Four parishes and Franciscan monastery plan Transitus services to commemorate St. Francis' passing

Four Maine parishes and the St. Anthony Franciscan Monastery in Kennebunk will hold Transitus services on October 3 to commemorate the passage of St. Francis of Assisi from earthly life to eternal life. St. Francis died on the evening of October 3, 1226.

Prince of Peace Parish will hold a Transitus service, led by Father Patrick Finn, at 6 p.m. at the Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul, 122 Ash Street in Lewiston. Following the service, there will be a procession out the front doors of the basilica and then a blessing upon the city.

St. Brendan the Navigator Parish will hold a Transitus service at 6 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 81 Court Street in Belfast. The service will include music and the retelling of the memories of those who were present when St. Francis died.

St. Mary of the Visitation Parish will hold a Transitus Service at 7 p.m. at St. Mary of the Visitation Church, 110 Military Street in Houlton. The service is sponsored by the Heart of St. Francis Fraternity.

St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish will hold a Transitus Service, led by Father Edward Clifford, at 6:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Ransom Church, 117 Elm Street in Mechanic Falls. The service is sponsored by the Holy Family Franciscan Fraternity.

The Transitus service at the St. Anthony Franciscan Monastery will follow a 5 p.m. presentation by Father Algirdas Malakauskis, OFM, on the legacy of St. Francis. The monastery is located at 28 Beach Avenue in Kennebunk.

Although it has been nearly 800 years since St. Francis died, his life of simplicity, service, and devotion to the Lord continues to inspire people to this day, especially members of the Franciscan Order, which he founded. It has long been a tradition for Franciscans to gather on the evening of October 3rd to commemorate St. Francis’s death and to reflect on his life. “Transitus” is a Latin word meaning “passage” or “passing over.”