Archbishop Lori Homily: Dedication of St. Francis of Assisi Church

Archbishop William E. Lori dedicated the renovated St. Francis of Assisi Church in Fulton, Maryland, on September 17, 2026. During the ceremony, the Archbishop blessed the newly renovated worship space to honor God.

In his homily, Archbishop Lori connected the dedication to the 800th anniversary of the passing of St. Francis of Assisi. He noted that the patron saint is widely loved by both believers and non-believers due to famous stories such as his sermon to the birds and the creation of the first Christmas creche.

The Archbishop highlighted the story of St. Francis rebuilding the abandoned church at San Damiano in 1205. He explained that after hearing a voice from a crucifix telling him to rebuild God's house, Francis physically repaired the ruins by hauling stones and gathering materials himself.