ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. — St. Bonaventure University will celebrate its Franciscan heritage and the theme “Embracing Otherness” during Francis Week and Feast of St. Francis celebrations.
Special guest Br. Michael “Mickey” McGrath, O.S.F.S., an artist, writer and speaker who explores the connections between life, art and faith, will give the Fr. Jerome Kelly Memorial Lecture on Thursday, Sept. 29. His talk, “Encounters with Otherness: Saved By Beauty,” begins at 4 p.m. in the University Chapel, Doyle Hall. The program is free and open to the public.
Br. Mickey, a member of the Oblate of St. Francis de Sales, is an artist, writer and speaker who loves to explore the relationship between art and faith. His work and ministry have been featured in St. Anthony Messenger, USA Today and many Catholic newspapers.
Several of his covers for America magazine have earned him awards from the Catholic Press Association. He creates art for many of today’s leading Catholic publishers, including the United State Conference of Catholic Bishops, for whom he has designed posters for Catechetical Sunday, Home Missions Appeal, and National Migration Week.
On Friday, Sept. 30, Br. Mickey will be the speaker at the Friday Forum luncheon for faculty and staff. The topic of his presentation is “Encounters with Otherness: Women and Men of Justice” and will begin at 12:30 p.m. in Doyle Dining Room. Light lunch will be provided.
Friday evening, Br. Mickey will be the speaker at the Evening at Mt. Irenaeus; he will discuss “Encounters with Otherness: Color, Culture, Creed.” Interested students can sign up in the Mt. Irenaeus office in the Thomas Merton Center.
On Monday, Oct. 3, the University will host the Transitus, a reflective celebration of the life and death of St. Francis of Assisi, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the University Chapel, Doyle Hall.
An outdoor Mass at the Grotto on the West End of campus will celebrate the Feast of St. Francis Tuesday, Oct. 4. Mass begins at 4:30 p.m.
Francis Week activities are sponsored by a generous gift from John, ’58, and Kay Meisch of Canandaigua.
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About the University: Inspired for more than 150 years by the Franciscan values of individual dignity, community inclusiveness, and service, St. Bonaventure University cultivates graduates who are confident and creative communicators, collaborative leaders and team members, and innovative problem solvers who are respectful of themselves, others, and the diverse world around them.