WILLIAMSBURG — Antonio Cuccu walked into Most Holy Trinity-St. Mary Church on the morning of July 15, seeking a little respite from the noise and stress of urban life.
And while he was there, he went on a different spiritual journey, thanks to St. Francis of Assisi. That was the day the church opened “Cantico,” an exhibition inspired by “Canticle of the Creatures,” a poem St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) wrote in the year 1225, paying tribute to God and all creation.
In the poem, the saint praises God for creating “Brother Sun” and “Sister Moon” and refers to animals as brother creatures sharing Earth with mankind.
“Cantico” features a series of 12 poster boards set up around the church, each depicting an illustration and a portion of the hymn. Visitors can walk around the church, contemplate each panel, and pray.
“Cantico,” which will be on display until October, is designed to offer visitors a museum-like experience. Visitors can scan a QR code on each board to hear a reflection on that part of the hymn by Sister Caryn Crook, a Franciscan sister and ecologist.
Friar Rick Riccioli, the pastor of Most Holy Trinity-St. Mary Church, said the exhibition is set up so that it is accessible to everyone, whether or not they are tech-savvy.
Those who do not wish to use the QR code can visit the poster boards in the same way they visit the Stations of the Cross.
“Go from panel to panel and just pray the prayer to St. Francis,” he said.
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Cuccu, who said he is trying to “get back into prayer,” added that he hoped “Canticle” would help him as he contemplates having a real relationship with God.
“As a sort of moving prayer to the church, I thought that it would help me find reflection; find a way that I could also personally do it in my own life,” he explained.
Pope Leo XIV declared 2026 a Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi to mark the 800th Anniversary of his death in 1226.
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Being that Most Holy Trinity-St. Mary Church is a Franciscan church, Friar Riccioli thought “Cantico” would be a good way to celebrate the saint and encourage Catholics to grow closer to their faith.
“Francis was obviously very much a man of his time … and appreciated God and all creation,” Friar Ricciolo said. “Creation is a way to know God. And so, by listening to a reflection and looking at the images, we can come to understand the spirituality of St. Francis.”
After the tour, visitors can write their intentions on a piece of paper and leave it by the altar statue of St. Francis of Assisi.
Catholics who make a pilgrimage to a Franciscan church like Most Holy Trinity-St. Mary Church during this jubilee year and fulfill other obligations, such as going to confession, can also obtain plenary indulgences.
Deacon Eric Peterson, who walked around the church contemplating the poster boards, said “Cantico” was a way to bring the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi to Brooklyn.
“It’s great to see this little piece of St. Francis, a little piece of Assisi here in Brooklyn, and really ties us to the legacy of St. Francis,” he said. “And it really helps us, I think, be attuned to the earth and to each other.”
Cuccu, a poet, said “Canticle of the Creatures” carries a message he takes to heart.
“It is filled with a lot about us being caretakers of this world, of nature, of all the creatures that have been gracefully given to us by the Lord,” he said.