Abdou Fofana '26 found himself on an unexpected pilgrimage headed to an unclear destination. But what he learned was that walking in the footsteps of St. Francis is a walk everyone, of every faith, should take.
His friends told him about this amazing class. You sit through some lectures and learn about some history, and then at the end of it, you go on a 10-day tour of Italy.
"I always wanted to study abroad, and this was a chance to do it without being gone for a full semester. I applied for the class and got in, and I thought at the end, it would just be having fun and hanging out in Italy. I realized after the first couple of classes that I had gotten myself into something completely different."
Fr. Mark Reamer '83, O.F.M., vice president for mission, teaches Management 290, a course in Franciscan Leadership. The class fosters the leadership potential of students through the lens of Francis and Clare of Assisi. During the fall semester, students learn the intellectual-academic background that forms the Franciscan tradition. Then, during 10-days overlapping the New Year, students voyage to the cities, churches, and sites where the Franciscan movement began. It's a once-in-a-lifetime spiritual and religious pilgrimage, though Abdou was concerned it would have nothing to do with his own spirituality.
Abdou is Muslim, and with no disrespect meant toward Francis, he wasn't eager to walk in his footsteps. Plus, as a Muslim, Abdou also follows Islamic dietary laws, and he was worried accommodations couldn't or wouldn't be made. Additionally, he prays at certain times throughout the day, and it was unlikely excursions would be catered to his needs. Plus, what would his travel companions think? For all of those reasons, Abdou wasn't sure he should go. Fr. Mark allayed each and every fear.
"Fr. Mark asked me about my diet and he made sure there would be Halal options at every meal. He told me to embrace the essential message of Francis on the trip and to take time to meditate and put myself in the mindset and be present."
At Fr. Mark's urging, Abdou stayed with the course and went on the pilgrimage with an open mind. He wasn't going to Italy to actually walk in the footsteps of St. Francis, but when he did, everything made sense.
"We hiked up the same mountain that Francis did and we were told not to talk. On that walk, I realized the impact Francis has on our community and I thought about what the pilgrimage meant to me. I realized that outside core religious beliefs, there are morals and principles that we all share as members of the Siena community. The way you should feel about God, I felt that on the mountain, just like everyone else."
Abdou – who proudly represents Siena's Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) – also used the experience to bond with his classmates. They asked questions about his faith, and supported him at times when, for example, he'd find a quiet spot at a restaurant to pray.
"Often guys aren't open about their struggles or their relationship with God. We're not so far apart from each other. I've definitely grown closer with these guys, and I'm looking forward to spending time with them back at Siena."
Abdou, who is from the Bronx, committed to Siena before ever visiting the campus. The day he arrived, though, it just felt like the place he was meant to be. Sometimes you just have to jump and not ask questions (like: "why are we going to Italy?") and trust everything will work out. (More on the trip, below, in Saints Around the World)
"The pilgrimage to Franciscan Italy is the culmination of the Franciscan Leadership course – by walking literally in the footsteps of such Catholic and Franciscan leaders as Bernardine of Siena, Margaret of Cortona, Francis and Clare of Assisi, Peter, Paul and the early apostles in Rome. Each student brings their own unique experience as a leader coming to know them self in their search for meaning seeking truth, beauty and goodness.
I experienced Abdou as a man of great faith and integrity. His desire to learn about the Catholic Franciscan tradition reflects Francis of Assisi’s learning from Malik al Kamil in Damietta 800 years ago. I hope it helped to deepen Abdou’s faith as a Muslim. I know it inspired me and others. Though we’re each on the journey as individuals, we’re also sojourning together and we have an impact upon one another."
Mark Reamer '83, O.F.M., vice president for mission