2026 -The Year of St Francis

We are delighted to share that the Church has announced a special Jubilee Year to mark 800 years since the death of St Francis of Assisi.

From 10th January 2026 to 10th January 2027, Catholics around the world will celebrate the Year of St Francis. St Francis is remembered for his deep love of God, his compassion for those in need, and his profound respect for the natural world. His life continues to inspire us to care for creation, seek peace, and live simply and generously in our daily lives.

At St Charles Catholic Primary School, this Jubilee Year offers a valuable opportunity to reflect more deeply on how we live out these Gospel values as a school community. Inspired by St Francis, we will continue to nurture a strong sense of sustainability, stewardship of God’s creation, and service to others at the heart of all we do.

Throughout the year, there will be prayer, reflection, class displays and celebration to mark this significant anniversary. Together, we will encourage our children to grow in faith, responsibility and compassion — caring for one another and for our common home.

As part of the Year of St Francis, we have been reflecting on how we can better care for God’s creation. Our Science Ambassadors alongside the Chaplainacy Team, have placed new light switch signs around the school to remind everyone to switch off lights when they are not needed. 

This simple but important action helps us to reduce energy use and care for our world. It is wonderful to see the children taking such active responsibility and encouraging others to make small changes that have a big impact. In following the example of St Francis, we continue to grow in our understanding of stewardship and our shared responsibility to protect creation.