By Lauren Zazzara
Features Editor
Before this year, no student has graduated from St. Bonaventure University with a Franciscan studies minor.
Now, four seniors, biology majors Dennis Kurian, Jeffrey Georgiades and Lori Kim, and psychology major Melissa Misenheimer, plan to graduate with the minor.
Jean François Godet-Calogeras, a professor of Franciscan Studies who has been working with the Franciscan studies minors, said the 18-credit minor was created in 2009.
“For some reason, it has never been really advertised, and I totally forgot about it,” Godet-Calogeras said.
He added that Kurian was the one who reminded him of the existence of the minor.
“I sort of unburied all the documents about that minor, and it appeared that the four, Dennis, Jeffrey, Melissa and Lori, had been following [my classes],” said Godet-Calogeras. “They liked courses with me and, every year or even semester, they were taking another one, finally realizing they had accumulated credits that would qualify for a minor in Franciscan studies.”
Georgiades said the decision to pursue the minor became easy when he realized he had fulfilled almost all of the requirements already. He said he liked St. Francis’s way of life.
“To Francis, everyone was a brother or a sister, someone to be in an equal relationship with, never above,” he said. “That view of life has really been a good model for how I treat the people around me, never as someone who is inferior, but always as an equal.”
Kim said she was drawn to the minor from taking the Catholic and Franciscan Heritage course with Godet-Calogeras.
“Francis gave up a life of comfort to live with the lepers. He found ultimate happiness by dedicating his life to those in need,” she said. “I wanted to learn more about St. Francis as a person and how the Franciscan way of life came to exist because it takes a very passionate and special person to give up a life of worldly comfort to live a life that most would not be able to follow.”
Godet-Calogeras said obstacles got in the way of the students receiving the minor. He said the registrar’s office was not aware the minor existed.
“The dean of the school of Franciscan studies, Father David Couturier, O.F.M. Cap, has really been very strong,” said Godet-Calogeras. “When he was informed of the situation that there were four students who wanted to graduate with a minor of Franciscan studies, he really he was instrumental. As a dean, he has power that a simple faculty member doesn’t have.”
Godet-Calogeras stressed that pursuing the minor wasn’t just for students who wanted to become friars or sisters.
For example, Georgiades, Kurian and Kim plan to go to medical school after graduation, while Misenheimer plans to pursue a master’s degree in counseling, said Godet-Calogeras.
“The one thing from Franciscan studies I will never lose is the point of view,” Georgiades said. “When treating a patient, a Franciscan would look not at the problem of killing a disease, but of easing the suffering of a human being. The idea of compassion is very prevalent in Francis’ fraternitas and is absolutely necessary for a physician.”
Misenheimer also said she will carry these skills over to her post-graduation plans.
“I will be getting married and pursuing a counseling degree after graduation and will need the interpersonal skills, compassion, peace and conflict resolution skills taught and discussed in the Franciscan Studies minor,” she said. “I want to live my life serving others and will follow the footsteps of Francis and Clare.”
Misenheimer said the Franciscan studies classes taught her more about the values of the Franciscan spirit.
“Compassion, nonviolence, justice, peace and interpersonal skills are among the essential topics covered under the Franciscan Studies minor, and they are values and actions that our broken world desperately needs,” she said. “The more people understand and practice them, the more likely they can be shared with others.”
Kim said she recommends this minor to other students.
“Taking the Franciscan classes has helped me really understand why St. Bonaventure takes pride in being the nation’s first Franciscan University,” she said.
Kurian agreed that the classes are worthwhile for other students to take, as they taught him lessons he won’t forget.
“Franciscan values, and their emphasis on compassion and relationship, will stay with me long after I graduate,” he said.
zazzarlm13@bonaventure.edu
