“A Witness to God’s Faithfulness”

Students assist as Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Stephen Hildebrand, Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR ’89, Dr. Christin Jungers, and Mickey Pohl cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony for Christ the Teacher Hall on August 21.

As the centerpiece of the Rebuild My Church Capital Campaign, Christ the Teacher Hall comes in response to Franciscan’s consistent annual enrollment increases, the recent addition of academic programs, and the necessity for a dedicated conference space. It stands as the largest building on campus at more than 110,000 square feet, and it features two wings: a conference center wing and an academic wing for engineering, business, and nursing. In its very design, the building brings together faith and reason, which St. John Paul II called the “two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth.”

Dean of the School of Professional Programs Dr. Christin Jungers celebrated the positive impact this building will have for students, whether they practice their engineering skills in the eight specialized labs, hone their nursing techniques in the state-of-the- art simulation labs, or just study together on the terrace or pray in the Sacred Heart Chapel.

“Franciscan University wants you, our students, to know we care about you,” she said. “We care that you have a beautiful and academically supportive place to learn the necessary skills and to practice using the tools of your profession. We care that each one of you has a chance to flourish in your chosen field.”

She also celebrated the benefactors who made it all possible.

“The generosity of our donors is an outpouring that blesses our students and ensures that the life of Franciscan University’s mission remains strong and alive,” she said.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony also highlighted another accomplishment: the Rebuild My Church Capital Campaign had surpassed its $110 million goal.

Paul Michael “Mickey” Pohl, chairman of the Rebuild My Church Capital Campaign, celebrated this milestone while also acknowledging the work still to do; continued gifts are invited to complete the financial needs for Christ the Teacher Hall, Christ the King Chapel renovations, and the new Ward and Kathy Fitzgerald Franciscan University Homeland Mission in Washington, D.C., with the final campaign push ending in December.

Mickey Pohl addresses the assembly before the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“Just think of all the good this University will continue to do for Catholic education and for the students we are sending out into the world to be the light. We’ve only just begun,” Pohl said. He added, “Great things happen when you trust the Holy Spirit.”

Father Dave echoed his sentiments.

“God is faithful. He’s not going to ask us to do something that he won’t provide us the grace to be able to do,” he said. “We celebrate the fact that God has been faithful, for the friends who have walked with us, and we look forward to seeing what God has next.”