Recently, St Bonaventure’s School was blessed to host a delegation of Franciscan brothers from the United States, marking a significant moment of spiritual enrichment for the school community.

The visiting friars included Fr. Casey Cole OFM, a priest who runs Breaking in the Habit on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. Fr Casey is the author of many books, including “How to Evangelise Wherever You Are”. Joining Fr Casey for the visit were his co-hosts from the YouTube channel Oh Brother! – Fr. Jason Damon OFM and Fr. Roberto “Tito” Serrano OFM – the trio were accompanied by Fr. Yusuf Bagh OFM from St Francis of Assisi Parish in Stratford.

The day of mission and reflection, which was part of the school’s ongoing celebration for the Jubilee Year of St Francis, centred around talks with students across various year groups, sharing insights into the life of a Franciscan friar and the beauty of a vocation dedicated to service and the Gospel. The friars’ message focused on the Franciscan way of life and its core values in humility, respect, and unconditional love, encouraging students to be instruments of peace in their daily lives with their families, friends, and people around them in the community.

The friars also joined students in celebrating Holy Mass at St Antony of Padua Church in Forest Gate, a beautiful moment of prayer and thanksgiving for the school and its foundations and Franciscan heritage. Although the Friars were in the UK for the International Franciscan Conference in Durham, as part of their trip they had also been visiting university chaplaincies around the country before heading to London, including a personal pilgrimage to St Francis of Assisi Parish in Stratford, as one of the diocese’s dedicated churches for the Jubilee year.

The impact of the friars’ presence was deeply felt by students:

“It was a great opportunity to meet the brothers and be inspired by their way of Franciscan Life. They provided excellent insight into the reality of being a friar in the modern world and the work they do on a daily basis.”

“Seeing them in their traditional brown robes and sandals was striking because it showed they are not influenced by trends and gave me a clear understanding of the simple life they live. The best part was realising that they are humble, down to earth, and bring positive energy to those around them.”

“It’s always a privilege to discuss faith with those who are fully devoted to it. The experience felt like a mini spiritual retreat at school.”