At the heart of the Franciscan tradition is a radical reimagining of what it means to live well. St. Francis of Assisi did not reject wealth out of disdain for the world but out of love for it. He recognized that possession, when unexamined, can easily possess us. His embrace of poverty wasn’t a rejection of value — it was a revelation of a deeper one. In a culture that often equates success with accumulation, the Franciscan vision urges us to see value in relationship and care for others.
As students of theology, many of you are already asking difficult questions about vocation, responsibility, and the use of resources. Ethical leadership, especially in the economic sphere, is about shaping systems that serve the human person and protect the vulnerable. In this tradition, leadership is exercised through humility, and wealth is stewarded as a form of responsibility, not power.
This month, I encourage you to reflect on how you relate to the goods in your life. The Franciscan tradition offers a pathway toward simplicity that is not about deprivation, but about freedom. Practicing minimalism in the Franciscan sense allows us to clear space for grace, to let go in order to receive, and to choose presence over possession.
Let the beginning of this year be a time to discern not only what you’re called to do, but how you’re called to live. May your studies continue to nourish that calling, and may you always find joy in what cannot be bought or sold.
Peace and all Good,
The FST Team
Welcome New Students!
The spring term, which started January 6, brings back students and welcomes new ones. We are honor to be part of this journey with you!
Applications open for the Summer Term
For those of you that would like to start with us this May, please keep in mind the priority application deadline is March 6. Be on the lookout for invites to our live info session!
See you at RECongress
We will be at the RECongress, this February 20. Stop by and say hi!
Franciscan Theology Certificate
Our 9-unit Franciscan Theology Certificate offers a flexible and enriching way to explore the richness of Franciscan thought. For more details, please email certificates@fst.edu
In this groundbreaking work, Dr. Hewlett outlines how Franciscan values offer a third way beyond capitalism and control, envisioning an economy that is just, sustainable, and rooted in human dignity.
Long before modern capitalism, Franciscan thinkers laid the groundwork for ethical economics, reimagining wealth as responsibility, trade as service, and leadership as a communal moral act.
Dr. Heather McDivitt, Dr. C. Joseph Coate, and Dr. Michael Gallager
Far from being opposed, Franciscan and free market values can meet in meaningful ways, especially when business is seen as a vocation and profits are pursued with conscience.
This paper explores how Franciscan values, grounded in 800 years of lived experience, can guide ethical decision-making and resilient leadership in a volatile business market.
Upcoming Events
In a time when so many are searching for healing, the Franciscan tradition offers a powerful yet countercultural message: True pastoral power is not about control or charisma, but about presence.
This free, two-day conference will gather voices from across the globe to explore how Franciscan leadership, rooted in compassion and humility, can renew faith and relationships across diverse contexts. From mental health care to migration ministry, from historical scholarship to lived pastoral practice, this gathering invites us to rediscover love as a force for transformation.
Whether you’re a student, minister, alum, or simply curious about Franciscan spirituality, this conference offers space to encounter the tradition not just as an idea, but as a living movement.
Offered by the Franciscan School of Theology in partnership with the University of San Diego, the Master of Theological Studies – Franciscan Theology program gives students from all walks of life — and from anywhere in the world — the opportunity to explore deep Catholic theology and compassionate action in a graduate-level academic setting. This 100% online program is led by experienced Franciscan scholars who work together to present the wisdom of Franciscan theology and the beauty of lived experiences.
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Franciscan School of Theology, 5998 Alcalá Park, San Diego, CA 92110, United States, 17605471800
