A new eight-foot bronze statue of Noah now stands outside Christ the Teacher Hall, a striking reminder of Franciscan University’s mission to unite faith and reason.
The sculpture, created by world-renowned artist Timothy Schmalz—known for his acclaimed works Homeless Jesus and Angels Unawares—was unveiled and blessed by University President Father Dave Pivonka, TOR ’89, during a special ceremony with the Board of Trustees, benefactors, and students on October 18. Standing between the two wings of Christ the Teacher Hall, the statute of Noah embodies the unity of faith and reason that animates the University’s life and mission.
Both an engineer and a man of deep faith, Noah trusted in God’s word and acted upon it. “God spoke, and Noah believed. But belief alone did not build the ark,” reads the plaque next to the statue. “With designs in his hand and faith in his heart, Noah listened, measured, and worked. He did just as God commanded him.”
