On the day of our Holy Father, St. Francis of Assisi’s Feast Day, we took a trip to S.F. to the Church of St. Francis of Assisi and the replica of Portiuncula (church of St. Francis in his day of the 1200’s). Although I had passed by it many times in my youth and my first jobs out of college (I went to first grade in McKinley Elementary , Upper Market in San Francisco). Today, it is surrounded by passers-by tourists and locals all enthralled with the restaurants of China town and Little Italy. We used to call it a “melting-pot” but I reveal my old-age, lol.
We met with the local preservationists of the St. Francis Society and received some great information on the story behind the replica Church . As a Franciscan Third Order, it was quite interesting indeed. This where I would typically bring out the pictures…
The parish priest before Mass, spoke to commemorate St. Francis of Assisi was heart-warming. Along with Archbishop Cordileone stating the city of St. Francisco as the name-sake city of our most holy and favored Saint Francis. I’m not sure there are many tourist that actually realize San Francisco’s very Catholic history and back ground. But who knows, maybe that will change someday…
It should be noted that between Oct. 17 through Nov. 17 the Church of St. Francis will host the “Relics of St. Francis of Assisi”. A beautiful opportunity for Franciscans and laity-alike to come and venerate a most holy Saint of the Catholic Church.
