FORT WAYNE, Ind.—The University of Saint Francis invites the public to enjoy three “Year of St. Francis” lectures during the first full week of October.
The lectures will be held in the Mimi and Ian Rolland Art and Visual Communication Center, 1014 St. Francis Drive on the southeast side of campus. In addition, attendees can view the art exhibit, “The Light of Francis,” which runs from Oct. 1 through Nov. 20.
Each Year of St. Francis lecture begins at 7 p.m.:
The Dangerous Freedom of St. Francis, Oct. 4
Speaker: Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, O.P.
Fr. Patrick is a Dominican friar and author who serves as Promotor General for Social Communication of the Order of Preachers and a host of the “Godsplaining” podcast. He has written on faith, culture and spiritual life. Fr. Patrick earned a licentiate in moral theology degree from the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C. Originally from Fort Wayne, he is a graduate of Bishop Dwenger High School. He resides in Rome, Italy.
Roses and Skulls: St. Francis’ Journey from Death to Life, Oct. 5
Speaker: Saint Francis President Sr. Maria Gemma Salyer, OSF
Sr. Maria Gemma Salyer, a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration, became president of the University of Saint Francis on July 1 after serving as executive vice president, vice president for Catholic culture and student life and in other leadership roles. She earned a master’s degree in philosophy from Franciscan University of Steubenville and a doctorate in educational administration from Indiana State University.
St. Francis and Integral Ecology: Spiritual Renewal in a Technocratic World, Oct. 6
Speaker: Sr. Damien Marie Savino, FSE
Sr. Damian Marie Savino, a Franciscan Sister of the Eucharist, serves as the Melchor Visiting Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences (CEEES) at the University of Notre Dame, with a concurrent appointment in the McGrath Institute for Church Life. She holds a doctorate in civil and environmental engineering from The Catholic University of America and master’s degrees in theology and soil science. She is the writer and co-producer of the six-episode documentary series, “Creation” (Salt and Light Television, 2015), and the founder and director of the “Educating for Laudato Si’ Initiative.”
In addition to these events, Saint Francis will host Transitus on Oct. 3 (5:30 p.m.) in the Oratory of St. Francis, Feast Day Mass on Oct. 4 (11 a.m.) in the Oratory of St. Francis and a presentation of the 1950 film, “The Flowers of Saint Francis,” on Nov. 4 (6 p.m.) at the Rolland Center.
For more information, visit calendar.sf.edu or contact Sr. Anna Joseph Nelling, OSF, at anelling@sf.edu.
Founded in 1890 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, the University of Saint Francis offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs. The academic structure at Saint Francis offers seven pathways: Humanities, Faith and Liberal Arts; Allied Health; Business and Leadership; Creative Arts and Digital Media; Education, Human Services and Community Care; Nursing; and Sciences and Medical Studies. In addition to its traditional programs, Saint Francis delivers workforce development healthcare programs in Fort Wayne, Crown Point, Gas City, Indianapolis, Lafayette and online. Saint Francis Downtown houses the music technology program while offering enhanced internship and networking opportunities for students. A National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Five-Star Champion of Character institution, Saint Francis has 17 athletic programs boasting three individual and four team NAIA national championships. More than 2,100 students from a broad geographic region attend Saint Francis.