Our History

Location:
St. Francis of Assisi is part of the Worcester Diocese and is located in the North Central region of Massachusetts. 

Date Established:
September 6, 1903, on the feast day of the Stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi.

Date of Church Completion:
October 16, 1929

Cost (in 1929):
$150,000

Interior Details:
The $150,000 it cost to build our church included the majestic stained glass windows supplied by the VonGerichten Art Glass Company of Munich, Germany.  Above the stained glass windows, the interior of the church is lined with breathtaking artwork by Professor Gunippo Raggi of Rome, Italy, depicting the life of St. Francis as well as other key figures in the Catholic Church’s history.  Our Parish is also proud of the organ supplied by Casavant Freres, St. Hyacinte, Quebec, Canada.

Original Parishioners:
Originally, the parish was built to serve the Franco-American residents living in South Fitchburg.

Current Parishioners:
Today, St. Francis of Assisi is proud to be home to a multi-cultural parish family with services in both English and Spanish.

Paraphrased from the book “St. Francis of Assisi Parish” by Angelo Joseph Bisol, SR (1999).

Our Patron Saint - St. Francis of Assisi

He was born in Italy in 1182 to a wealthy linen merchant Pietro Bernadone.  Francis was well liked and was fun-loving. As he grew older, as with young men he was taken by knights and military. During this time there were many battles between cities and regions.  Francis went off on one of these campaigns. He fought and was captured.  For a year he remained a prisoner.  His father paid ransom for his release.  He had taken ill while in prison and took a long while to recover.  After a time he was feeling better, and he went out and came by an old chapel San Domiano.  He stopped to pray and Christ in the crucifix spoke to him telling him “Francis go and rebuild My Church which, as you see falling into ruin.”  So he began rebuilding churches.  He collected rocks and materials.  He was later to find Christ had asked him to build the church with people.  For in Francis' time people had fallen away from the church.  Much like our situation today.  So began St. Francis' ministry.

He began his ministry by repairing old churches.  He was seen in the towns collecting rocks.  He had renounced his former life giving up even his clothes. Dressed in simple hermits robe he went about the countryside helping poor priests and tending lepers.  In 1209 several companions joined Francis, Bernard, Peter, Catani, and Giles. From these many more would join the Franciscans.  October 23 is the memorial of St. John of Capistrano a Franciscan who died in 1456.

Provided by Tim Melket from the book: "The Little Flowers of St. Francis" written by Raphael Brown

Click here to learn more about Saint Francis of Assisi - Patron Saint of Animals & Ecology.