ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, The Gardens of St. Francis will join Catholic and Christian churches all around the world—and even some non-Christian faiths—in celebrating the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. In addition to being the namesake for this senior living community, St. Francis continues to inspire the facility’s staff, programming, services, and amenities through his legacy and philosophy.
Born in 1181 in the Italian town of Assisi, Francis grew up in a wealthy family and lived a very comfortable early life. According to Sr. Nancy Surma, VP of Mission Integration for CHI Living Communities, this privileged son of a cloth merchant aspired to be a knight and saw his opportunity when Assisi declared war on neighboring Perugia. Unfortunately, he and his fellow townsmen were captured during the conflict and imprisoned.
A year of confinement under deplorable conditions changed Francis’ outlook. Once released, he began to view his former life as frivolous. Searching for meaning, he wandered the hillsides around the town, trying to get closer to God and striving to live his life as Jesus did.
Known for peacemaking and his care for the poor and others discarded by society, Francis attracted many followers and inspired countless people through his example. He also developed a profound love of God’s creation, considering all people his brothers and sisters and recognizing the interconnectedness of people with animals, plants, and the rest of the natural world.
Francis died in his 40s and is still recognized for his great holiness and as an example of how all Christians should try to live their lives.
The strong connection between the legacy of St. Francis of Assisi and The Gardens of St. Francis dates back to 2019 when CHI Living Communities, a subsidiary of CommonSpirit Health, acquired the campus from the Little Sisters of the Poor. “The campus used to be called Sacred Heart Home and was run by the Little Sisters of the Poor, who had lived in the building and cared for elderly people since 1885,” Sr. Nancy explains. “We’re a Catholic company, so we needed a new name for the building and the work done here. We chose The Gardens of St. Francis because St. Francis really cared for people who are poor and in need, and in our world, the elderly tend to be the most vulnerable among us.”
Sr. Nancy further elaborates that the “Gardens” part of the community’s name was chosen to reflect the lovely setting of the 44-acre campus, which features beautiful landscaping and a pond and is located right across the street from Pearson Metropark.
The celebration on Monday, October 4 is a way to help keep this heritage alive. According to Donna Willis, Director of Mission Integration and Spiritual Care for CHI Living Communities, this special day will include a picture contest. “Staff members will be encouraged to bring in the best photos of their pets in honor of St. Francis,” she says. “We’ll then display all their photos on a board and invite residents to vote on the best one. The winner will receive a prize, which is usually a basket of goodies. We’ll also pray together, bless the animals in the pictures, and bless each other—because we’re all creations of God.” ✲
