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St. Bonaventure University

Campus community to join in St. Francis Week celebrations at St. Bonaventure University

Sep 24, 2020 The St. Bonaventure community is invited to join together and celebrate its St. Francis Week 2020 with a week of events beginning Monday, Sept. 28.
 
“Come and join us in celebrating the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi. There is no reason to allow social distancing to keep us apart – especially when we have Zoom!” said Fr.  Russel Murray, O.F.M., vice president for Mission Integration.
 
St. Francis of AssisiBanners celebrating St. Francis have gone up around campus. Many of the scheduled programs will be presented virtually.
 
Francis Week 2020 schedule of events:
 
Monday, Sept. 28
  • The Franciscan Coloring Contest in Friedsam Library
    This event begins Sept. 28 and runs through Oct. 4. Stop at the library to pick up one or more designs for fun and informative adult coloring. The images are reproduced from Franciscan-related woodcuts from the library’s Rare Book Collection. Contest details will be available in the library.

  • Franciscan Institute Publications library display
    This library display, featuring works published by Franciscan Institute Publications, runs Monday, Sept. 28, through Friday, Oct. 9.
Tuesday, Sept. 29
  • 7 p.m., Richter Center tent
    “Not to Hurt: Paying Homage to St. Francis of Assisi,” by The Chattertons slam poetry society.
Wednesday, September 30
  • 4 p.m. webinar (Advance registration information below)
    “Early Franciscans at the University of Paris: Digging Deeper into the Tradition to Support the Gospel Life?” by Dr. Aaron Gies, a virtual event sponsored by the Office for Mission Integration and the Faculty Resource Center. Gies is a research postdoctoral fellow for the Department of Theology & Franciscan Studies and the Franciscan Institute, and a research fellow of the Collegio San Bonaventura/Frati editori di Quaracchi (Rome). He has also served as a church musician and music director for more than 20 years. This lecture is open to the public. 
Thursday, October 1
  • 12:30 p.m., Thursday Forum, a virtual public event
    “Teaching to Transgress, Learning to Transform: Toward a Franciscan Pedagogy,” by Fr. Dan Horan, O.F.M., a presentation hosted by the Office for Mission Integration and the Faculty Resource Center. Faculty and staff from St. Bonaventure will be joined by colleagues from Siena College and St. Francis College. Drawing on the wisdom of educator and cultural critic Bell Hooks’ trilogy on transformative pedagogy, this forum will explore how some of the best ways we teach and facilitate learning can align with and be informed by the Franciscan tradition. 

  • 7 p.m., Fr. Jerome Kelly, O.F.M., Memorial Lecture, a virtual public event
    “The Stories That We Tell: Franciscan Identity, Social Justice, and the Challenges of Our Time,” by Fr. Dan Horan, O.F.M., a presentation hosted by the Office for Mission Integration and the Faculty Resource Center. This year’s lecture focuses on the importance of the significance of narrative in expressing and passing on the Franciscan tradition, while also examining how we can tell our Franciscan story to respond to the urgent challenges of our time in a constructive spirit of justice, peace, and integrity of creation. 
Friday, October 2
  • 12:30 p.m., Finance Forum, a virtual event
    Mary Beth Gallagher, executive director of IASJ.org, Investor Advocates for Social Justice, is the guest speaker for this virtual event hosted by the School of Business. Watch the Notice Board for the Zoom link.
Saturday, October 3
  • 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Mt. Irenaeus
    A Day on the Land and Prayer in honor of the Transitus of St. Francis of Assisi

  • 9 p.m., The Transitus of St. Francis of Assisi
    This YouTube Premiere event that will be broadcast on University Ministries’ YouTube channel.  Watch the Notice Board and social media for the link.
 Sunday, October 4
  • 11 a.m., Mass in Honor of St. Francis of Assisi, University Chapel
    Fr. Russel Murray, O.F.M., vice president for Mission Integration, presider and homilist.

  • 4 p.m., Solemn Mass in Honor of St. Francis of Assisi, University Chapel
    Fr. Xavier Seubert, O.F.M., guardian of St. Bonaventure Friary, presider and homilist.

  • Feast of St. Francis Dinner, Hickey Dining Hall (for those with dining privileges)
    Sponsored by Aramark
In honor of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology, the university will go carbon neutral for the month of October. BonaResponds is spearheading this initiative. Be on the lookout for more details.