A Pilgrimage of Peace, Charity, and Renewal
By Central Coast Catholic
The Church has been granted a special year of grace. In anticipation of the eight hundredth anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi, Pope Leo XIV has proclaimed a Jubilee Year to be observed from 10 January 2026 to 10 January 2027.
Through a decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary, the Holy Father has granted the faithful the opportunity to obtain a plenary indulgence during this Jubilee Year under the usual conditions. In continuity with the Church’s long tradition of Jubilee observances, the faithful are invited to undertake pilgrimage, engage in prayer and penance, and renew their commitment to a life of Christian charity.
The decree emphasizes that the indulgence may be obtained in a particular way by visiting Franciscan churches or places connected to the life and spirit of Saint Francis, participating in Jubilee rites, or spending time in prayerful meditation. In keeping with the witness of the Poverello of Assisi, the faithful are especially encouraged to cultivate peace, simplicity of life, and love for the poor.
As with all Jubilee Years, this sacred time is not only a moment of personal renewal, but also an invitation to rediscover the Gospel through concrete acts of charity and reconciliation, following the example of one of the Church’s most beloved saints.
Pilgrimage Sites on the Central Coast
On 27 February 2026, the Most Rev. Ramón Bejarano, 6th Bishop of Monterey in California, issued a decree designating the following pilgrimage sites for the Jubilee Year:
- Mission San Juan Bautista and the Saint Francis Retreat Center in San Juan Bautista
- Saint Clare Retreat Center in Soquel
- Saint Paul the Apostle in Pismo Beach
The bishop further noted that the elderly, the sick, and those unable to travel may likewise obtain the indulgence by spiritually uniting themselves to the Jubilee celebrations and offering their prayers and sufferings to God.
The Most Rev. José H. Gomez, 5th Archbishop of Los Angeles, has designated several pilgrimage sites to assist the faithful in observing this Jubilee Year, which include the following in the central coast counties of Santa Barbara and Ventura:
- Mission Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara
- Mission Santa Inés in Solvang
- Poor Clare Monastery in Santa Barbara
- Saint Mark’s University Parish in Isla Vista
- Saint Francis of Assisi in Fillmore
Walking in the Spirit of Saint Francis
The Jubilee Year of Saint Francis of Assisi offers the faithful an opportunity to return to the heart of the Gospel through the example of a saint who embodied humility, peace, and joyful fidelity to Christ.
Whether by making pilgrimage to these sacred places or by embracing a spirit of prayer and charity within daily life, the faithful are invited to rediscover what Saint Francis himself proclaimed by word and witness: that true renewal begins with conversion of heart and is made visible through love of God and neighbor.
In this sacred year, the Church calls all the faithful to walk once more as pilgrims—not only across sacred ground, but toward a deeper communion with Christ, in whom all hope is found.
