Welcome to the Parish of Sts Francis and Clare
Bishop George with the priests of the American National Catholic Church
As Franciscans, it is our goal as individuals to come together who wish to live and spread the spirit
Sunday service at 10 30 AM
https://www.facebook.com/stsfrancisandclare
Address: 2300 NW 9th Ave,, Wilton Manors, FL, United States, 33311
803-257-0214Franciscans of the Parish
Blessing of the pets
St Francis
Eight hundred years ago, St. Francis of Assisi embraced Sister Death and passed to eternal life. The founder of the Franciscan Order spent his life caring for the poor and promoting peace during a turbulent time, all while accompanied by his Franciscan brothers, sisters and friends.
As we commemorate the 800th anniversary of the Transitus of St. Francis on October 3, 2026, we join Pope Leo XIV in his hope that St. Francis’s message of peace will find “a profound echo in the Church and society today.”
May the Lord give you His peace!
Sts Francis and Clare
Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Clare of Assisi are two of the most revered figures in Christian history, renowned for their profound spirituality, commitment to poverty, and dedication to serving others. Their lives and teachings have inspired countless individuals and continue to influence Christian thought and practice today.
Saint Francis of Assisi
Born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone in 1181 or 1182 in Assisi, Italy, Francis was the son of a wealthy merchant. His early life was marked by indulgence and a desire for social status. However, after a series of personal and spiritual experiences, including a period of illness and a profound encounter with lepers, Francis underwent a radical transformation. He renounced his family’s wealth and embraced a life of poverty, humility, and service.
In 1209, Francis founded the Order of Friars Minor, commonly known as the Franciscans, with the approval of Pope Innocent III. The order emphasized living in poverty, preaching, and serving the poor and marginalized. Francis’s commitment to poverty was so profound that he is often depicted in art and literature as a symbol of simplicity and humility.
Francis’s spirituality was deeply connected to nature, and he is often referred to as the patron saint of animals and the environment. He believed that all creatures were part of God’s creation and should be treated with respect and love. This connection to nature is exemplified in his “Canticle of the Sun,” a poem that praises God through the elements of the natural world.
In 1224, Francis received the stigmata, the wounds of Christ, marking him as the first recorded person to bear these marks. He died on October 3, 1226, in Assisi. Canonized as a saint in 1228 by Pope Gregory IX, his feast day is celebrated on October 4.
Saint Clare of Assisi
Clare Offreduccio was born in Assisi on July 16, 1194, into a noble family. From a young age, she was deeply religious, and at the age of 18, she heard Francis preach during a Lenten service. Inspired by his message, Clare sought him out and expressed her desire to live a life dedicated to God.
On Palm Sunday in 1212, Clare left her family’s home, cutting her hair and exchanging her rich gown for a plain robe and veil, symbolizing her commitment to a life of poverty. She joined Francis and his followers at the Portiuncula, and together they established the Order of Poor Ladies, later known as the Poor Clares. This order was unique in its strict adherence to poverty, with members owning no property and living entirely on alms.
Clare’s rule for the order was approved by Pope Innocent IV in 1253, the day before her death. She is often depicted in art holding a monstrance or pyx, commemorating the time when she defended her convent from invaders by exposing the Blessed Sacrament and praying. Clare died on August 11, 1253, and was canonized by Pope Alexander IV in 1255. Her feast day is celebrated on August 11.
The Poor Clares
The Poor Clares, officially known as the Order of Saint Clare, is a contemplative order of nuns founded by Clare of Assisi. The order emphasizes a life of poverty, chastity, and obedience, with members living in enclosure and dedicating themselves to prayer and service. As of 2011, there were over 20,000 Poor Clare nuns in more than 75 countries worldwide.
**Legacy and Influence**
The lives of Francis and Clare have left an indelible mark on Christian spirituality and practice. Their commitment to poverty, humility, and service challenges believers to live out their faith authentically and selflessly. The Franciscan and Poor Clare orders continue to thrive, with members dedicated to the principles established by their founders.
In Assisi, the Basilica of Saint Clare houses her remains and serves as a pilgrimage site for those seeking to honor her life and legacy. The city also celebrates the Feast of Saint Clare on August 11, drawing visitors from around the world.
Saint Francis and Saint Clare’s teachings on poverty, humility, and love for all creation continue to inspire individuals and communities, encouraging a deeper commitment to living out the Gospel in everyday life.
Some of the posts
8/2/2026 SUNDAY THE 18TH OF ORDINARY TIME
Hello. Yes, I am still having trouble with my computer, but fear not, another is on its way like a knight in shining armor!! Anyway, happy Sunday. Today our Gospel comes from Matthew 14:13-21. It is a story we, I am sure, are familiar with. It is the story about Jesus feeding the multitudes in […]
8/1/2026 SATURDAY OF THE 17TH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME. FEAST OF ST. ALPHONSUS LIGUORI
Greetings to you all. Today we remember Alphonsus Ligori who developed the foundation of moral theology in the Church. In his day he fought for the liberation of moral theology form the rigidity of Jansenism. Alphonsus went on to establish a religious community known as the Redemptorist who would continue his work in moral theology. […]
7/31/2026 FRIDAY THE FEAST OF ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA.
Hello, happy Friday! Are we pack rats? Do we keep things that we will never use just in case we may need them. Those pants that don’t fit but we will keep them and when we go on that diet, we will be able to put them on again. And I have a bridge in […]
7/29/2026 WEDNESDAY, FEAST OF STS. MARTHA, MARY AND LAZARUS
Good day to all. Today we remember three good friends of Jesus. We hare of their encounters several times in the Gospels. It is said that they lived in a village “a sabboth’s walk” wich would be about 2/3 of a mile, (1 kilometer). I remember walking to the sight of the village when I […]
7/28/2026 TUESDAY OF THE 17TH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
Good morning!! I hope you get this in the morning. I wake up and the first thing I think about is getting this meditation off to you. Then I try to wake up a little more by turning on the news, well, that works but I then forget to send off the meditation. Getting old […]
7/27/2026 MONDAY OF THE 17TH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
Good day to you all. I hope all is well. It’s morning, we open our eyes and our ears to the sound of the alarm clock, or we just wake up because we always wake up at the same time. We have a routine that we automatically follow. God forbid should that routine be altered […]
7/25/2026 SATURDAY OF THE 16TH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME.
Today we remember the Apostle James, the brother of John. James was one of the chosen three with Peter and John. When the Lord would go off he would ask these three to go with Him. He was present for the transfiguration, the raising to life of the daughter of Jairus and accompanied the Lord […]
7/24/2026 FRIDAY OF THE 16TH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME.
Greetings, hope all goes well. Why do we attend church on Sunday? It is because we really get something out of it, or because that is what we do on a Sunday like going to work on Monday.? Do I feel different after attending a service, do I find it challenging in that I see […]
7/23/2026 THURSDAY OF THE 16TH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
Hello. There is a story of St. Francis of Assisi that tells about when out walking to a village, Francis came across an earthworm that was crawling across the walking path. Francis not wanting to step on it, pick it up and moved it off the path to a grassy area and let it go. […]
7/22/2026 WEDNESDAY, FEAST OF ST. MARY MAGDALENE
Good day to you all. Hope all goes well. If you were to pick a “saint” from the Bible, who would you choose? As you know I have long standing relationship with St. Anthony of Padua. But if I had to choose one from the New Testament I think I would choose St. Mary Magdalene. […]
8/2/2026 SUNDAY THE 18TH OF ORDINARY TIME
Hello. Yes, I am still having trouble with my computer, but fear not, another is on its way like a knight in shining armor!! Anyway, happy Sunday. Today our Gospel comes from Matthew 14:13-21. It is a story we, I am sure, are familiar with. It is the story about Jesus feeding the multitudes in […]
8/1/2026 SATURDAY OF THE 17TH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME. FEAST OF ST. ALPHONSUS LIGUORI
Greetings to you all. Today we remember Alphonsus Ligori who developed the foundation of moral theology in the Church. In his day he fought for the liberation of moral theology form the rigidity of Jansenism. Alphonsus went on to establish a religious community known as the Redemptorist who would continue his work in moral theology. […]
7/31/2026 FRIDAY THE FEAST OF ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA.
Hello, happy Friday! Are we pack rats? Do we keep things that we will never use just in case we may need them. Those pants that don’t fit but we will keep them and when we go on that diet, we will be able to put them on again. And I have a bridge in […]
7/29/2026 WEDNESDAY, FEAST OF STS. MARTHA, MARY AND LAZARUS
Good day to all. Today we remember three good friends of Jesus. We hare of their encounters several times in the Gospels. It is said that they lived in a village “a sabboth’s walk” wich would be about 2/3 of a mile, (1 kilometer). I remember walking to the sight of the village when I […]
7/28/2026 TUESDAY OF THE 17TH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
Good morning!! I hope you get this in the morning. I wake up and the first thing I think about is getting this meditation off to you. Then I try to wake up a little more by turning on the news, well, that works but I then forget to send off the meditation. Getting old […]
7/27/2026 MONDAY OF THE 17TH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
Good day to you all. I hope all is well. It’s morning, we open our eyes and our ears to the sound of the alarm clock, or we just wake up because we always wake up at the same time. We have a routine that we automatically follow. God forbid should that routine be altered […]