Student volunteers pause for a photo at the Empty Bowls & Baskets Dinner and Auction.

St. Bonaventure University

University Ministries


University Ministries welcomes students of all religious affiliations to participate in a variety of opportunities for spiritual growth, service learning, social action and community building.

Pictured_The McGinley-Carney CenterAs the nation's first Franciscan university, St. Bonaventure affirms the unique dignity of every person and invites everyone into a community of  acceptance and understanding. All are welcome here.

University Ministries is the focal point for forging these loving bonds of belonging, and for extending this sense of community beyond our campus borders. We strive to share God's unconditional love, particularly with marginalized populations — the needy, ignored and excluded.

We're located in the McGinley-Carney Center for Franciscan Ministry (pictured), located in the center of campus. Opened in 2017, the center houses offices, an interdenominational prayer tower, a great room for student gatherings, and kitchen facilities.

We are committed to transforming the lives of our students inside and outside of the classroom, inspiring in them a lifelong commitment to service and citizenship.

Our liturgical life, centered around Sunday Eucharist, invites all members of the Bonaventure community to join in various liturgical ministries and many prayer opportunities.

Franciscan Center for Social Concern


Your hub for service-learning, whether it's feeding the hungry, befriending a child, or visiting with a senior citizen. Be a leader in service to others.

The FCSC

Mt. Irenaeus


The resident friars of this Franciscan community near campus welcome all to relax, hike, garden, sit and talk, or share a home-cooked meal. A special ministry, a special place.

Mt. Irenaeus

Faith formation, worship & ministry


We invite all into the life of the Catholic Church, with liturgical programs, sacraments, worship experiences and opportunities for spiritual growth.

Faith, worship & ministry

Mass Card Requests


Mass intentions to honor the living and remember the deceased may be ordered online.

A donation to the Franciscan Friars of $15 is suggested for each Mass intention requested. We can accept up to two intentions for each Mass.

During the academic year, the Franciscan friars offer daily Mass at 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Great Room of the McGinley-Carney Center for Franciscan Ministries. Sunday Masses are offered in the University Chapel at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.

You may choose from a selection of cards and make your donation online. (Card #1 is the Mass card for deceased; Cards # 2 and 3 are Mass cards for the living). We will send you a confirmation with the date that the Mass will be offered, and, if you desire, we will inform people in the university community.

We welcome your Mass requests.

For questions or more information, please email Brian Negron or call him at (716) 375-2662.

Order Mass cards online


News-Publications-Research- Banner

SBU’s Franciscan Institute to take over sole sponsorship of Padua Program

May 04, 2020

The Franciscan Institute at St. Bonaventure University will this summer become the sole sponsor of the Padua Program, a unique initiative that trains mission leaders of Franciscan institutions.

The Franciscan Institute has been a co-sponsor of the program with the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities for the past three years. The Institute will begin sole sponsorship on Aug. 1.

“The Padua Program provides the most comprehensive mission-based leadership training for Franciscan institutions in North America,” said Fr. David B. Couturier, O.F.M. Cap., Ph.D., D.Min., executive director of the Institute.

“The Franciscan Institute has been providing the best education in the Franciscan intellectual tradition for the past 80 years. Now, with the help of our Schools of Business, Communication and Health Professions, and Office of Mission Integration, we can offer the integrated leadership training that Franciscan institutions need to fulfill their mission today.”

Founded by St. Bonaventure President Fr. Thomas Plassmann, O.F.M., in 1940, the Institute engages in two principal areas of scholarly concern: research and publication.

The Padua Program was the brainchild of Sr. Margaret Carney, O.S.F., president of St. Bonaventure from 2004 to 2016.

As a result of working with Partners in Franciscan Ministry of Syracuse, New York, and other Franciscan groups, Sr. Margaret saw a need for in-depth training for individuals charged with integrating Franciscan teachings into their places of work.

With the support from the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities, Sr. Margaret assembled a team of lay and religious experts to develop a program that would provide solid professional development for people in executive-level positions within Franciscan organizations.

Sr. Margaret reached out to the Franciscan Institute in 2017 to co-sponsor the program; the first cohort began in 2018.

“The past three years has shown that an academic host is better able to provide the type of support that this program needs if it is to grow,” said Sr. Barbara Jean Donovan, O.S.F., general minister of the Sisters of St. Francis. “Fr. David presented us with a proposal that made it clear that St. Bonaventure has the capacity to serve as the program’s sole sponsor.”

Since its inception, the curriculum for the Padua Program has expanded to include topics such as Franciscan approach to finance; Franciscan ethical and moral tradition; the elements of an effective mission program; dealing with diversity in mission integration; and best practices of mission integration. 

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About the University: The nation’s first Franciscan university, St. Bonaventure University is a community committed to transforming the lives of our students inside and outside the classroom, inspiring in them a lifelong commitment to service and citizenship. In 2019, St. Bonaventure was named the #1 regional university value in New York and #2 in the North by U.S. News and World Report.