Our Franciscan Story
At San Damiano College, our identity is deeply rooted in the Franciscan tradition inspired by Saint Francis of Assisi. More than history, this story shapes who we are today and how we live, learn, and relate to one another.
Saint Francis showed the world a different way, one marked by simplicity, compassion, courage, care for creation, and respect for the dignity of every person. Through his life stories, such as his call to “rebuild my Church,” his compassion for the outcast, his commitment to peace, and his love for all creation, Francis invites us to live the Gospel with authenticity and joy.
As a Franciscan community, we walk in his footsteps each day. Our Franciscan story calls us to build community, seek peace, stand with those on the margins, and act with kindness and humility. It reminds us that even small acts of love have the power to transform hearts, relationships, and communities starting right here at San Damiano College.
Who Is St Francis of Assisi?St Francis of Assisi was a 13th‑century Christian whose life continues to inspire the way we live and learn at San Damiano College. Through his deep love of God, compassion for others, and reverence for all creation, Francis showed that faith is not only something we believe, but something we live each day. Born into a wealthy family in Assisi, Italy, he chose a different path, letting go of material possessions to embrace simplicity, humility, and service to those most in need. He believed that true joy is found in loving relationships, a strong sense of community, and responding generously to God’s call.
As the founder of the Franciscan Order, Francis modelled a way of life centred on peace, service, and care for others, values that sit at the heart of San Damiano College. He recognised the dignity of every person and taught that all people, and all of creation, are deeply connected. His gentle spirit, love of nature, and commitment to peace continue to guide us as a Franciscan community, encouraging our students to act with kindness, seek justice, care for the world around them, and become peacemakers in their everyday lives.
At San Damiano College, the life and values of St Francis shape who we are and how we learn. Inspired by his example, we strive to build a welcoming and respectful community where students are encouraged to act with compassion, seek justice, care for creation, and walk humbly with others. St Francis challenges us to live authentically, serve generously, and become peacemakers in our worl, values that continue to guide our college community today. |
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Living the Charism of Saint Francis of Assisi
San Damiano College is deeply inspired by the life, story and spirit of Saint Francis of Assisi. His example continues to shape who we are as a learning community, guiding our relationships, our approach to education, and the way we serve others. Francis lived the Gospel through simplicity, humility, compassion, care for creation, and a profound respect for the dignity of every person. These values remain at the heart of life at San Damiano College.
The Franciscan Peace Prayer
At San Damiano College, the Franciscan Peace Prayer holds a special place in our spiritual life. Widely associated with Saint Francis of Assisi, this prayer beautifully expresses the heart of the Franciscan way, calling each of us to be instruments of peace in our world.
The prayer invites us to respond to hatred with love, injury with forgiveness, doubt with faith, and despair with hope. It challenges us to look beyond ourselves, encouraging compassion, humility, and self‑giving love. Rather than seeking recognition or comfort, we are called to listen, to understand, and to place the needs of others before our own.
As a Franciscan community, this prayer shapes how we live and learn together each day. It guides our relationships, our response to conflict, and our commitment to justice, reconciliation, and care for one another. Through the words of this prayer, we are reminded that peace begins with small, intentional acts and that through giving, forgiving, and loving, we help to build a more peaceful and just world.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
“Rebuild My Church” – A Call for Today
| While praying before the crucifix in the small, crumbling church of San Damiano, Francis heard Christ call him to “Rebuild my Church.” At first, he rebuilt with his hands, repairing stone walls. Over time, he came to understand this call more deeply as a mission to renew the Church through faith, love, service and community.
At San Damiano College, this call continues today. We are invited to be builders of hope, compassion and justice through small acts of kindness, standing up for others, and living out our values of respect, service, community and resilience. Every member of our community has a role to play in renewing the world around us. |
Courage to Cross Boundaries – Francis and the Sultan
During the Crusades, a time of deep conflict and division, Saint Francis journeyed unarmed into enemy territory to meet Sultan Malik al‑Kamil. Rather than confrontation, their meeting was marked by respectful dialogue and mutual understanding. Though it did not end the war, it became a lasting symbol of peace, courage and bridge‑building across difference.
Inspired by this encounter, San Damiano College encourages respectful dialogue, openness, and understanding. We are called to listen with open hearts, value diverse perspectives, and choose peace over division within our college and beyond.
Compassion in Action – Francis and the Leper
One of the most transformative moments of Francis’ life occurred when he encountered a leper, someone feared, avoided and excluded by society. Overcoming his own fear, Francis chose compassion, embracing the leper with love and dignity. This act changed him forever, revealing that true greatness is found in humility and care for those on the margins.
At San Damiano College, we are challenged to do the same: to go beyond our comfort zones, stand against exclusion, show kindness, and look out for those who may feel unseen or unheard. Through everyday actions, we learn that compassion has the power to transform lives.
Choosing Peace – The Wolf of Gubbio
%20-%20Copy.png) | The story of the Wolf of Gubbio is one of the most powerful and enduring stories from the life of St Francis of Assisi. It tells of a community living in fear, divided from a creature seen only as a threat. While others sought protection through force, Francis chose a different way, approaching the wolf with calm presence, courage, and respect. By listening, speaking honestly, and recognising the dignity of all life, Francis restored peace between the wolf and the people of Gubbio.
This story invites us to consider how fear and misunderstanding can create division, and how reconciliation becomes possible when we respond with compassion rather than judgement. Francis reminds us that peace is not achieved by overpowering others, but by seeking understanding, building trust, and recognising our shared humanity.
At San Damiano College, the story of the Wolf of Gubbio inspires us to be peacemakers in our daily lives. We encourage students to face conflict with empathy, to listen before reacting, and to choose dialogue over division. It shapes how we approach relationships, resolve challenges, and support one another within our community.
By choosing peace, even when it feels difficult, we live out our Franciscan calling to foster understanding, restore relationships, and create a learning environment where all feel safe, valued, and respected.
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Care for Creation – The Canticle of the Creatures
Francis’ Canticle of the Creatures celebrates all creation as a gift from God. His joyful reverence for life continues to inspire our strong commitment to sustainability, stewardship of the earth, and care for our common home.
A Franciscan Start to the Day
Why We Say “Buongiorno, Buona Gente”
At San Damiano College, we begin each day by greeting one another with the words “Buongiorno, Buona Gente”, Italian for “Good morning, good people.” This simple phrase is far more than a friendly greeting; it is a daily expression of our Franciscan identity.
Saint Francis of Assisi often opened his letters and addresses with these very words, reflecting his deep belief in the goodness of every person. By greeting one another this way, we acknowledge the dignity, worth, and inherent goodness in each member of our community.
The use of Italian, the language of Saint Francis, connects us to our Franciscan roots and reminds us of the values we strive to live each day - community, respect, resilience, and service. Whether spoken in classrooms, corridors, or gatherings, “Buongiorno, Buona Gente” sets the tone for a day grounded in kindness, faith, and mutual respect.
Through this shared greeting, we continue a beautiful Franciscan tradition, beginning each day united in spirit and committed to walking gently with one another.
The Icon that Inspires our community
The San Damiano Cross is a powerful symbol of faith, hope, and transformation within the Franciscan tradition. It is the cross before which Saint Francis of Assisi prayed and where he received his call from God to “rebuild my Church”, a moment that shaped his life and the Franciscan way.
Unlike traditional crucifixes, the San Damiano Cross is an icon rich in symbolic imagery. It depicts Christ not as defeated by suffering, but as triumphant and alive, surrounded by figures from the Gospel who witness the mystery of his death and resurrection. The cross proclaims that even in moments of struggle, new life, renewal, and hope are possible.
At San Damiano College, the San Damiano Cross is a constant reminder of our mission. It calls us to be people of peace, compassion, and courage to bring healing where there is brokenness, to act with love and humility, and to rebuild our world through faith in action. Inspired by Saint Francis, we strive each day to live as a community grounded in hope, dignity, and care for one another.
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