Scott Warden
Editor-In-Chief
January 28, 2025 // Bishop

Assisi Program Students Gather for Prayer, Meal at Saint Francis

Scott Warden
Editor-In-Chief

On Thursday, January 23, members of the Assisi Program for Discipleship and Leadership at the University of Saint Francis gathered on campus at Brookside (formerly Bass Mansion) for faith and fellowship. The students were joined by several members of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration – the university’s sponsoring congregation – as well as Saint Francis’ president, Dr. Lance Richey, and Bishop Rhoades.

Bishop Rhoades speaks to members of the Assisi Program for Discipleship and Leadership at the University of Saint Francis on Thursday, January 23.

Before the group prayed evening prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours, Richey thanked the students from the Assisi Program – a four-year formation program for undergraduate students aimed at preparing students to live their Catholic faith authentically and joyfully, whatever their major or future career may be.

Father Patrick Hake, chaplain at the University of Saint Francis, speaks after a dinner for members of the university’s Assisi Program for Discipleship and Leadership on Thursday, January 23.

“You are the leaven on campus,” Richey said. “I want all of you to be here and to make present – day to day in a thousand little ways through your life, through your example, through your fellowship – the love of God and the presence of Jesus among us. And if you do that, you are carrying out the work of God, and you are serving the university better than you could ever dream.”

Photos by Scott Warden
Bishop Rhoades laughs during an evening with the student-members and leaders of the Assisi Program for Discipleship and Leadership at the University of Saint Francis on Thursday, January 23.

After dinner, Bishop Rhoades thanked the students and encouraged them to continue to tend to their studies and to their prayer life. Bishop added that it’s clear the Assisi Program is “strengthening the Catholic identity of the University of Saint Francis.”

Scott Warden is editor-in-chief of Today’s Catholic.

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