A saint who still remains significant today

Francis of Assisi died 800 years ago. But his commitment to poverty, peace and creation continues to have an impact today. The Zug-Walchwil pastoral area is celebrating the anniversary in 2026 with an oecumenical Year of St Francis and a varied programme focusing on Francis and Clare of Assisi.
 

2026 marks the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi. He was a preacher and philanthropist who lived a life of radical poverty, peace and closeness to nature. He was also the founding father of the Franciscan Order, and his spiritual legacy continues to shape Christian spirituality and social engagement to this day. The Zug-Walchwil pastoral area is commemorating the anniversary of Francis' death with a varied programme of events throughout the year focusing on the saint and his close spiritual companion and founder of the Order of Poor Ladies, St. Clare of Assisi.

The commemorative year deliberately has a strong oecumenical aspect, which is reflected in the close cooperation with the City Church of Zug. The project is being managed by Bernhard Lenfers, parish leader of St. Johannes in Zug. For him, it’s obvious that the work and attitude of St. Francis and St. Clare are also – or perhaps especially – relevant today: ‘Francis was a figure who brought a great deal of clarity in times of upheaval. He appealed for modesty, focused on the concrete aspects of human life and always sought closeness to nature.’ And he set an exemplary example of how great things can be achieved together – in his case with Clare at his side. ‘He took stones and built a church,’ says Bernhard Lenfers. This act can be symbolically transported into the present day in so many ways – as a call to people to take action.

Low-threshold communication of values
The Franciscan awareness of the ‘unity of heaven and earth’ – as Bernhard Lenfers calls it – is being brought to Zug as part of the Franciscan Year, with a variety of events and workshops that tie in with the biographies and spirituality of Francis and Clare of Assisi. The main themes are human dignity, trust in God, respect for nature and living in the ‘here and now’, according to those responsible.

Project manager Pastor Bernhard Lenfers with the specially made travelling icon. The large nativity scene in the St Johannes Church reminds us that the liturgical Christmas season is not yet over.   Photo: Matthias Jurt
The new Francis and Clare of Assisi icon       Janina Zang
 

What role does the Franciscan view of creation as a common basis for life play for a church that sees ecological responsibility as a spiritual task? How does the understanding of human beings as creatures with inalienable dignity shape the Church's approach to freedom and responsibility? To what extent does the Franciscan idea of connectedness open up new avenues for participation, dialogue and communal life of faith? These are the three overarching questions that those responsible for the project want to address together with the people throughout the year.

‘The programme items provide access to the topic with deliberately low-threshold and secular formats,’ explains pastoral care worker Gaby Wiss, member of the City Church steering group, who is the communications manager for the project. Among other things, the topic of creation finds its way into the programme in a particularly nature-oriented way, for example through creative work with wood or a discovery-filled search for clues in the world of insects. ‘Above all, the motivation is to promote responsible, humane coexistence,’ says Gaby Wiss. The anniversary project aims to provide a space to explore the attitudes and values of the Franciscan way of life in practice. ‘And, last but not least, the events should simply do us good,’ adds Bernhard Lenfers with a smile.

An icon with cherry blossoms and Zug Rötel
A glimpse behind old monastery walls, a nativity scene building project, a pilgrimage through nature or cleaning up our surroundings together are just a few examples from the rich programme, which, of course, also includes plenty of spirituality and nourishment for the mind and soul.

The symbol of the Francis Year 2026 in Zug is a specially-made travelling icon (Wanderikone) in a traditional design. It shows St Francis and St Clare of Assisi with cherry blossoms in front of the Zug landscape with the Rigi mountain. Three Rötel fish (in English: char) frolic in the water. The icon thereby has a concrete connection to the region, and will represent the spirit of the two patron saints as a sensory and visible ‘figurehead’ at the individual events.

The Zug Francis Year, to which all people are invited regardless of their religious background, begins at 6 pm on Saturday, 17 January with the solemn consecration of the icon in the St. Johannes Church. People interested in the history and art-historical background of icon painting are welcome to arrive at 4.30 pm, when iconographer Janina Zang will provide insightful commentary.

Detailed information about the Francis Year and the programme can be found (in German) on:
 www.katholisch-zug-walchwil.ch.