Next week, Villa Maria College will celebrate Heritage Week — an annual series of event that commemorate those who inspired and founded the Felician Sisters.
“Heritage Days is an opportunity to share with our campus community the 800 year tradition begun by St. Francis of Assisi and handed down to the Felician Sisters who founded this college,” said Dr. Donald Monnin, Villa Maria’s vice president for mission. “Our mission and core values of respect for human dignity, compassion, transformation, solidarity with the poor and justice and peace can all be traced back to these rich traditions. Our goal is to inspire our students and staff to embrace and apply these principles to their own lives. We believe our world needs to be reminded of these values to give hope and promise in a time that desperately needs them.”
Villa’s 2020 Heritage Days celebration will take place safely, with many events being held virtually or with strict physical distancing measures in place. The 2020 Heritage Days celebration will begin on Sunday, October 4.
Sunday, October 4: Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi
The feast commemorates the life of St Francis, who was born in the 12th century and is the Catholic Church’s patron saint of animals and the environment and a champion for the poor and oppressed.
Monday, October 5: Mission Matters Monthly Newsletter – Special Heritage Days Edition
Take a few moments this morning to peruse the Mission Matters Newsletter. This special edition of the newsletter will share information about 2020 Heritage Days and the College’s Felician Heritage.
Tuesday, October 6: Liturgy for the Feast of Saint Francis, 11:15 AM in the Auditorium
Campus Ministry and the College’s Office for Mission will host a physically distanced Mass in honor of St. Francis.
Wednesday, October 7: Care for Creation Prayer Service – Creation Care in a Time of Pandemic & Partisanship, 11:15 AM on Zoom
All members of the College community are invited to attend a prayer service held in honor of our natural world using the words of Saint Francis of Assisi and his “Canticle of the Creatures,” along with wisdom from Pope Francis’ “Laudato Si.” The prayer service begins at 11:15 via Zoom. Meeting details will be distributed via email the morning of October 7.
Thursday, October 8: Heritage Days Speaker, 11:15 AM in the Auditorium
Alumnus Phillip Lee, Esq., ’17, will address the Villa community, sharing his take on the importance of the College’s core value of justice and peace.
Friday, October 9: Prayer Service for the Feast of Blessed Mary Angela, 11:15 AM on Zoom
A brief prayer service will be held in honor of the Feast of Blessed Mary Angela. Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska founder the Felician Sisters, who continue to sponsor Villa Maria College. The prayer service begins at 11:15 via Zoom. Meeting details will be distributed via email the morning of October 9.
Friday, October 9: Blessing of the Pets, 3:30 PM on the front steps of the College
Saint Francis had a great love of nature and animals. It is a tradition as we celebrate our Franciscan heritage to hold a blessing of pets ceremony. You must contact the Mission Office at [email protected] if you would like your pet blessed.
Saturday, October 10: Feast of Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska
Blessed Mary Angela is the Foundress of Felician Sisters. The mission of the Felician Sisters is to cooperate with Christ in the spiritual renewal of the world.
