The St. Bonaventure community is invited to join together for a week of special events as the university honors its patron saint, St. Francis of Assisi, during Francis Week 2021.

All activities are open to university faculty, staff and students at no charge.

Overview of Events

Friday, Oct. 1

4 p.m., Francis Week overnight at Mt. Irenaeus. Sign up or get more information from Br. Kevin Kriso (kkriso@sbu.edu), Room 106 University Ministries (McGinley-Carney Center for Franciscan Ministry – MCCFM)

Saturday, Oct. 2

Day of Service: choose from six different sites (see below)

Sunday, Oct. 3

7 p.m.: Mass and Transitus, University Chapel, Doyle Hall

Monday, Oct. 4

2:30 p.m.: Artist’s gallery talk, “Beyond the Subject: Study of the Franciscan Influence in My Artistic Process & Understanding of Beauty,” by Fr. Michael Reyes, O.F.M., in the atrium of the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. The talk will be followed by the unveiling of a restored statue of St. Francis with comments by Friary Guardian Fr. Xavier Seubert, O.F.M., and music by the SBU Chamber Choir led by Jennifer “Jan” Rhody. The statue of St. Francis was previously on the grounds of Christ the King Seminary and will be placed in its new home near the St. Bonaventure Friary.

3:30-5:30 p.m.: Francis Fest block party outside the Doyle Hall chapel. The event will feature games and prizes, music, fall food and the blessing of animals.

5:30 p.m.: Mass for the Feast of St. Francis, University Chapel, followed by a special Feast Day dinner in the dining hall. (There is a charge for dinner for those not on a meal plan.)

Tuesday, Oct. 5

6:30-8 p.m.: “Plight of the Immigrant” talk, Damietta Center in the Reilly Center. Hear stories from the border; pizza will be served.

Wednesday, Oct. 6

4 p.m.: Showing of the movie “The Sultan & the Saint,” Quick Center, with an introduction by Fr. Michael Calabria, O.F.M., and Fr. Michael Cusato, O.F.M., who provided input on the film.

Service Saturday

Join the university community as it puts its Franciscan mission into action with a number of service opportunities on Saturday, Oct. 2:

• Trail Cleanup in Hinsdale – the Genesee Valley Greenway trail is being extended from south of Rochester to Allegany State Park. There is a section near Hinsdale that has to be cleaned before the trail can be built. A small bridge will also be built that day. Tools are provided. Join BonaResponds as they gather for a day of work, laughter and taking care of the Earth. Meet at 10:45 a.m. at the BonaResponds trailer by the baseball field. Plan to return to campus at 5 p.m.

• Join the Student Veterans Club from 10 a.m. to noon in Room 213 of the Reilly Center as members gather to write letters of encouragement and support to those serving our country and those who have faithfully served.

• Operation Warm Hearts is a local organization that will distribute winter coats, mittens and hats to children living in the Olean area. Meet Dr. Paula Scraba in the lobby of University Ministries (MCCFM) at 10:30 a.m. to go to Wayne Street in Olean, where the distribution will take place. Winter clothing will be given away until 2 p.m. or when all items have been distributed.

• The Franciscan Friars helped found St. Bonaventure University and many are buried in St. Bonaventure Cemetery across the street from campus. Meet in the lobby of UMin (MCCFM) at 10 a.m. to go to the cemetery to clean gravestones and hear stories of friars who helped make our university what it is today. Return to campus by 12:30 p.m. Sign up by email (anation@sbu.edu) or in Room 113 in UMin.

• The Warming House is believed to be the oldest student-run soup kitchen in the country. Join Warming House coordinators as they deep-clean the dining room and kitchen and/or help assemble personal hygiene bags that are distributed each Monday at the Warming House. Meet at the entrance of UMin (MCCFM) at 11:30 a.m. to leave for the Warming House. Pizza and soda will be served. Sign up by email (anation@sbu.edu) or in Room 113 in UMin.

• Join the Mt. Irenaeus community for a day helping prepare for the winter ahead and the spring that follows. Meet at Cafe La Verna at 9:30 a.m. for transportation. Lunch will be served, and work projects will wrap up by 4 p.m. For those interested in staying longer, the friars will host dinner and music, featuring Fair to Fiddlin’, a local bluegrass band! Sign up or get more information from Br. Kevin Kriso (kkriso@sbu.edu), Room 106 UMin (MCCFM). Transportation back to campus will be available. Students can also sign up for the Friday, Oct. 1, overnight retreat at the Mountain.

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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.