Francis Week 2024: Aimed at Fostering a Sustainable Future

SBU Hosts Diverse Activities to Promote Environmental Stewardship

St. Bonaventure University is going to celebrate the life of St. Francis of Assisi, focusing on the theme “Sustainability: It’s Complicated.” The events will take place on October 5 during Francis Week 2024. Fr. Stephen Mimnaugh, O.F.M., the vice president for Mission Integration, emphasized that this theme highlights Pope Francis’s ongoing call to address the climate crisis.

The significance of this occasion is highlighted by the letter addressed “To all people of goodwill” from Pope Francis, which emphasizes the urgent need to confront the environmental and social devastation caused by the climate crisis. In 2015, the Pope first called for action through his encyclical Laudato Si’, drawing inspiration from St. Francis of Assisi’s “Canticle of Creation.” Pope Francis has raised concerns about the inadequacy of responses to environmental issues, warning that the world may be nearing a breaking point. The occasion in Francis Week presents an opportunity for reflection on current actions and a chance to consider how to enhance stewardship of the environment.

The SBU community is invited to participate in a sustainability survey in which a series of questions regarding participants’ understanding and perspectives on climate change and sustainability issues will be asked which took 5 to 15 minutes to complete, conducted by the Association of Franciscan Colleges and Universities.

Schedule of Events for Francis Week 2024:

• September 25: Participants will be warmly welcomed at the Ministry Office.
• September 27: Attendees will enjoy a performance titled “From Bebop to Broadway,” featuring Calabria Foti and Bob McChesney. Proceeds will support Warming House Sustainability.
• September 28: Participants will explore the sustainability table at the Family Weekend Festival, which will include the "Beat the Brothers" cornhole game and a Family Weekend Mass.
• September 30:Attendees will take part in the “Hunger & Resilience” exhibition walk-through at the Quick Center. Additionally, an all-day opt-outside scavenger hunt for a hidden medallion on campus will be organized, with prizes for students.
• October 1: On this day, participants will engage in a screening and discussion of “Sustainability in the Food Cycle: It’s Complicated,” featuring filmmaker Tom Murphy.
• October 2: Attendees will join the sustainability table in the dining hall and Ministry Office, which will also feature the cornhole game.
• October 3: Participants will attend the Transitus ritual in the University Chapel, celebrating the Franciscan identity.
• October 4 (Feast of St. Francis): There will be a pet blessing at the Ministry Office, followed by the Feast Day Mass.
• October 5:A Day of Service will be hosted by the Franciscan Center for Social Concern and Mt. Irenaeus. Daily Mass will be held at noon in the Great Room of University Ministries.

St. Bonaventure University, the nation’s first Franciscan university, is dedicated to transforming students' lives both in and outside the classroom, instilling a lifelong commitment to service and citizenship. In the latest U.S. News and World Report rankings, the university was ranked 6 for value and ranked 14 for innovation among 167 regional universities in the North for 2024.

Editor’s Note: 

As St. Bonaventure University is ready to celebrate the life of St. Francis of Assisi during Francis Week 2024, the theme “Sustainability: It’s Complicated” invited the community to engage in critical conversations about our environmental responsibilities. This week-long celebration, beginning on September 25, featured a range of activities designed to foster reflection, engagement, and a deeper understanding of sustainability issues. The community is encouraged to participate in a sustainability survey, contributing to a broader dialogue about our collective stewardship of the planet. St. Bonaventure University, recognized for its commitment to service and innovation, continues to inspire students to make meaningful contributions both inside and outside the classroom. 

Skoobuzz anticipates that this impactful event will unite the people to achieve the mission of a more sustainable future.