Franciscan University to launch new program in DC after $10 million gift

WASHINGTON (OSV News) -- The Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, announced new plans Sept. 3 to launch a program helping students engage in political and cultural work in the nation's capital after a multi-million dollar gift.

The university announced a $10 million gift from Edward (Ward) and Kathryn Fitzgerald to establish and endow the Ward and Kathy Fitzgerald Franciscan University Homeland Mission, a program aimed at helping the university's students find internships or launch careers in Washington and teaching them how to advocate for the Catholic Church's teachings within the legislative and political processes.

In a statement, Father Dave Pivonka, Franciscan University's president and a Third Order Regular Franciscan, said the couple shares "Franciscan University's zeal for the Gospel, and they have a special concern for the spiritually poor in the corridors of power."

"Their generous gift will enable Franciscan to form students and others called to bring the heart of Jesus to the public processes in the important arena of our nation's capital," Father Pivonka said. "The Franciscan charism of ongoing conversion, which invites everyone to continually and humbly draw closer to Christ, will be key to carrying out this mission. The Franciscan University Homeland Mission will invite others to deeper conversion through three pillars grounded in the University's mission: Evangelization and Joyful Presence, Intellectual and Personal Formation, and Support for Human Dignity."

In a statement speaking for herself and her husband, Kathy Fitzgerald said, "We have been provided great Providence to be able to be vessels of the Holy Spirit by participating with such a worthy University and its students, faculty, and administration. We are too well mindful that nothing we have created or hold is our own but graces and gifts from Our Lord to do his work."

As a result of the gift, the university in its press release said it had purchased a $3 million property on Massachusetts Ave. to house the Ward and Kathy Fitzgerald Franciscan University Homeland Mission, which will also host networking, professional, and personal development events.

The university said it would seek to bring its "Gospel-infused core values of encounter, conversion, and community to bear on the political and social atmosphere of Washington" and also bring "the light of Catholic social teaching to the most critical issues of the day."

"This engagement will not only bring the Church's witness to the legislative and political process, but it will also serve to draw more people to Christ and his Church," Franciscan University's press release said.