Tertiary Transitus Service

in Latest News

A message from the London and South East England Cluster of the Third Order:

 

The Transitus of Francis 3 October 1226
Saturday 3 October 1226 is the day that Francis died at sunset in
Assisi. Franciscans have commemorated this with a service called
the Transitus. On Saturday 3 October 2026 we are holding a
Transitus service in London, in Christchurch, Blackfriars. “We”
are the Tertiary Franciscans of the London South, London East
and Essex South and Europe, London West, and West Kent areas
– with Canterbury – we are the London and South East England
Cluster.
We will gather at Christchurch on Blackfriars Road in the hall at
5pm with refreshments – tea, coffee, cakes etc – to begin the
service shortly after 6pm. We will be joined at 6.15pm by Father
Jarek and the Roman Catholic Franciscans from St Patrick’s Friary
and church, Waterloo. They have been in the habit of holding
annual Transitus services and they will be playing a major part in
our celebration.
The liturgy will be marked at sunset – 6.34pm – with music and
prayers, ending with the Lord’s prayer, followed by the Friars
breaking and sharing bread to symbolise community, unity and
strength for the mission to which we are all sent out. The
congregation will leave the church in silence and we hope
to finish by 7pm.
We aim to promote this event to other groups and churches
around Blackfriars besides liaising with the First Order CSF Sisters
at Pocock Street and SSF Brothers at Plaistow, and Companions
and to involve the community around Christchurch, Blackfriars.
The day will have begun with our Tertiary Renewal of our Vows at
a Eucharist at 2pm in the church, preceded by a Bring and Share
lunch in the church hall from 12 noon onwards. This will be a
cluster gathering – mainly London South, London East and Essex
South and Europe, and tertiaries from London West, Kent and
even maybe Canterbury – all are welcome to this Renewal service.
As the Pilgrimage ends the day before – Friday 2 October at
Plaistow, having started in the morning from the Sisters at Pocock
Street in Southwark, we expect there may be people interested in
staying over and joining in renewals and the Transitus service.

If you are interested in coming to some part of this special day and
need more information, please be in contact with Jenny Standage
–
standages@pobox.com.
Christchurch, Blackfriars is on Blackfriars Road, London SE1
8NY. The Underground station Southwark on the Jubilee line is
very close – about 3 minutes walk. National Rail – London
Waterloo East Station platforms have a direct link to Southwark
Station, but you need a ticket that allows access through the
underground station. It is possible to walk at street level from
Waterloo East to Blackfriars Road.