Around the Diocese
Pilgrimage Sites Designated for Jubilee of St. Francis
A statue of St. Francis is seen in a storefront along a street in Assisi, Italy, Feb. 22, 2026. OSV News photo/Courtney Mares
On Ash Wednesday at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, Bishop Erik Pohlmeier issued a decree designating seven sacred places in the Diocese of St. Augustine where the faithful may receive a plenary indulgence during the Jubilee Year of St. Francis, observed Jan. 10, 2026, through Jan. 10, 2027.
The year commemorates the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi and invites Catholics to renew their commitment to holiness, charity and peace by following the saint’s example.
The designated pilgrimage sites are Sacred Heart Church, Fleming Island; the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche at Mission Nombre de Dios, St. Augustine; St. Francis Mission, Yulee; St. Michael Church, Fernandina Beach; Holy Faith Church, Gainesville; Santa Fe Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche, High Springs; and San Sebastian Church, St. Augustine.
Pilgrims who visit these sites and spend time in prayer and reflection may obtain the indulgence by fulfilling the usual conditions: sacramental confession, reception of Holy Communion, prayer for the pope’s intentions and detachment from sin.
