The Franciscan Federation is an ever-evolving group of Franciscans who seek to deepen the understanding and love of the Franciscan movement in our world today through collaborative relationships across the Franciscan family. It now has a new digital meeting place.
The Piazza is a new digital gathering place for Franciscans and anyone who feels drawn to the Franciscan way of life. Over the past year, as we’ve listened to members and friends while shaping our strategic plan, one thing has come through clearly. People are lonely, and they are longing for real community. Franciscans are no exception.
The name comes from the Piazza del Comune in Assisi. It is the center of daily life, full of movement and conversation, where people cross paths on their way to pray, work, visit, or spend time in the city. The Piazza we are creating is a digital version of that shared space. It is a place where people can arrive from many different paths and find what they need for their spiritual life, whether that is prayer, contemplative practices, learning, inspiration, lively conversation, or simply meeting others who share this Franciscan way.
We are spread out across the country, and the Franciscan family can feel a little siloed at times. People want more chances to meet others who are trying to walk this way of life and carry it forward in ways that meet the needs of our world right now. The Piazza is our way of bringing everyone into one shared space, one big open piazza, where we can find each other again. This is not about the Federation. We are simply hosting the space so the whole Franciscan world has a place to gather.
Visit the Piazza here.
