

-

We are still accepting applications for the 2026-2027 program year. To learn more about or apply to FrancisCorps, we invite you to tap the link in our bio or visit www.franciscorps.org!

05/28/2026

Charism Pilgrimage Day 6

On our last day in Assisi, we visited the Basilica of Saint Francis.

📸 2–4: Mass at the Tomb of Saint Francis

To begin the morning at the basilica, we celebrated Mass together and prayed before the Tomb of Saint Francis. Before Mass began, Friar Nader placed the intentions of our alumni, the parishioners of our home parish in Syracuse, and you, our friends and followers at the base of the tomb.

📸 5–8 Tour of the Basilica of Saint Francis

After Mass, Friar Jerry Payne, OFM Conv., of the Franciscan Friars Conventual of the St. Joseph of Cupertino Province, guided us through the Basilica of Saint Francis. As we walked through the basilica, Friar Jerry shared the history and spiritual significance behind its many beautiful frescoes, connecting them to the stories the volunteers had learned throughout the year from the life of St. Francis and the Franciscan tradition. The tour also gave the volunteers the opportunity to recognize many of the places they had visited throughout the week and see those moments from the life of St. Francis beautifully depicted in the frescoes.

📸 9–16: Visiting the Sacro Convento (Sacred Convent)

After the tour, Friar Dan Quackenbush, OFM Conv., of the Franciscan Friars Conventual of Our Lady of the Angels Province, gave us the opportunity to visit the Sacro Convento, where we enjoyed a stunning view of Assisi from a perspective that many visitors never get to experience. We even had the chance to see the rooms of St. Joseph of Cupertino.

Thank you, Friar Jerry and Friar Dan, for your Franciscan hospitality and for helping make our final day in Assisi such a meaningful and memorable one!

-

We are still accepting applications for the 2026-2027 program year. To learn more about or apply to FrancisCorps, we invite you to tap the link in our bio or visit www.franciscorps.org!

05/27/2026

Happy 9th Anniversary of your Priestly Ordination to our amazing FrancisCorps Chaplain, Friar Nader Ata, OFM Conv.! ✨🙏

Friar Nader’s anniversary landed on day five of this year’s Charism Pilgrimage, so we started the day by celebrating Mass together at the Basilica of Saint Clare.

Our original plan was to celebrate Mass in front of the original San Damiano Crucifix, but the chapel was temporarily closed for repairs after some plaster fell from the ceiling the day before. Instead, we celebrated Mass in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, dedicated to St. Agnes of Assisi, the sister of Saint Clare.

Even with a slight change in plans, the moment was incredibly special because not only were we celebrating Friar Nader’s anniversary, but it was also the first time we celebrated Mass at the Basilica of Saint Clare during a pilgrimage.

Then after Mass, we spent the rest of the morning at the Carceri, so stay tuned for those photos!

-

We are still accepting applications for the 2026-2027 program year. To learn more about or apply to FrancisCorps, we invite you to tap the link in our bio or visit www.franciscorps.org!

05/26/2026

Charism Pilgrimage Day 4

Our second full day in Assisi was spent in the valley visiting Rivotorto, La Maddalena, and the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels.

Location 1: Rivotorto (📸 1-7)

The day began in Rivotorto, where Saint Francis and his early brothers returned to from Rome after Pope Innocent III approved their way of life. Rivotorto was the first dwelling place for the brotherhood and where the foundational principles of fraternal living among the friars were form.

Here, we prayed in gratitude of the diverse gifts of the early brothers of St. Francis and also in the own gifts of each volunteer too, as a reminder of how community is formed not by similarity, but by shared life and the willingness to receive one another’s gifts.

After leaving Rivotorto, we took a one-mile walk, pausing to enjoy the view of Assisi from below. (📸 8-9)

Location 2: La Maddelena (📸 10-11)

Our walk led us to La Maddelena, a small roadside church where Saints Francis and Clare once embraced, served, and loved the lepers.

Here, we were reminded of the call to encounter Christ in those on the margins, with a special focus on Amanda, Karlie, and Madeline and the ways they already live this out through their service sites this year.

Location 3: St. Mary of the Angels (📸 12-14)

The last place we visited in the valley was St. Mary of the Angels, where the focal point of the church is the Porziuncula, a small chapel rebuilt by St. Francis and his early followers. This chapel is not only where St. Francis dedicated much of his life but also where he passed away.

Here, we reflected on St. Francis hearing the Gospel and discovering his vocation and considered what it means to hear God’s call in our own lives and to respond with trust even when the path is uncertain. As Amanda, Madeline, and Karlie walked through St. Mary of the Angels, they spent time in prayer considering what it takes to say “yes” to God.

-

We are still accepting applications for the 2026-2027 program year. To learn more about or apply to FrancisCorps, we invite you to tap the link in our bio or visit www.franciscorps.org!

05/25/2026

Charism Pilgrimage Day Three

To begin our first full day in Assisi, we spent time at the Convento Franciscanum, taking in the stunning Assisi landscape and grounding ourselves in what was to come for the day. (📸 1-7)

We then took a walking tour of Assisi, visiting places such as the homes of Saints Francis and Clare, the Cathedral of San Rufino where both saints were baptized, and the very spot where Saint Francis renounced his wealth before the bishop. (📸 8-10)

After lunch, we made our way down to San Damiano in prayerful silence. There, we reflected on the impact this holy place has had on Franciscan history and on our own faith journeys. We remembered how St. Francis began rebuilding the Church here and how St. Clare lived a life of deep trust in Christ, love for the Eucharist, and care for the poor. We reflected on their courage, trust in God’s providence, and Clare’s leadership of the Poor Sisters, seeing how God provided even in moments of scarcity and fear. Before we left, we prayed for the courage to take risks for the Gospel as Francis and Clare did, becoming living stones in God’s ongoing work of rebuilding the Church. (📸 11-14)

We ended the day at the Basilica of Saint Clare, where the original San Damiano Crucifix now hangs, the crucifix through which Saint Francis heard the Lord say, “Francis, go and rebuild my Church.” Here, Amanda, Madeline, and Karlie used Saint Clare’s prayer method: Gaze, Consider, Contemplate, and Imitate. This is a style of prayer the volunteers have practiced throughout the year, and it was especially meaningful to pray this way before the San Damiano Crucifix itself. (📸 15-16)

-

We are still accepting applications for the 2026-2027 program year. To learn more about or apply to FrancisCorps, we invite you to tap the link in our bio or visit www.franciscorps.org!

05/24/2026

Charism Pilgrimage Day Two

Ciao from Assisi, Italy! 👋🛬🇮🇹

After a nearly 24-hour travel day, we finally arrived in Assisi and enjoyed lunch together before walking up to Rocca Maggiore, a hilltop castle overlooking the beautiful and holy city. There, we also celebrated Mass together for Pentecost Sunday.

-

We are still accepting applications for the 2026-2027 program year. To learn more about or apply to FrancisCorps, we invite you to tap the link in our bio or visit www.franciscorps.org!

05/23/2026

FrancisCorps 27’s Charism Pilgrimage has begun! 🛫🙏

Over these next nine days, FC27 will integrate the past nine months of their FrancisCorps experience by walking in the footsteps of Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi.

What a blessing it is to be on this pilgrimage during the Jubilee Year of Saint Francis!

We began our morning with a road trip to NYC and before our flight took time to pray together grounding ourselves and remembering the reasons we are on this pilgrimage.

We extend our gratitude to the FrancisCorps benefactors. Through their generosity, this pilgrimage is possible as an integral part of the FrancisCorps formation experience. To our benefactors: you’re always in our prayers! 🫶

Here are quick thoughts from FC27 as they begin their pilgrimage:

Karlie: “I am excited to see what the Holy Spirit has in store for me and for our group while walking the same streets as St. Francis and St. Clare. We’ve spent so much time learning and talking about each of the places that we are traveling to on pilgrimage, so I’m excited to see all of them in person and embrace the Italian culture (and cuisine!).”

Madeline: “In the next week I’m most looking forward to exploring Assisi and seeing where St. Francis and St. Clare walked and lived. I have heard such amazing things, especially with how beautiful the town is, and I can’t wait to see it with my own eyes!”

Amanda: “When I was discerning FrancisCorps, I remember being very moved by the idea that we spend the whole year learning about and living the Franciscan Charism then getting to see where all of this started. Getting to be a pilgrim at World Youth Day 2023 definitely deepened my sense of the Church’s universality and I’m hoping that our time in Assisi and Rome will similarly strengthen my connection to the Franciscans even as my volunteer year draws to a close.”

-

We are still accepting applications for the 2026-2027 program year. To learn more about or apply to FrancisCorps, we invite you to tap the link in our bio or visit www.franciscorps.org!

05/17/2026

Happy Installation Day, Friar Nader! 🙌

Today, FrancisCorps 27 had the joy of witnessing and celebrating the installation of FrancisCorps Chaplain Friar Nader Ata, OFM Conv., as pastor of Assumption Church. The celebration was presided over by the Most Reverend Bishop Douglas J. Lucia, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Syracuse.

We give thanks for Friar Nader’s ministry and the gift of his service to the Church.

Congratulations, Friar Nader, on your Installation Day! 🎉

-

We are still accepting applications for the 2026-2027 program year. To learn more about or apply to FrancisCorps, we invite you to tap the link in our bio or visit www.franciscorps.org! ✨

FrancisCorps

06/02/2026

05/30/2026

05/29/2026

05/28/2026

05/27/2026

05/26/2026

05/25/2026

05/24/2026

05/23/2026

05/17/2026

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Place Of Worship

Shortcuts

Share