A lecture about the life of St. Francis showcased Biddeford’s deep connection to a religious Order that was founded by a former soldier who later became the patron saint of nature

By RANDY SEAVER | Editor

It seemed more than fitting that a celebration and lecture surrounding the life of Saint Francis of Assisi would be held at the University of New England, formerly St. Francis College in Biddeford.

The lecture and celebration ceremony in Biddeford coincided exactly with the 800^th anniversary of St. Francis’ death on October 3, 1226.

Saturday’s lecture about the famed friar – widely known as the patron saint of nature – was sponsored by the Biddeford Cultural & Heritage Center as part of a year-long jubilee feast celebration called for by Pope Leo XIV in recognition of St. Francis and the Franciscan Order of the Roman Catholic Church.

St. Francis was never ordained as a priest, but following his capture as a prisoner of war during the battle between Assisi and the nearby village of Perugia — he dedicated the rest of his life in service to Jesus Christ — living in poverty and attracting legions of followers by living an ultimately simple and very humble life.

The lecture was attended by a group of St. Francis College alumni and several notable residents, including Mayor Liam LaFountain, State Rep. Marc Malon and former Biddeford mayor Alan Casavant, president of the Biddeford Historical Society and Vice President of the Biddeford Cultural and Heritage Center.

Biddeford’s connection to St. Francis

Biddeford has a special connection to St. Francis because UNE — formerly St. Francis College — was founded by Franciscan brothers Monsignor Arthur Decary and Father Zenon Decary as a College Séraphique — a French-speaking boarding school.

In 1952, the school became a small, four-year liberal arts college and later became co-educational in 1967, a little more than 10 years before the University of New England was formed in 1978 by combining Westbrook College and the New England College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Saturday’s lecture was also attended by two friars from the St. Anthony Franciscan Monastery in Kennebunk and included a tour of the Saint Francis Room Museum and a visit to the graves of Monsignor Arthur Decary, Father Zenon Decary and other Franciscan friars who were buried on UNE’s Biddeford campus.

The event was coordinated by Juliana L’Heureux, a freelance reporter and writer from Topsham who has written extensively about Maine’s Franco Americans for several publications.

Biddeford’s deep Franco-American roots were highlighted by Severin Beliveau, a prominent attorney and well-known lobbyist who served as the event’s master of ceremonies.

During his introductory remarks, Beliveau noted that the Maine Legislature passed a law in 1909 that prohibited speaking French at any public school in Maine. That law, he said, remained on the books for nearly 60 years before being repealed in 1969.

Beliveau, a native of Rumford, described Biddeford as one of many Franco communities that flourished during the latter part of the 19^th century, when more than 100,000 workers from Quebec emigrated to Maine in search of work and new opportunities at textile and manufacturing operations across the state.

Biddeford City Councilor Patricia (Therrien) Boston – a now retired nurse –grew up near St. Francis College and told the audience that her family regularly attended Mass at a small chapel located on the school’s campus, recalling the profound and positive effect the St. Franciscan friars had on her family and her childhood years.

Why you, Francis? A remarkable life

The lecture – entitled “Why you, Francis? A Conversation about St. Francis of Assisi” — was led by Dr. Donna Foley of the Franciscan School of Theology.

Foley walked the audience through Francis’ early life as a privileged and ambitious man who yearned to be a ferocious soldier in defending his home village of Assisi in central Italy.

At the time, Assisi was under the control of the Roman Empire while the neighboring town of Perugia was under the control of the Pope.

The battle between the two villages was much more than a territorial conflict, Foley explained.

“It was a violent, complicated and very dangerous series of battles that involved lots of bloodshed,” Foley said, noting that the villages were located roughly halfway between Rome and Florence. “He desperately wanted to be a brave knight but ended up spending more than a year as a prisoner of war.”

It was during his time as a prisoner that Francis began to experience “visions of God’s calling,” Foley explained, telling the audience, “what we consider as abject failure might be something else.”

Following his imprisonment, Francis abandoned his life of luxury and dedicated the remainder of his life in service of Christ.

“What we consider as
abject failure might
be something else.”

— Dr. Donna Foley, OFS

Saint Francis is particularly well known for his deep love of nature and animals.  Foley reminded the audience that Francis walked – barefoot – more than 100 miles to seek the Pope’s blessing for his life of service.

Foley said Francis’s enduring legacy is one of humility, generosity and patience.

When challenged to explain the reason so many people followed him, Francis reportedly replied, “because I am the greatest sinner you will ever meet.”

---

.

STAY CONNECTED | SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE TODAY

.