STONEVILLE, N.C. — St. Francis Springs Prayer Center here celebrated the 800th anniversary of the founding of the Franciscan Order in October by presenting an original musical drama on the life of St. Francis written byLouis Canino, OFM.
Almost 1,300 people attended the director of the center’s play, “Francis — Everyone’s Saint,” Oct. 2 to 4 at Carolina Theatre in downtown Greensboro. The musical score and lyrics were composed by Ann Bauer, assistant director of the center.
In the play, Brother Leo and Lady Clare are granted a wish to become time travelers to the modern day. The story is told by flashbacks through the dialogue of these two followers of St. Francis.
At the end of the production, a large screen displayed photographs of Franciscans all over the world continuing the work of St. Francis today, as the cast and the audience sang “Come Sisters and Brothers,” said Paul Cronin, the center’s development and marketing coordinator.
A CD and DVD of the performance will be released soon, according to Cronin.
The center also runs several programs this month for Advent and Christmas, he added.
This coming weekend concludes the “Christmas at the Springs” events. The center invites Franciscans to keep Christ in Christmas and throughout the New Year by spending two nights at the center.
On Dec. 31, the center is hosting its annual New Year’s Eve celebration with prayer, fellowship, dinner, Eucharist, midnight brunch and breakfast. For more information, visit the Web site of St. Francis Springs Prayer Center.