By Gavin Lindahl
Contributing Writer
“We throw around these terms, ‘Franciscan this, Franciscan that,’ but how many students can articulate that? How many students know what that really means?”
Brother Kevin Kriso, O.F.M. and a Mt. Irenaeus friar, said Francis Week at St. Bonaventure promotes a greater understanding of Franciscan values. Every year, the school celebrates a week leading up to the feast day of St. Francis with different events to highlight the university’s Franciscan values.
Beginning Friday, Sept. 28, the week will offer daily activities to students until Thursday, Oct. 4 when the celebration will conclude with a mass in honor of St. Francis on his feast day.
The first event is a speech by Mario Pirovano reflecting on the influence of St. Francis in his life. Friday also includes an overnight at Mt. Irenaeus.
The week’s activities will pick up on Monday with this year’s two main events. Father Ken Himes, O.F.M., will lecture on Monday at the university chapel at 4 p.m. about the formation of a conscience that reflects the Franciscan tradition.
The lecture will be of particular interest to students and is one of the main activities of Francis Week 2012.
“If there is still someone trying to figure out their conscious, that one might be good for them,” Brother Kevin said.
Brother Kevin also said this event is particularly special this year because it is an election year, and it could help students decide where they stand in voting.
The other highlighted event will come on Tuesday night. Pirovano will perform the one man play “Francis, The Holy Jester.”Dario Fo’s play, “Francis, The Holy Jester,” will be a unique and special experience for the campus. The Italian play offers a first-person and humorous view into St. Francis’ life. The play will be free and an opportunity students will not want to miss, according to Brother Kevin.
The week will also offer a cookie and coffee break on Wednesday morning for the campus community to discuss the life of St. Francis.
The week will conclude with masses on Wednesday and Thursday. The Mass on Wednesday will revolve around the Transitus of St. Francis, a Franciscan devotion to remember the life and passing of St. Francis. Thursday’s Mass will fall on the Feast of St. Francis and will highlight the focus of the week.
“I’m looking forward to my first Francis Week,” said freshman business major Bradley Wigsten. “The Franciscan foundation is spiritually and physically a big part of our campus. You hear about it and you see it but I don’t think many students fully grasp it. It will be a great way to learn first-hand.”
The week offers all students a range of great activities to choose from.
“There’s something for everyone,” Brother Kevin said
For further details contact Debby Mooney at University Ministries or follow @BonasUMin on Twitter.
