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Saint Francis University was founded upon a robust Catholic Franciscan tradition in 1847, and that spiritual presence radiates through campus life today.
In an age of complexity, simplicity of the message of St. Francis of Assisi has more appeal than ever before: Humility. Generosity. Reverence. Service. Respect. Prayer. Joy. Love. These guiding principles of the Franciscans aren't just ideals to be admired, but values to be lived.
It all started with six friars from Ireland.
Brother Giles Carroll along with five of his friar brothers from the Archdiocese of Tuam in Ireland requested permission from the bishop of the Pittsburgh diocese to bring their dream, rooted in sharing the teachings of Saint Francis of Assisi, to fruition in the Americas. In 1847, nearly fifteen years before the start of the Civil War, they began to cleared land in the forests of Loretto, Pennsylvania, to build a school that would one day become Saint Francis University. In doing this, they were fulfilled the request of Demetrius Gallitzin, a former Russian prince who had settled here had made almost twenty-five years earlier in a letter to Archbishop Marechal for "...a college, seminary, and all that is required for an episcopal establishment" one day be built on this land.
Meet our current friars
The T.O.R. Endowment in Franciscan Studies and Roman Catholic Theology allows the University to invite renowned Franciscans to speak on a variety of topics. You can explore past lectures through the videos below.
Join us for a free public lecture presented by Dr. Massimo Faggioli of Villanova University on topics such as religious freedom, identity politics and the church, and a church with porous boundaries.
Register today!
VIDEO: Explore the Ethical Challenges of Artificial Intelligence with Fr. Paolo Benanti, an engineer and theologian.
Watch the lecture
VIDEO: Exploration of the Saint and The Pope presented by Dr. William Cook, Professor Emeritus of Medieval History, SUNY Geneseo.
Watch the video
Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, visited Saint Francis University on March 30, 2017.
View photos and video
View the video from the lecture: A Franciscan Response to Racism & Fear if the "Other" in Today's World by Dr. Dan Horan, OFM.
View the video here
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