St. Francis College is known for the Franciscan spirit that seems to embrace a number of students and professors that enter the building everyday.    
SFC students come from a variety of religious backgrounds. Some students have been practicing their faith for years while there are others that choose not to follow a religion at all. 

One of SFC's slogans is "Living the Franciscan Spirit," and the three students that were awarded a 10-day pilgrimage through Italy did exactly that. The Franciscan Pilgrimage, which takes place annually, is an opportunity for students to learn more about the history of the saints of the Catholic Church. Among the individuals chosen for the trip were Clement Kairouz, Marije Jauregui, and Lauren Ventrone.

Whether or not an individual is religious, this is a great opportunity for any student interested in the background of Catholicism. Through this program students can learn more about the background of Catholicism such as where it all started, what today's practices are based on, and also create lifelong friendships.

The Franciscan Pilgrimage is a 10-day trip through Italy in which participants visit historical sites affiliated with various saints. Kairouz said, "Everything really is a piece of art."

Touring locations such as the Basilica of St. Francis and St. Clare in Assisi, and St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican, the Trevi Fountain, and the Colosseum in Rome, allow students to enhance their knowledge of the Franciscan Spirit.

Kairouz said, "I was brought up very religious but when I came to college I seemed to lose my faith and I needed the peace I had before." Kairouz realized that his hectic schedule was limiting his spiritual growth and wanted the opportunity to turn it all around. 

Although Kairouz knew that the chances of him being selected to go on the pilgrimage were slim, he was excited to find out that he was accepted. The pilgrimage exceeded his expectations and he made friends from all over the world, saw ancient historical sites in Italy, and learned more about his religion.

In a group of about forty people, students from universities all over the nation formed strong bonds and became closer than they ever would have imagined. "You see the love of Jesus through other people," Kairouz explained when talking about the other students. 

SFC students described this as a life changing experience. 

Even though students had the opportunity to have independent quiet time, Kairouz said, "We had such a strong bond we always found ourselves wanting to be together when we had time to be apart."

Many students kept journals of memories such as New Year's Eve, birthdays, the delicious food, inside jokes, lessons learned and the growth they experienced. Upon their return to the states, the close knit community created a Facebook group in order to share pictures and remain in contact.

Since his return from the pilgrimage, Kairouz attends Mass every Monday and his faith is stronger than ever before.

Faculty can also have the opportunity to take part in a Pilgrimage in October. One of the faculty members chosen this past year was Professor Timothy Dugan from the Communications Department.

As in the student pilgrimage, there are daily mass ceremonies, Franciscan themed seminars, field trips to chapels and sanctuaries, communal meals, and evening discussion sessions. Professor Dugan said, "This was very spiritual, even for nonreligious people it is very welcoming." Spending over a week in the historical land of the saints, students and professors can walk in the footsteps of saints such as St. Francis and St. Clare.

Campus Ministry located near the cafeteria will soon have flyers up for applications this spring. The program is put together with the help of Brother Thomas Grady and Sister Colleen. Students must maintain a certain GPA and write an essay explaining why they want to go on this trip and what they can bring back to the college from this experience.

Whether a person is religious, looking for guidance, or interested in the history of the religion, students describe this as an experience of a lifetime.