San Francesco 800: Music and fraternity at the Cathedral in Awali to celebrate the Poverello of Assisi

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia in Awali, Bahrain, recently hosted a musical program titled San Francesco 800 – A Musical Journey of Faith to mark the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi. The event used music, storytelling, and community participation to retrace the life and spiritual journey of the saint.

Father Marcus Fernandes, OFM Cap., developed the musical program, which featured 21 musicians, 42 adult singers, and 17 children. Bishop Aldo Berardi, O.SS.T., the Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia, welcomed guests and spoke about Saint Francis' love for God and the significance of the Transitus, the moment the saint entrusted his life to the Lord.

The celebration included representatives from Bahrain’s cultural and diplomatic communities. Attendees included a representative from the King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence and ambassadors from the Republic of Korea, Italy, the United States, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka.