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.

The McGinley-Carney Center for Franciscan Ministries building

As 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.

We are accepting Mass intentions for the fall 2023 semester, when Masses resume.

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 Yvonne Peace or call her at (716) 375-2662.

Order Mass cards online

St. Peter's Square in Rome, Italy
Photo by Kristin Marsicovetere, '10, '13

Franciscan Leadership Pilgrimage

Each December, students may participate in a Franciscan Leadership Pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi through the Franciscan Pilgrimage Program. Participation is open to students of all faith traditions.

The pilgrimage brings together leaders of various faith traditions form Franciscan colleges and universities across the U.S. to reflect on and learn form the vision and values of saints Francis and Clare of Assisi. It includes time for reflection, study, conversation, leisure, relaxation and visits to sacred Franciscan locations in Assisi and Rome.

Pilgrims are not tourists. Pilgrims are people who are on a journey designed to take them outside their ordinary, familiar lives and into an unfamiliar environment where they have the opportunity to search beyond the ordinary in order to come to know God.

To participate in the pilgrimage a student must:

be a full-time undergraduate student in good academic standing
be in good health and capable of long and strenuous walks
demonstrate a history of service
commit to sharing the pilgrimage experience with the university community
be open to new insights and discoveries
become familiar with the lives of saints Francis and Clare
participate in prepilgrimage gatherings to get to know other participants and for updates on travel, the itinerary, costs and other matters
participate in post-pilgrimage gathers to process personal insights and discoveries

On their return, pilgrims are expected to share their experiences with the university community, their families and faith communities; to translate their pilgrimage experience into action by infusing Franciscan values into the university system and helping others clarify the vision and values that shape the mission of St. Bonaventure University.

To apply, submit:

a cover sheet that includes your name, email address, phone number and home address or SBU mailbox number
a letter of recommendation from a faculty member, staff person or administrator
a written summary of your community service activities
a written description of how you believe this pilgrimage will benefit you
a written description of how you envision yourself sharing your pilgrimage
experience with the university community, your family, your peers and the faith community

Return your completed application to the Franciscan Center for Social Concern, McGinley-Carney Center for Franciscan Ministry at SBU. For information call (716) 375-2398 or (716) 375-7813.

Applicants should inquire about their eligibility for a St. Bonaventure scholarship for the Franciscan Leadership Pilgrimage.

Fairway View Pavilion at SBU Golf Course opens to public April 19

Apr 15, 2021

View from the Pavilion patio The new Fairway View Pavilion at the St. Bonaventure Golf Course opens to the public Monday, April 19.

Members of the university community were afforded access to the Fairway View Pavilion this week.

“I was up there Wednesday afternoon and it’s just a beautiful view from the patio,” said Tom Missel, chief communications officer at SBU. “The food was excellent, too.”

The patio overlooks the second fairway, with the campus in the distance, and is protected from the 2nd tee by netting on top of and around the patio’s pergola. Inside the Pavilion are a full bar, fireplace and three big-screen TVs.

Construction began last summer on the new restaurant and bar at the 9-hole Allegany golf course.

University officials realized that overhauling the crumbling infrastructure of the Clubhouse Restaurant wasn’t worth the investment so they partnered with Aramark, the university’s food service provider, to build the new establishment.

Current state COVID-19 guidelines for restaurants will be in place: 75% capacity and unmasked as long as you’re seated. Under those guidelines, the Fairway View Pavilion seats 47 inside and 65 on the patio.

“I think golfers coming off the 9th green will love it, as will the public who just want to stop up and have a drink or bite to eat,” Missel said.

The menu includes nine different openers, four different salads and 12 different sandwich options. In addition, dinner specials will be offered on Friday and Saturday nights beginning April 23. The bar offers a wide variety of beer, wine, seltzer and spirit options.

Reservations will only be taken for parties of 10 to 20. For more than 20 people, the Fairway View Pavilion can be booked for special events. Visit stbonavenue.com/new-fairway-view for more information.

Fairway View will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. It will close for the season sometime in November, depending on the weather, and reopen in the spring.

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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 2020, St. Bonaventure was named the #2 regional university value in New York and #3 in the North by U.S. News and World Report.

Alice Miller Nation

Director of University Ministries

(716) 3757813

Send an email

McGinley-Carney Center 113

Fr. Steven Kuehn, O.F.M.

University Chaplain

(716) 375-7841

Send an email

McGinley-Carney Center for Franciscan Ministries 111

Yvonne Peace

Executive Assistant to the VP for Mission Integration and University Ministries

(716) 375-2662

Send an email

St. Bonaventure University

University Ministries

Franciscan Center for Social Concern

Mt. Irenaeus

Faith formation, worship & ministry

Mass Card Requests

Franciscan Leadership Pilgrimage

Fairway View Pavilion at SBU Golf Course opens to public April 19

Mass Schedule

Confession Schedule