Thursday May 7th, 2026 at The Wilds Golf Club, Prior Lake
Here is a look at 2026's Award Dinner recipient:
The Province of Our Lady of Consolation, the Conventual Franciscan jurisdiction that built and assigned Friars to staff the center was established in 1926, celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. The province, which covers the Midwest and Southwest United States, would then develop retreat centers in other parts of the country. Twenty-twenty-six is also the 60th anniversary of Franciscan Retreats, which was the province’s first retreat house.
In honor of these milestones, the Advisory Committee chose the Province of Our Lady of Consolation as the 2026 recipient of the Franciscan International Award (FIA). Without the province’s support, especially in sending scores of Friars to staff the center over these sixty years, Franciscan Retreats would not have become the sacred ground it has been for so many.
You may read more about the history of the Franciscan International Award inception, and the building of the retreat center by following this link, or clicking on the photo below.
The FIA will be bestowed on Thursday, May 7, by a Friar of the province, Most Rev. John Stowe, OFM Conv, bishop of the Diocese of Lexington, KY. Archbishop Bernie Hebda will join this august event and introduce Bishop Stowe.
May 7, 2026 at: The Wilds Golf Club; 3151 Wilds Ridge Ct, Prior Lake, MN 55372
6:00 Social Hour 7:00 Dinner and presentations 9:00 Final Blessing
Previous recipients of the Franciscan International Award include: the late Dr. Billy Graham for true Ecumenism (1972); the late Dr. Mildred Jefferson, M.D. – as a leader in the Pro-Life Movement (1978); Sister Helen Prejean – for being an advocate for those on death row, their victims, their families, and the families of their victims (2003); Fran Heitzman, the founder of Bridging, for helping families to furnish homes with hope (2014) and last year, One World Surgery. You may review a full list of honorees here.
For 67 years the Franciscan International Award Dinner has been an opportunity for retreatants and friends of Franciscan Retreats and Spirituality Center in Prior Lake MN to gather together and support the ministry of the retreat house as well as honoring a person or an organization who embodies the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi.
Featuring again this year - A Live Auction and Raffle Baskets, for which we are accepting monetary donations.
The Province of Our Lady of Consolation, the Conventual Franciscan jurisdiction that built and assigned Friars to staff the center was established in 1926, celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. The province, which covers the Midwest and Southwest United States, would then develop retreat centers in other parts of the country. Twenty-twenty-six is also the 60th anniversary of Franciscan Retreats, which was the province’s first retreat house.
