Junior Madison Wright has always been a self-described “total math nerd,” but when she arrived in Steubenville, she had a compartmentalized mindset.
“I had my faith and love for the Lord, but that was unrelated to my other interests. I looked at math and thought, ‘Well that’s not useful for spreading the faith,’ and believed I could only really study theology to serve God,” she says.
Coming to Franciscan after spending a year serving with NET Ministries started to change her perspective.
“Other schools I visited did not emphasize—or even downplayed—their Catholic identity. Here, I met professors across academic disciplines who loved the Lord, and that showed up in their classes. I saw the diversity of the people who are striving to be faithful Catholics. All of them have unique passions and interests that are good gifts from God, not in conflict with him.”
Today, Madison pursues both her passions with a double major in theology and math.
“I now see truth as an integrated whole, and math as the playground God made for me to play in,” she says.
She further credits the witness of others on campus, especially her Crown of Creation Household sisters, for a deeper conversion.
“When I arrived, I thought I was so on fire for Jesus and maybe had a bit of a sense of pride,” she says. “Coming here made me realize I needed the community of the Church and the witness of my peers. I can’t do this on my own, and I thank God for a place full of community in Christ.”
Madison is also thankful for how campus life fosters active vocational discernment both in and out of the classroom.
“Here you have lots of chances to try things out to discern what God is calling you toward,” she says. “You are surrounded by all these opportunities for prayer and ministry on campus. They are meant to help us find the best ways for working for his Kingdom and discern his will.”
She is particularly grateful for the opportunity to be open to and respond to the call to pro-life ministry. Through it, God has continued to purify her heart and help her grow in virtue.
“Just before coming to Franciscan, I felt a tug on my heart for pro-life work. I started volunteering at a pregnancy center near my home in Pasadena, Maryland. This accelerated when I joined Franciscan’s abortion outreach ministry midway through freshman year. I have led the ministry since sophomore year.”
Madison says, “In this role, God has given me zeal to inspire others to step up and take action in doing the works of mercy for the unborn. But being in this position of responsibility has also been a way he humbles me. He helps me see the parts of my personality that he wants to use for good, as well as the parts of me that need to be refined by him.”
Post-graduation, Madison is confident she will continue her pro-life work in some capacity.
“I don’t think my call to pro-life ministry will dissipate anytime soon.”
