By: Caitlyn Morral
Staff Writer
Feast your eyes on this—next week St. Bonaventure is gearing up for the start of Feast Week, in honor of St. Francis.
Throughout the week, which begins with a Family Weekend Mass at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in the University Chapel, there will be different events leading up to the Feast of Francis Mass in the University Chapel at 7 p.m. on Sunday Oct. 4.
On Monday, lay ministers Erin Dempsey and Kevin Cooley will host a talent show at 7 p.m. in the first floor of Robinson Hall. According to the St. Bonaventure website, University Ministries will serve almond cookies outside of Plassmann Hall in honor of Lady Jacoba, who was a friend of St. Francis and was known for both making and enjoying almond cookies.
Several forums will be held to further educate the university community on history and current events. One of these talks will discuss the pope’s recent address to Congress.
Other topics include the history of the life of Francis, and how his life pertains to Bonaventure today.
“I think the value of celebrating Francis week is to understand that a person who lived 800 years ago is still relevant to us today,” Fr. Francis Di Spigno, O.F.M., the executive director of university ministries said. “He was able to grasp the concept of ‘thisness,’ and that everyone deserves respect.”
Dr. Matthew Cressler, ’06, will host a meeting on Thursday at noon titled, “From Conversion to Revolution: The Rise of Black Catholic Chicago.” Cressler will lecture again at 4 p.m. in the University Chapel.
There are two events at Mt. Irenaeus during the week. The first is an open evening on Wednesday. The second is a men’s overnight on Friday.
Students and faculty can also participate in the Francis Service Day on Oct. 3. The day starts with a March of Dimes Walk at 9:30 a.m. and continues with a restoration of the trails at 10:30 a.m., which contribute to bettering the Allegheny River Valley Trail.
To end the celebrations, the Transitus of Francis, a celebration of his death, will be held on Oct. 3 in the University Chapel at 7 p.m. The Feast of St. Francis Mass will be held Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. in the University Chapel as well.
Bonaventure associate professor and minister-in-residence Paula Scraba Ph.D said she has been participating in Francis Week since she started at the university in 2002.
“It’s a time that we all look forward to, and hopefully our students can enter into the experience,” said Scraba. “I just hope that our students are able to enter into the experience and feel the spirit of what Francis week is about, and how it is a part of our heritage as a Franciscan family.”
morralce14@bonaventure.edu
