The first day of school may be my favorite day of the academic year. After a long summer, it is such a blessing to look out my office window and see our students rushing to and from class, bringing the energy and joy only they can to campus. And what a great view it is this fall with Franciscan University welcoming the largest freshman class and largest group of new students in our history—nearly 750! What an amazing way to begin the second semester of our 75th Anniversary Jubilee year. And what a year it has been so far!
On December 10, we kicked off our jubilee with a Mass of Thanksgiving as well as the unveiling of our beautiful new mosaic, Our Lady of the Portiuncula. We also announced the $75 million Rebuild My Church Capital Campaign, the boldest campaign in our 75-year history. We had a glorious weekend, and then it was on the road for me. To have a successful campaign, it would be important for me and my team to meet with people and invite them to become part of what God is doing here.
For the last nine months, I have averaged multiple events every week, meeting with many University friends and alumni. We’ve had gatherings in more than 15 states, and we are not finished yet.
Some events were small home dinners, while others were large events with hundreds of people. I particularly enjoyed the three alumni events in four days held in the Pirates, Reds, and Guardians baseball stadiums. Hey, I go where the people are.
Another fun, unique event was the whiskey tasting at Franciscan Square hosted by the parents of a current student. We had such a wonderful mix of faculty, staff, alumni, and local Steubenville friends. One long-time University friend who attended spoke to me there, reasserting his belief that a renaissance is taking place at Franciscan and saying he is so excited to be involved in it.
I have heard similar things from many people I have met.
“It sounds like things are going really well at the University.”
“There’s such a buzz among alums.”
“Something seems different on campus. There seems to be a joy, a new life; it’s so great. Father Dave, what have you done?”
You want to know what we are doing? I’ll let you in on a little secret. We are 100 percent doubling down on being faithful to the mission at the heart of Franciscan University. We place Jesus Christ at the center of all we do. Our students not only encounter Christ in the chapel but in their classrooms, common rooms, cafeteria, and athletic fields.
We also continue to strive to be faithful to the teachings of the Church and take every opportunity to make the beauty of this teaching known. One example:
Last spring, USA Today published my opinion piece on the transgender athlete issue. In it, I explained that the body matters, and we can’t simply ignore the way God has created us. To me, it was just common sense. Yet, many readers reached out to thank me for taking that stand.
When I addressed a similarly challenging subject another time, someone told me, “You continue to do things that move me to support you more.”
Ultimately, I believe Franciscan University is being faithful to the call St. Francis of Assisi received over 800 years ago, the same call the TOR Franciscans who founded this university heard 75 years ago: “Go, rebuild my Church.”
Which brings me to May 13, the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, the date we met our initial $75 million campaign goal, which I joyfully announced to our Class of 2022, their families, and our faculty and staff the next day. Bless God!
Afterward, a guest said, “Father Dave, I’m not surprised the University met the goal. There’s something special taking place here.”
Yep, I know. I get to be part of it every day.
Peace,
Father Dave, TOR
