Outlined Below Are The FSA Formation Program Offerings for 2026.
Each Program is co-created with the school community and UNIQUELY contextual.
2026 FORMATION OFFERINGS – whole school and short course formation.
Celebrating The Easter of Saint Francis (1226-2026)
This year invites us to contemplate our life, both personally and as a Franciscan Family, with the eyes of faith. It is an opportunity to thank God for all the gifts God has bestowed on us, particularly for the gift of Francis of Assisi and his evangelical life, which has become our charism..
FACILITATION COSTS 2026
Member Cost Full day engagement = $1450.00** + travel costs includes full program and facilitation by the FSA facilitation team, pre & post program collaboration, day facilitation normally 8am – 3pm | input & workshops negotiated | non-member schools add 10% | ** Extra $550.00 CRA Approved Stipend for a Franciscan friar priest who celebrates Mass.
Half day engagement or twilight = $950- + travel costs| on ground costs
Keynote or workshop engagement = $750- + travel costs| on ground costs
Retreat Engagement – upon request
WHOLE STAFF Formation – Charism
Identified FSA 2026 ‘LIVING STONE’ = PRAYER
Staff Formation programs are co-created with each school community with the ultimate goal being to accompany each community to formulate a sequential spiritual formation program for their unique school context.
Formation may include day / twilight / workshop / retreat offerings such as:
SF Charism 1: Living Franciscan Spirituality.
A full day formation program for all staff in your community to explore and be inspired by the rich history and deep spirituality of the Franciscan way of life. An overview of where the tradition began with Francis and Clare of Assisi, an historical context, provocations in image & objects, Gospel values and breaking open the Franciscan tradition.
SF Charism 2: Enter Assisi.
A half day or full day formation program about the Franciscan spirit for new staff and staff who need to be renewed in the spirit of Francis and Clare of Assisi.
SF Charism 3: Repair My House
A twilight or full day formation program that explores the call from the San Damiano crucifix. Catholic education in the Franciscan tradition speaks to us more than ever at this time – our young people need models of people simply living the Gospel life. What does living the Gospel mean for us today?
SF Charism 4: His Name was Francis.
A workshop, twilight or full day formation program that explores ten key teachings of Francis of Assisi. e.g. The First Teaching = the wonder of the incarnation; etc— Adapted from Surrounded by Love: Seven Teachings from Saint Francis by Murray Bodo, OFM | from Franciscan Media website
SF Charism 5: Clare of Assisi – the lady, the Saint, the inspiration.
“The Lady Clare, a native of the city of Assisi, a stone precious and strong above all the others of the pile, was the foundation.” — Thomas of Celano, First Life of Francis
A twilight or full day formation program that explores Clare of Assisi from aristocracy to poverty as well as Clare’s legacy – Sister to Saint to Stimulus for school communities and leadership teams today. Find out about St Clare through painted literature and artwork. Discern Clare’s charism and your own spiritual gifts.
SF Charism 6: Deep Listening and Dialogue.
A full day formation program for all staff to explore ‘Francis and the Sultan’ narrative as a powerful message for encounter, dialogue and service in Catholic school communities. First Nations deep listening can be added to this day by engaging Wakka Wakka woman, Brooke Prentis also.
SF Charism 7: God the Artist
Francis used to praise God the Artist in every one of God’s works. An experiential workshop at a gallery where we explore spirituality, art and the artist within.
Alternatively, a workshop, twilight or full day formation program that incorporates keynotes and experiential creative activity taking inspiration from all of creation.
SF Charism 8: Brothers and Sisters All
A twilight, half day or full day formation program for all staff to encounter Franciscan spirituality and to explore the concept of fraternity as together we journey towards the embrace of God. Using key messages from Pope Francis’ 2020 Encyclical Fratelli Tutti and the FSA Living Stone ‘Embrace’.
SF Charism 9: The Why To The Way
A twilight, half day or full day formation program for all staff to explore why Franciscan spirituality and the Franciscan spirit has endured for 8 centuries. Furthermore staff can examine unique ways the vision of Francis and Clare of Assisi can be lived in their community today.
SF Charism 10: Fraternity – that indescribable Franciscan thing!
A twilight or workshop formation program for all staff to explore five key tenets of a Franciscan ministry. Presented as a pilgrimage this is a creative experience for all.
SF Charism 11: Brother Francis’ Little Flowers – Brother Wolf of Gubbio and others
A twilight or workshop formation program for all staff. Explore one or more of the Little Flowers. Enrich the story and draw out key messages for your community and our world today. There are many collected stories about Francis and his early followers. Clare of Assisi also has a collection.
SF Charism 12: Kinship with Creation
Workshop OR twilight options that explore the kinship model of creation as posed by Fr Dan Horan OFM (see link for more) ( Kinship and Creation Probing Francis website) This option is perfect for this anniversary year where we celebrate The Canticle of the Creatures.
Be inspired by Pope Francis’ 2005 encyclical Laudato si’ and respond in creative ways to the beauty of all of creation.
SF Charism 13: Retreat or Twilight ‘Total Absorption’
A full day or twilight retreat program for all staff.
Lago Trasimeno reminds us of one of the main principals of Francis’ spirituality: the call to a life of PENANCE. Penance for Francis meant total absorption in God, a fascination with God. His experience on the island makes this focus concrete for us.
Come as you are, follow in Francis’ footprints to spend a gentle retreat day being absorbed in God. Feed your soul, find space to connect your inner and outer, be transformed and renewed in the Holy Spirit through a fascination with all of creation.
2026 SHORT COURSE OPTIONS
SF 1 Term 1: Lent With St Francis – a retreat day with Alison Stone
Member Schools $155.00 non-members $170.00 Includes program, resources and full day hospitality.
QLD: FRIDAY 06 March, 2026. 9:30am – 2:30pm Santa Teresa Spirituality Centre, Ormiston, Brisbane.
OTHER STATES TO BE ADVISED
Come as you are, follow in Francis’ footprints to spend a gentle Lenten day being absorbed in God. Feed your soul, find space to connect your inner and outer, be transformed and renewed in the Holy Spirit through a fascination with all of creation. Prayer, contemplation, reverence creation, be in fraternity with other educators.
Details emailed to schools in Term 1 2026. JOIN HERE
SF 2 SHORT COURSE Term 2: Book and Online Connection Circles
Book = Poverty and Joy: The Franciscan Tradition by William J. Short OFM
In this anniversary year of The Easter of St. Francis, explore with other educators St. Francis and the Franciscan way of life.
Bill Short, OFM focuses first on the importance of our founders, Saint Francis and Saint Clare of Assisi, offering an historical introduction. He then reflects on key themes: the Incarnation, poverty as a way to God, suffering and healing, and creation – humanity and nature in harmony. Furthermore, Br. Bill introduces key figures in the Order: Bonaventure, Angela of Foligno, and John Duns Scotus, who have helped shape the Franciscan vision and brought it to life through the ages. Book supplied to all participants.
Member Schools $100- non-members $140- Book supplied & posted. Study questions and spiritual reflections will refer directly to the reading and form the basis for the online “Fratelli Connection Circles”.
Details emailed to schools in Term 1 2026. JOIN HERE
The PROGRAM SCHEDULE:
- assigned reading, study and reflection (approx. 9-10 hours total) from the supplied book by William J. Short, 1999. Poverty and Joy: The Franciscan Tradition, Darton Longman & Todd Ltd, US.
- THREE online MS Teams “Fratelli Connection Circles” with members of the FSA Formation Team and your registered FSA colleagues from around Australia.
- Term 2, 2026
Connection Circle 1 = Thursday, 07 May 2026 3:30pm – 5:00pm
Connection Circle 2 = Thursday, 21 May 2026 3:30pm – 5:00pm
Connection Circle 3 = Thursday, 04 June 2026 3:30pm – 5:00pm
SF 3 THE FRANCISCAN RETREAT:
One Heart and One Soul / Many Gifts : One Spirit / “The Lord gave me some brothers” (Testament 14, FF 116)
The Franciscan Retreat can be a 1 – 2 day overnight formation opportunity for leaders in school communities – senior leadership teams, middle leaders and teams within schools and colleges.
Retreat has long been a part of the Franciscan spiritual experience and this retreat offers participants a valuable opportunity to invigorate the richness of the Franciscan charism with a prophetic vision toward the future. The task of preserving and nurturing a charism must go hand in hand with ongoing renewal and reimagining where the Spirit is leading Franciscan leaders and teams in schools today.
Come as you are for spiritual and professional discernment as we come together as one heart and are renewed in the Holy Spirit through fraternity.
The Franciscan Retreat program is negotiated with the school community and specifically tailored to the needs of the team.
Cost: Retreat Engagement – upon request includes full program facilitation, venue, accommodation and retreat resource package.
Register interest via email to [email protected]
SF 4 AN ADVENT AWAKENING PILGRIMS’ RETREAT
Rome, Greccio and Assisi – 12 nights December 07 – 18, 2026.
“BESOTTED WITH LOVE ~ from incarnation to incarnational people”
The Incarnation reveals that God is besotted with love for everything God has created. Through the Incarnation, God convinces us that we are loved unconditionally.
To fall in love takes time and trust. Francis, Clare, Bonaventure, Mary and other saints give us a clue to finding God. St Francis’ life was his response to this enormity of God’s love. When he accepted that he was loved unconditionally by God, what else could he do but love in return?
There is an unfolding process and daily rhythm to the retreat experience.
First, morning prayer or Eucharist led by friars and modelled by retreatants. Focus on liturgical formation.
Second, input sessions led by Franciscan friars with material for reflection. Readings from Franciscan sources and from scripture. Directly related to Catholic Identity in contemporary education settings.
Third, site visit of sacred places followed by a prayer experience, either celebration of the Eucharist or ritual. Professional focus on Franciscan spirituality and its relevance to education through art, architecture, and spiritual heritage.
Fourth, reflection time: personal contemplation, solitude or guided fraternal conversations in the spirit. It is precisely in reflection that the spirituality of the sacred place and input unfolds and is experienced. Sharing insights, documenting learnings.
Cost: Retreat Cost: approx. $5,500.oo pp [on ground program ONLY(based on 15 persons | airfare not included)
includes full program facilitation, Franciscan accommodation and retreat resource package.
Register interest via forms HERE Indicative Program on website homepage HERE
