ATLANTA—A pilgrimage to St. Francis of Assisi doesn’t have to begin in Italy. It can start on a quiet road through North Georgia mountains, on a college campus in Athens, in a historic Atlanta neighborhood or a parish surrounded by open fields.  

Six churches across the Archdiocese of Atlanta have been designated as pilgrimage sites by Archbishop Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv., for the Year of St. Francis: St. Philip Benizi Church, Jonesboro; St. Francis of Assisi Church, Blairsville; St. Anthony of Padua Church, Atlanta; Holy Cross Church, Atlanta; St. Francis of Assisi Church, Cartersville; and the Catholic Center at the University of Georgia, Athens.  

The Year of St. Francis began Jan. 10 and continues through Jan. 10, 2027. It marks the 800th anniversary of the saint’s death on Oct. 3, 1226.  

In announcing the local sites, Archbishop Hartmayer reflected upon this year as an opportunity for deeper conversion.  

“May we return to the Lord with simplicity of heart, embrace the Cross with trust and allow Christ to conform our lives ever more closely to his own,” he said. 

The Apostolic Penitentiary, the Vatican office that governs indulgences, said in a decree that the special year is a time for Catholics to follow the saint’s example and become witnesses of peace.  

As stated in the Catechism of the Church, an indulgence is “a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven.” A plenary indulgence, plenary meaning full, removes all of the temporal punishment. 

During this jubilee, the office grants a plenary indulgence to all faithful who make a pilgrimage to any Franciscan church or place of worship dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi, noted they pass through the pilgrim door at each church and fulfill necessary conditions. These include confession, reception of Communion and prayer for the intentions of Pope Leo XIV.  

Pilgrims are asked to go to confession prior to visiting a pilgrimage church, but Communion and prayer for the pope’s intentions are fulfilled on site.  

In Georgia, the invitation to make a pilgrimage is available across the archdiocese. The designated pilgrimage churches are spread throughout the region, offering Catholics in various locations a chance to participate in the jubilee without traveling too far. While the churches differ in architecture and history, they share the same Franciscan spirit that the saint is known for. Each parish holds deep admiration for nature and welcomes any person who walks through their door.  

Pilgrims are encouraged to contact each parish ahead of a visit to schedule their pilgrimage and confirm available times for prayer or other opportunities at the church. This will allow staff to provide any specific instructions for visitors and help ensure the parish is prepared to welcome pilgrims. 

A statue of St. Francis of Assisi with arms outstretched sits in the garden outside St. Philip Benizi Church in Jonesboro. The church traces its beginnings to the early 1960s, when brothers Lee and Ware Hutcheson began searching for other Catholic families in Clayton County. The parish today remains rooted in the Franciscan tradition. Photo by Julianna Leopold

St. Philip Benizi Church, Jonesboro 

About 25 minutes south of Atlanta, St. Philip Benizi Church sits on 33 acres in Jonesboro, where the parish’s indoor and outdoor spaces invite visitors to linger.  

The church traces its beginnings to the early 1960s, when brothers Lee and Ware Hutcheson began searching for other Catholic families in Clayton County. As they built a community, a vacant storefront owned by the Hutcheson family was furnished to be used as a chapel. The first public Mass in Clayton County was celebrated there on Sept. 12, 1965.  

The parish today remains rooted in the Franciscan tradition. Archbishop Hartmayer served as pastor of St. Philip Benizi from 1995 to 2010.  

The church’s sanctuary is surrounded by windows and stained glass. Behind the altar, an open window reveals a fountain with water flowing over rocks.  

The parish grounds include open gathering spaces, including a grassy area between the original education building and the present parish building. Pilgrims are encouraged to sit outside, bring lunch, pray or spend time admiring nature.  

Father Russell Governale, OFM Conv., shared that the original church building is now used for community gatherings and retreats. For him, the pilgrimage has been a great way for visitors to really understand the spirit of St. Francis.  

“They’re used to us after 35 years,” he said about St. Philip Benizi’s parishioners. “But for the pilgrims, they really notice the different spirit we bring because of the charism of St. Francis.”  

Archbishop Hartmayer will celebrate a Mass at St. Philip Benizi for the Transitus of St. Francis on Sunday, Oct. 4 at 11 a.m. The bilingual Mass will be on the parish grounds. 

To contact the parish, call 770-478-0178 or email parishoffice@stphilipbenizi.org.  

St. Francis of Assisi Church, Blairsville 

For a true road-trip experience, head to the hills. 

A little more than two hours from Atlanta, St. Francis of Assisi Church is tucked into the mountains and trees of North Georgia.  

Inside the small-town church is a large window behind the altar, framing the view of mountains. In autumn, parish staff said, the view becomes especially striking as the surrounding trees take an orange hue.  

The scenery makes the parish a natural place to pause and reflect on the Franciscan love of creation. But for the church, care for creation is more than a beautiful view.  

The parish is recognized for its active involvement in protecting the environment. Its Care for Creation team began in 2020 as a small online study of Pope Francis’ encyclical “Laudato Si’” and has since grown into a thriving ministry.  

On the parish grounds, pilgrims can find a half-acre pollinator garden filled with native plants. The ministry also works on recycling, wildfire preparedness and other environmental projects. The ministry has also connected its care efforts with charitable work, including fundraising for communities in Uganda affected by unsafe drinking water.  

The parish celebrates the Feast of St. Francis each Oct. 4 with a blessing of animals, while pet food collected for the occasion is donated to a local shelter. 

Father Cong Nguyen, who became pastor in July 2025, said the pilgrimage destination gives visitors an opportunity to go beyond admiring the scenery, sharing that “pilgrims can come not only to visit a beautiful place, but to deepen their relationship with Christ.” 

For Ashley Shepherd, director of religious education, the designation has a personal significance. She grew up in the parish and remembers when the space now used for parking was a basketball court. 

“It’s just fun to see how it’s grown and how it’s flourished and just the beautiful community that’s been cultivated here,” she said. “I’m very blessed to witness this history unfold.”  

For pilgrims making an overnight trip, parish staff recommend staying at the Seasons Inn Motel & Plaza, located in downtown Blairsville and owned by a parishioner.  

To contact the parish, call 706-745-6400.  

As the first African American member of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, Servant of God, Sister Thea Bowman, FSPA, appears on the side of the altar at St. Anthony of Padua in Atlanta. She visited the church many times during her life. Photo by Julianna Leopold

St. Anthony of Padua Church, Atlanta 

In Atlanta’s West End, St. Anthony of Padua Church offers pilgrims the chance to step into more than 120 years of Catholic history.  

Founded in 1903, St. Anthony of Padua was the third Catholic community established in what is now the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Its present sanctuary dates to 1924. Inside, the historic sanctuary is filled with stained glass windows that stand out against the white walls. 

Renovations undertaken in 2022 modernized its technological systems and refurbished the sanctuary while still preserving the historic architecture.  

The parish has been a continuous presence in the area and remains an important center of Black Catholic life. It is one of the archdiocese’s predominately African American parishes and welcomes the Nigerian Igbo Catholic community of Atlanta.  

The parish’s Franciscan spirit can be found in the way Father Desmond Drummer approaches the community. 

The church participates in Atlanta Streets Alive, opening its doors to people walking and biking through the neighborhood. Father Drummer also makes a point of keeping the doors open and welcoming people who enter with questions or simply want to talk. 

For Leslie Geer, who has been a parishioner for 40 years and serves as office manager, the parish’s vibrant community is part of what makes it special. 

“It’s just such a vibrant African American church, we’ve got the music, the vibe, the love, everything,” Geer said. “That’s what draws so many parishioners from all over to be parishioners here.” 

To contact the parish, call 404-758-8861 or contact Geer at lgeer@stanthonyatlanta.org.  

Holy Cross Church, Atlanta 

Though placed inside busy city life, this Atlanta parish feels worlds away from the traffic and bustle outside its doors.  

The Tau cross that holds a first-class relic of St. Francis of Assisi sits next to the saint’s statue at Holy Cross Church, Atlanta. Tau is the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet and is thought to be the symbol with which Ezekiel marked those chosen by God. St. Francis eventually signed his letters not with his name but with this symbol. Many Franciscans wear such a cross on a piece of leather, representing a journey never completed this side of heaven. Photo by Julianna Leopold

Holy Cross Church, near Norcross and Chamblee, is home to Franciscan Friars and a campus of gardens and flowers.  

Father Jude Michael Krill, OFM Conv., serves as pastor, with Father Benedict Abugu, OFM Conv., and Father Franck-Lino Sokpolie, OFM Conv., serving as parochial vicars. 

The church’s sanctuary creates an almost gardenlike sense of space. Earthy tones and open space create a peaceful and serene feel. A large statue of St. Francis stands near the back of the church, accompanied by a first-class relic of the saint.  

The parish’s Franciscan identity is echoed in the words of its priests. 

“One thing about Franciscans is that we always keep our doors open,” said Father Sokpolie. “It doesn’t matter who walks in or when someone walks in. The door is always open.” 

That openness is reflected in the relationships the friars have built with parishioners. Holy Cross’ history stretches back to 1956, when the first Masses for the Tucker community were celebrated at Cary Reynolds School. The mission became a parish in 1964. The Franciscans took responsibility for the parish in 2014 when Father Krill was assigned as pastor. 

During the Year of St. Francis, the parish is inviting pilgrims to learn more about the saint and the order’s charism. Father Krill will host a presentation on St. Francis on Oct. 1, while Father Sokpolie is scheduled to lead another presentation Nov. 2. The talks will explore St. Francis’ spirit, the work of the Franciscans and how his example can remain alive in a changing world. 

To contact the parish, call 770-939-3501 or email office@holycrossatlanta.org.  

St. Francis of Assisi Church, Cartersville  

About an hour northwest of Atlanta, St. Francis of Assisi Church in Cartersville offers pilgrims a chance to slow down.  

Pastor Father Kevin Hargaden has served the parish since 2022. He acknowledges that the church is farther than some Atlanta Catholics may travel, but he sees value in making the journey itself part of the experience. 

“I know we’re a little far up north, but there is something beautiful intentionally taking a trip to receive a little mercy,” he said. 

The parish sits next to a local park and trail, giving pilgrims an opportunity to combine prayer with a walk outdoors. A cotton field borders the church parking lot, while the surrounding North Georgia landscape changes with the seasons. 

Inside the church, the connection to Francis is equally visible. Windows in the sanctuary depict images based on the “Canticle of the Sun,” the prayer attributed to St. Francis that praises God through elements of creation. 

The parish is home to more than 1,000 families and includes people from a variety of backgrounds, including longtime Cartersville residents, newcomers and parishioners from countries around the world. 

To contact the parish, call 770-382-4549.  

Catholic Center at the University of Georgia 

The final designation site is about an hour and a half from Atlanta. It is a great setting not only for Catholics wanting to make a pilgrimage, but especially for fans of the Georgia Bulldogs.  

The Catholic Center at the University of Georgia sits near UGA’s athletic complex, putting pilgrims within walking distance of Sanford Stadium and the energy of a college campus. 

The intimate interior of the Catholic Center at the University of Georgia is the perfect place to sit in silence with God. “When the sun rises in the morning and you’re here for adoration, the light just shines through the windows and casts a glow onto the altar,” said Rachel Lichtenwalner, associate director of mission advancement. Photo by Julianna Leopold

Behind campus activity, however, is more than six decades of Franciscan history. Before the center existed, Catholic students at UGA originally gathered at St. Joseph Church on Prince Avenue. In 1952, property was purchased near campus to remodel a brick house into a student center. 

In 1957, the Franciscan Friars of Holy Name Province arrived at the center. They remained at the center for 62 years, providing spiritual direction and leadership until the ministry transitioned to archdiocesan priests in 2020.  

Today, Father Brian McNavish serves as director of the Catholic Center, which has a community of more than 800 members and more than 700 students. 

Inside, the intimate chapel is surrounded by stained glass and warm, rustic pews and walls.  

“When the sun rises in the morning and you’re here for adoration, the light just shines through the windows and casts a glow onto the altar,” said Rachel Lichtenwalner, associate director of mission advancement. 

Kathy Bryan, administrative assistant and UGA alumna, first became involved with the Catholic Center as a student in the 1980s. She remembers the Franciscans who served there and said the jubilee designation provides an opportunity to remember their contribution. 

“It’s very exciting to highlight that part of our history and honor those men who have spent so much time here shaping the Catholic Center,” Bryan said, recalling the days she spent with the friars at the center. “The Franciscans just lived their lives very simply. They were just always present.”  

For pilgrims, Athens offers plenty to do. Visitors can walk the north campus trail, see Sanford Stadium, or visit the State Botanical Garden of Georgia.  

To contact the parish, call 706-543-2293. 

Doors that never close 

Though the six pilgrimage sites do not form a single trail, they offer the same invitation to explore nature and the communities in the archdiocese that carry the spirit of St. Francis.  

Pilgrims can sit beneath the trees in Blairsville, walk a trail while praying in Cartersville, pray in the morning light in Athens, reflect on a blanket in the grass in Jonesboro, admire the stained glass in Atlanta or feel the tranquility of Holy Cross Church.  

Most importantly, pilgrims are welcome to walk through doors that are never closed.