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The Community of Saints Francis and Clare
Are you a younger adult looking for a way to spend a year really focusing on your discipleship of Jesus Christ? Are you interested in living in an intentional Christian community, including daily prayer, study of scripture, communal meals, and serving in a local community? Then apply today to join the next cohort of The Community of Saints Francis and Clare!
What is The Community of Saints Francis and Clare?
The Community of Saints Francis and Clare (CFC) is an intensive Christian discipleship experience open to people ages 20-35 who seek to dedicate a season of their life to a deeper walk with Christ through prayer, study, and service.
What do participants do?
Community members will dedicate several months learning to embody Jesus’ Great Commandment to love God and our neighbors with all our Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength (Mark 12:28-34). Guided by ordained clergy, seminary faculty, and noted authors and teachers through a crafted and comprehensive curriculum, we will:
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- study the Bible while learning from Christian teachers, saints, and mystics both past and present,
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care for and serve people in need in the larger community, reflecting on this work as a part of our discipleship of Jesus Christ,
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gain a deeper understanding of others, ourselves, and our life in Christ; and
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care for our own physical, emotional, and spiritual health, living in harmony with all God’s creation.
We will live in a semi-monastic community inspired by the examples of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi, two of the most beloved of all Christian saints, who also started communities where young people could dedicate themselves to serving God and their neighbors. A daily rhythm (sometimes called a Rule of Life) which centers us in regular worship, prayer, shared meals, study, service, exercise, recreation, and rest will be the way we live into this calling. We will also go on fun recreational adventures in the local area and guided or silent retreats at nearby camps and conference centers.
The capstone celebration of the entire experience is a group pilgrimage to the hometown of Saints Francis and Clare in Assisi, Italy.​
Do participants have to come from a particular church tradition and who will be our teachers?
Christians from all denominations and traditions are welcomed and encouraged to apply. CFC is a ministry with support from the Episcopal Church and other sister branches of the Christian faith. We will be guided by our shared scriptures, traditions, and reason with a deep respect for the fullness and variety of the Church. The Rev. Rich Nelson, the Founding Director of CFC, will guide our entire experience. Father Rich is an Episcopal priest, trained spiritual director, college chaplain, author, and artist who has started multiple nonprofits and received two masters degrees in Christian formation. You can learn more about Rich here. The clergy of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and other area churches will also support participants, as well as seminary professors and nationally known speakers and authors. Our community is guided by the Nicene Creed, a form of the rule of Third Order Franciscans, and St. Francis’ Canticle of the Creatures, which you can read here. Community members commit to treating all people with dignity and respect, in accordance with our Baptismal Covenant, walking humbly in the Way of Jesus Christ.​
When and where is it?
The first community cohort will be a six-month experience from January through June 2026. Subsequent cohorts will be a ten-month experience, beginning in September 2026. Participants will live together in the apartments at MacDonald Manor, located on the campus of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Kerrville, Texas. Each member will have their own private bedroom and will enjoy several shared living spaces. Kerrville is located an hour outside San Antonio, or two hours from Austin, in the majestic Texas Hill Country filled with state parks, rivers, and iconic locations.
Who are Saints Francis and Clare?
Francis of Assisi is one of the most well known saints in history. His commitment to a life of peace, simplicity, and love for all God’s creatures is well known. He started a community for others who also wanted to model their lives on Jesus’ example. What is less well known is that his friend, St. Clare, was simultaneously leading a community for women nearby with an equally revolutionary commitment to caring for the poor and ill. Clare was the first woman in the history of the Church to receive approval for a monastic order. We will learn from and be inspired by the examples of both of these saints’ devotion to God and love for all.​
Do we really go to Assisi, Italy at the end of our time together?
Yes! Pilgrimage is an ancient and transformative Christian spiritual practice. A pilgrimage to Assisi, where Francis and Clare lived and are still highly revered, is the perfect way to complete our experience together. Our studies will help prepare us for this sacred, life-changing journey. Assisi is a holy place, where Franciscans have been living and praying together for centuries. We will visit important sites from the lives of Francis and Clare and we will offer our own prayers of thanksgiving and dedication as we are commissioned to take the light of Christ back out into the world.​
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How much does this cost?
We are committed to this being an experience that is available to all and don’t want lack of funding to be a barrier to anyone. If you apply and are invited to join the community you will have a conversation with Father Rich about your particular financial circumstances. The Advisory Team reviews all applications on a “need-blind” basis.
It costs the Community of Saints Francis and Clare an average of $4,000 a month per participant to offer this experience. We work to fundraise as much of this cost as possible. Participants are asked to contribute some financial amount, as they are able, and to assist with our fundraising efforts.
Although all housing, food, transportation, stipend, basic daily needs, and the pilgrimage to Italy are all included, consideration will also need to be given to health insurance and any regular debt or loan payments for the duration of the cohort. We can assist in finding affordable health insurance options, if needed.
What if I’m over 35 or otherwise unable to apply at this time? Can I still be involved somehow?
Yes! We invite you to become a Friend of Saints Francis and Clare! Friends will truly join in our journey through regular communication with our community. You will receive videos and reflections from our community members and from the Rev. Rich Nelson. You will also be invited to read along with us in our studies and commit to some of the same prayer practices we are keeping in your own life, wherever you live. Each year you will also receive a special gift from our community and be invited to join in an end of the year celebration over Zoom with our cohort members where you will hear more about all they have learned and experienced!
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to our Founding Director, the Rev. Rich Nelson, here.
