All students at St. Francis College have the opportunity to apply for the Student Franciscan Pilgrimage to Assisi and Rome and other places associated with Saint Francis and Saint Clare. This 10 day pilgrimage takes place during the winter break (including New Year’s Eve festivities in Assisi) and offers the opportunity to learn more about the Franciscan values and traditions associated with the College. Participants travel and spend time with students of other Franciscan Colleges and Universities under the guidance of pilgrimage staff. This unique experience affords the students time for prayer, reflection and spiritual growth while learning about Francis and Clare as well as a deepening of one’s own relationship with God, family, society and nature.
Two students are chosen every spring to participate, free, in the pilgrimage. Eligibility for the pilgrimage requires a written essay from each interested applicant. Students must be enrolled full-time at the College and will be a full-time student at the time of the pilgrimage, with no outstanding fees on their accounts. The essay should include reasons why the student would like to make the pilgrimage, how he/she thinks it would impact his/her life, what the applicant hopes to gain, what the applicant believes he/she brings to the pilgrimage and what the student hopes to bring back to share with the SFC community. All full time students, regardless of religious affiliation or race are encouraged to apply.
The student need not be an American citizen to apply but must hold a valid passport and obtain all necessary visa materials for travel to Italy. If an application/essay meets all the requirements and is chosen to represent St. Francis College the student is only responsible for his/her personal expenses, and approximately 5-6 meals. Airfare, lodging, tips, ground transportation are provided by the College.
For more information on this opportunity please contact:
Brother Thomas Grady, OSF
Director of Campus Ministry
718-489-5493
or
Professor Alexandria Egler
Department of Religious Studies
718-489-5245