Franciscan University’s atmosphere fosters priestly, religious vocations
April 08, 2011
Terry Mattingly draws attention to Franciscan University of Steubenville’s success in fostering priestly and religious vocations. Seven religious orders have houses near the campus.
“New styles of habits and robes keep appearing here all the time,” says Father Richard Davis, superior of the campus friary. “This campus produces a large number of priests, but I believe even more of our young women become sisters and nuns.”
The students, says Father Davis, seek religious institutes that are faithful to the Magisterium. “They don't want to join a community in which the life they will live looks pretty much like the life they would have lived if they had never joined a religious community in the first place,” adds Father Seraphim Beshoner, a history professor.
“They also want to join a community that has other young people in it. They don't want to be the ones left to turn out the lights someday when their order dies.”
Father Davis poignantly added that some students considering religious life are concerned about the possibility of harassment. “Will I be safe? ... If I visit a monastery or a convent, will someone hit on me?”
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