4 October, Madhavaram, Chennai: The 800th anniversary of the Transitus of St. Francis of Assisi was celebrated with great joy and fervour at St. Sebastian’s Friary and Church, Madhavaram, Chennai, on 3 October 2026. The celebration brought together the fraternities of St. Sebastian’s, Nesakkaram and Nesavanam, along with religious and lay faithful, in a spirit of fraternity, prayer and celebration.
The day began with an orientation to the Jubilee by Br. John Sekar OFM, who reflected on the significance of the 800th anniversary. He presented the life of St. Francis as a beautiful story of God’s grace unfolding through a human life. He also reminded the gathering that the merits and witness of St. Francis and the saints continue to be a source of grace and inspiration for all.
The Solemn Holy Eucharist, presided over by Most Rev. George Antonysamy DD, Archbishop of Madras–Mylapore, was the spiritual highlight of the celebration. In his homily, the Archbishop took the congregation on a journey through the life of Francis using three significant images. The first showed Francis on horseback, looking down in confusion—a picture of his searching heart. The second presented Francis with his brothers, receiving God’s call and embracing the Gospel way of life. The third showed Francis bending down to a tiny creature, beautifully expressing his profound humility and reverence for creation. The homily captivated the congregation and presented Francis’ journey from confusion to clarity, from calling to fraternity, and from pride to humility.
After lunch, the Jubilee programme continued with an interactive quiz on the life of St. Francis. Religious and lay faithful participated with great enthusiasm, recalling important events and stages in Francis’ journey. The joyful interaction, together with prizes for the participants, created a lively atmosphere of learning and celebration.
The Transitus celebration followed in a deeply prayerful atmosphere. Br. Arun Junes OFM reflected on Francis’ life as a journey that began with a dream and passed through many human experiences before reaching its blessed fulfilment. He encouraged the participants to remain faithful to the dreams and callings God places in their hearts, even amid struggles and uncertainties. The breaking of the bread and the veneration of the relic of St. Francis made the celebration a particularly moving experience. Br. Amaladass Manickam OFM animated the Transitus with the able assistance of the Sisters of St. Ann, Madras.
A special Franciscan moment was the blessing of pets, as families brought their beloved animals to the church. Their presence beautifully expressed Francis’ love for creation and reminded everyone that all creatures have a place in the Franciscan celebration.
The day concluded with the Tamil play “ஏழ்மையின் காதலன்” (Yelmaiyin Kadhalan – Lover of Poverty), presented by the St. Sebastian’s Cultural Team. Prepared within a short period, the play was entirely organised, directed and performed by the team. Lasting more than an hour and a half, it held the audience’s attention throughout and brought the different stages of Francis’ life vividly to the stage. The performance helped the audience relive the journey of Francis and discover anew his love for poverty, fraternity, creation and the Gospel.
The Feast of St. Francis was once again celebrated on 4 October at the parish level through Eucharistic celebrations held throughout the day. The friars from all three communities participated in the Concelebrated Eucharist at 6.30 p.m., during which they renewed their religious vows, reaffirming their commitment to live the Gospel in the footsteps of St. Francis. The celebration became a meaningful expression of fraternity, consecration and renewed commitment to the Franciscan way of life.
The entire celebration was made possible through the dedicated collaboration and careful coordination of the fraternities of St. Sebastian’s, Nesakkaram and Nesavanam. It was truly a day to honour St. Francis—not merely by remembering a saint who lived 800 years ago, but by rediscovering his spirit and allowing his life to inspire us to live the Gospel with simplicity, humility, fraternity, joy and peace.
