How about stepping into a place where echoes of faith and history intertwine? This is Saint Francis of Assisi Church. It stands as a testament to devotion and community in Washington D.C.
Let’s journey back to a pivotal moment. The Franciscan Monastery was founded 125 years ago. It was a time of vision and dedication. The inaugural Mass took place on September 17 1899. It was the Feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis.
The Franciscan Monastery has deep roots. It is the U.S. home of the Holy Land Franciscans. For 800 years, they have cared for the people and sacred shrines of the Holy Land. Here in Washington, the Franciscans raise awareness. They collect funds for their ministry in the Holy Land. They encourage vocations. Pilgrims are welcome to visit the monastery gardens. Replicas of Holy Land shrines are also here.
The story of this sacred place began with a dream. The Very Reverend Charles Vassani established the Commissariat of the Holy Land in New York in 1880. Fr. Vassani and Fr. Godfrey Schilling planned to build a “Holy Land in America”. They envisioned a Holy Sepulchre crowning a high hill on Staten Island. It would overlook the entrance to New York’s harbor.
The Staten Island plan never materialized. Fr. Vassani and Fr. Schilling realized their dream. It was on a wooded hilltop in the Brookland neighborhood of Washington D.C. In 1897 Fr. Schilling purchased the McCeeney Estate in Brookland. He wanted to found a monastery and build his church.
Six pioneer Franciscans originally lived in the abandoned McCeeney house. The house had rotten floorboards. It was overrun with rats. Fr. Schilling engaged Aristide Leonori. He was a well-known architect. Leonori designed the Cathedral Basilica in St. Louis. Leonori designed and supervised the construction of the church and monastery. He visited the Holy Land. Leonori took accurate measurements and photographs. These were of the holy sites that were to be reproduced.
To fund the construction, Fr. Godfrey sold paper bricks. They were called “building bricks.” These bricks were 2.5 x .5 inches. Each contained a medal of St. Anthony of Padua. The building bricks sold for 10 cents each. When the church was completed a year later, it was nearly free of debt.
The church celebrates the Feast of St. Francis. It is the founder of the Franciscan order, on October 4. Masses are held.
Franciscans bless animals at the time of the founder’s feast. It celebrates the great insight of the saint. People can come to know God’s love. They can praise God through his creatures. The friars of the Monastery welcome pets for a blessing in the gardens.
Saint Francis of Assisi Church stands as a beacon of faith. It embodies the spirit of St. Francis. May it inspire all who visit to embrace humility, prayer and service.