June Retreat 2025 – Hearing and Making Music in Francis’ Song of the Creatures – Both Parts (Commuters)

Part 1: Can you hear Creation Sing? + Part 2: Singing Humanity’s Song

Thursday, June 12, 6:30 pm through Wednesday, June 18, Noon

$400 | In person (noon meals only)

Location: Assisi Heights (1001 14th Street NW, Rochester, MN 55901) Click here for map.

Part 1: In Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Sí (in its own 10th anniversary) envisions a creation intended to delight. We’ll reflect on how the Pope feared we might muddle and distort its song and, maybe, help its song be heard.

Part 2: Our Franciscan community, in its 8th Centennial plan of anniversaries, celebrates both the Canticle and Laudato Sí: “We are called to face contemporary society and reintroduce ‘the language of [sisterhood and brotherhood] and beauty in our relationship with the world (Laudato Sí 11).'” We have a part to play in Creation’s vibrant orchestra.

We celebrate 800 Years of Francis’s Canticle of the Creatures, the Creatures’ Canticle. Each element sounds praise for being what it’s created to be. The sun shines, the moon and stars light the night’s sky, water flows and cleanses, and the songs go on including those unforgettable human tunes of forgiveness, bearing adversity and welcoming Sister Death.

John Petrikovic, OFM Cap., is a Capuchin Franciscan friar priest in the Ministry of Preaching, offering workshops on Franciscan topics, mission formation for Franciscan Health Systems, retreats to Religious Men and Women in the English-speaking world and parish missions throughout the United States. He also is a senior staff presenter for the Franciscan Pilgrimages Program providing Franciscan study and prayer experiences in Assisi and Rome, Italy. As a musician, John has animated Liturgies for both National and International gatherings of Friars and Sisters.

Presenter will host two events per day (9:00 am and 3:00 pm) with Liturgy at 11:00 am.

Welcome to this in person program at Assisi Heights! Please refrain from attending if experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 or other illness or have been exposed to any persons infected with COVID-19. Please park in the lot in front of Assisi Heights and enter through the main entrance.