Home | Children & Youth | Religious Leaders | Educators | Families | Workshops | Advocacy

Dramatizations of the Life of Francis of Assisi

Portrayed by Jim McGinnis and “Francis the Clown”

1.    Full dramatization.  This 60-minute lively interactive experience with Jim McGinnis as the “fool/clown for Christ” dramatizes the life of Francis of Assisi, especially his courage in confronting the values of his society and embracing the nonviolent love of Jesus.  It challenges us to re-examine our own values and dreams and to rededicate ourselves to God.  It is especially helpful for youth and young adults wrestling with life-choices around consumerism, simplicity and success; love for society’s outcasts; forgiveness, nonviolence, and war.  Reflection afterwards includes an opportunity for participants to commit to the values of Francis, as well as some of Jim’s own testimony around his journey into Francis. For teens to adults.

2.    Shortened as a homily.  This same experience can be condensed into a 15-20-minute portrayal of Francis as the homily for Eucharistic worship or an extended prayer service.  For teens to adults.

3.    Classroom presentation.  Jim adapts the experience as a 10 to 15-minute introduction to his presentation of the School Pledge of Nonviolence as a way of living out the values of Francis. For grades 3-8.

Other Stories of Love & Courage by Jim McGinnis

“The Story of Jumping Mouse” by John Steptoe

Jim tells this Native American legend in dramatic fashion, moving around the room simulating the journey of this young mouse determined to get to the “far-off land.”  The obstacles and helps that Jumping Mouse encounters along the way serve as a wonderful parable for life’s journey, God’s presence, and the call to sacrificial love.  Reflection after this 20-minute story asks children and youth to see Jesus, Dr. King, and themselves in the character of Jumping Mouse and leads to personal decisions about how to serve others in need.  For all ages, especially for children.

Click on Jumping Mouse for a fuller version, plus discussion questions.

“That’s What Christmas Is All About”

This is a true story from Jim’s experience as “Francis the Clown” visiting patients in local nursing homes, where he used his stuffed animal “Bear Hugs” to soften the faces of those he visited.  In one encounter, “Bear Hugs” transformed a non-eating, non-talking elderly woman named Charlotte Brooks who wanted to keep “Bear Hugs,” but he took it away because he didn’t have any others.  Telling this story in a shopping mall right before Christmas “solved” my problem.  11-year-old John Jost interrupted the story to gave him money to buy “Bear Hugs” for Charlotte, with the words “that’s what Christmas is all about.”  John’s gift helped to sustain Charlotte through her final months.  Telling the story to children generated over 500 stuffed animals the following year, all delivered to people like Charlotte.  John Jost was a “Jumping Mouse” kind of person and this story is an excellent sequel to “The Story of Jumping Mouse.”  Click on That's What Christmas Is All About for the full version.

The Story of “Sadako and the Thousand Cranes”

This true story of 11-year-old Sadako Sasaki, one of the victims of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, invites participants to move beyond the horrors of war and see the possibilities for making the most of whatever moment of life they have, as Sadako did.  As Jim tells this 15-minute story, he folds one of the paper peace cranes and shares his experience with the story and the cranes in his work with children in hospice care, prison inmates, and victims of war; and invites participants to reach out to others in need.  How Jim used this story during the early months of the war on Iraq offers educators a creative way of engaging young people in responding to war.  He can also teach participants how to make the paper cranes (in 30-45 minutes) or leave directions for doing so.  For all ages.  Click on I Want Love to Win for one version.

“The Legend of the Bluebonnet” by Tomie DePaulo

Jim also tells this Native American legend of a young Comanche girl in a dramatic fashion.  At the invitation of the Comanche holy man, “She Who Lives Alone” offers her warrior doll – her best thing – as a prayer to the Great Spirit to relieve the devastating famine that killed her parents.  For her act of sacrificial love, the holy man publicly renames her “She Who Dearly Loves Her People.”  Jim uses this 10-minute story to challenge participants to identify how they have been selfish with their gifts and how they can share them more generously.   For all ages, especially for children.