On Saturday, October 3, 2026, the Franciscan Family in Ghana gathered at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Elmina, Ghana, to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the transitus of St. Francis of Assisi. The celebration brought together representatives of the various expressions of Franciscan life present in the country for a national gathering dedicated to the Franciscan presence in Ghana.
Those participating included Conventual Franciscan friars from the Provincial Custody of St. Anthony of Padua in Ghana; Friars Minor; Capuchin Franciscan friars; Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary; Franciscan Missionaries of Mary; and members of the Secular Franciscan Order, together with consecrated men and women from the Archdiocese of Cape Coast, Ghana, representatives of the Antonian Guilds, and representatives of the parishes where the friars serve. Members of the various Franciscan groups also helped animate the paraliturgical celebration.
The celebration was presided over by Friar Vitus Edem Yao MENSAH, OFM Conv., Provincial Custos in Ghana. In his homily, Friar Vitus reflected on the meaning of the word transitus: a passage, a crossing over. He reminded the Franciscan Family that Francis’s transitus did not begin only at the moment of his death in 1226, but continued throughout his life, as he constantly moved from self to Christ, from fear to trust, from possession to gift, and from comfort to mission. The 800th anniversary, therefore, invites us to ask what God calls us to leave behind and what He calls us to embrace.
The celebration also offered a visible sign of the unity of the Franciscan Family. Different vocations, congregations, and histories came together around one Gospel and one common Franciscan inspiration. As Friar Vitus emphasized, the 800th anniversary should not be limited to celebrating the memory of Francis but should become an opportunity for a renewal of mission, allowing the spirit of Francis to live anew today through the Franciscan Family.
At the end of the celebration, the participants shared a simple meal, giving the sons and daughters of St. Francis in Ghana an opportunity to meet one another, strengthen fraternity, and celebrate together the gift of belonging to one Franciscan Family.
The celebration in Elmina was part of an ongoing series of 800th anniversary commemorations in Ghana, which will culminate with a national celebration on January 8, 2027.
After eight centuries, the memory of Francis continues to gather his sons and daughters around the Gospel. His transitus reminds the Franciscan Family that the journey continues: from memory to mission, from self to Christ, and from fear to trust.
Friar Moses Kabenla ARTHUR
