FAN’s third annual Franciscan Justice Leadership Conference: Love in Action took place in Washington DC on October 18-20, 2025. Franciscans and Franciscan-hearted people from different generations, backgrounds, and communities gathered together for advocacy training, worship, prayer, fellowship, dynamic speakers, and Congressional meetings, seeking to live out a faith that does justice.
Groups from nine colleges and universities, volunteers from Franciscan service organizations, Franciscan religious, Franciscan parish members, Franciscan Justice Circle members, and Franciscan-hearted people from around the country traveled to the nation’s capital to learn how to advocate on the issues of our day in ways rooted in the gospel and Franciscan tradition. Participants left empowered to do advocacy and feeling that they are warmly welcomed in the Franciscan family.
Afterwards, a college student shared: “I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to attend the conference again this year. When I returned to SBU’s campus, I told everyone that it felt like coming home to a greater family. I feel so connected to the mission of love we share as Franciscans.”
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- 150 people participated
- 41 meetings with congressional offices from 17 states
- 26 Franciscan institutions participated, including the Association of Franciscan Colleges & Universities, Franciscan Federation, Franciscans International, Franciscan Service Network, and many Franciscan religious communities
- 14 institutions sponsored, including major sponsors the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, the Order of Friars Minor/Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Order of Friars Minor Conventual/Our Lady of Angels Province, and the Felician Sisters of North America.
- 11 Franciscan Justice Circles participated
- 9 colleges or universities sent groups, including Franciscan colleges Felician U., Lourdes U., Madonna U., Neumann U., Siena U., St. Bonaventure U., St. Francis College, Viterbo U., as well as St. John’s College
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Keynote speaker C. Vanessa White (Secular Franciscan and Associate Professor of Spirituality and Ministry at Catholic Theological Union) stirred participants by calling for a spirituality that does justice and restores right relationships, where we find hope, joy, and the spirit of God even amidst suffering.
Panelists directly affected by the issues described the impact of our broken immigration system on their own lives and our communities, as well as the conflict in Gaza and efforts to secure a lasting peace.
Participants learned about legislation related to these two pressing issues and received training on how to use a nonviolent, effective approach to communicate and advocate.
Moments of fun, connection, prayer, and community were interspersed throughout each day of the conference. We enjoyed an evening of Taize prayer and an experience of Lectio Divina using Franciscan texts, as well as Sunday mass and hospitality at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle.
On the final day, participants and FAN staff traveled to Capitol Hill to engage in dialogue with congressional offices. Many conference participants said the meetings felt like genuine conversations, where they could express their concerns and ideas as well as listen to what the staffers shared. The groups did a terrific job preparing and utilizing the training in nonviolent communication and advocacy they received during the conference, which gave them the confidence to take on what was a new challenge for many in attendance. We ended with a celebratory lunch and closing prayer at St. Peter’s Catholic Church on Capitol Hill.
To see more pictures of the 2025 Franciscan Justice Leadership Conference, click here.
Check back later for information on next year’s conference!