For Fr. Francis DiSpigno, O.F.M, becoming a Franciscan was something he has toyed with since childhood.
DiSpigno, executive director of University Ministries, first became infatuated with Franciscan life at the age of 11, after learning from his older brother who was attending the Franciscan St. Anthony’s High School, on Long Island.
“I don’t think anyone’s discernment for any vocation is easy,” DiSpigno said. “I remember sitting down and watching a Franciscan movie with[my brother] and I was interested. But really, how interested can an 11-year-old be?”
Despite having the scattered mind of an 11-year-old, DiSpigno still had reoccurring thoughts about priesthood throughout high school and college.
“Even in the Jesuit ambiance of Fairfield University I thought about St. Francis,” he said. “I was exposed to St. Ignatius of Loyola as well, and I was also attracted to the spirituality of that.”
After graduating from Fairfield University with a degree in psychology, DiSpigno was a high school teacher for three years. At the time, DiSpigno was working to pay off loans before joining the priesthood, but he still struggled with his decision.
“I went back and forth a lot from Franciscan to Jesuit,” he said.
After making his final decision, DiSpigno made his way to the Washington Theological Seminary where he successfully finished his Masters of Divinity. During his early years, DiSpigno also worked towards accomplishing his ministry in Boston and The Bronx.
In addition to United States travel, DiSpigno has had the opportunity to travel internationally numerous times.
DiSpigno believes that his travels have influenced his ability to experience Franciscan values. In 1995, DiSpigno lived in Bolivia and worked along Sr. Geralda McClosky, a Daughter of Charity.
“When I lived in Bolivia, I realized that the poverty in the United States is nothing compared to the rest of the world,” he said. “We have lots of people who are struggling to make ends meet but we do have an infrastructure who can reach out to help. In Bolivia we were the only infrastructure.”
During his time in Bolivia, DiSpigno worked to help to create better housing for the locals.
“Every person in the area would work to help their neighbors,” he said. After a house was built, that family would move on to help the next.”
Although traveling the world and living on campus at Bonaventure are starkly different, DiSpigno embraces the lifestyle change. After working inside of the Franciscan community as a parish priest and as vocation director of his seminary, he decided he needed to “get back to working with real people.”
DiSpigno said one of his favorite things about Bonaventure is the inside community.
“It’s unlike anything else in the world,” he said. “Since the school turnover rate is 25%, I have the pleasure of meeting new students every year.”
Although he has only been working at Bonaventure for about five years, his love for the school has been passed on through his two nieces and his nephew, who are current students.
“I told them I really wanted them to have their own college experiences, but we spend time together,” he said. “I text them and ask them if they want to go out to get lunch.”
rootcm14@bonaventure.edu
