Franciscan President - Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR

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Franciscan President - Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR

Official page of the President of Franciscan University of Steubenville

08/27/2026

A pilgrimage is an invitation to encounter the Lord more deeply.

Last week, I returned from leading a 10-day trip to Denmark and Norway alongside Heather Khym. This pilgrimage allowed me to discover the Lord's presence in these countries' chapels and shrines, in breathtaking scenery, and in the fellowship of other pilgrims.

I invite you to join us on a future Franciscan University pilgrimage. You can learn more at pilgrimages.franciscan.edu

08/25/2026

I invite you to listen to “The Good Life,” a new weekly prayer series for college students on Hallow.

Each week, Heather and Jake Khym and I will talk about the most common questions and struggles of college life, including how to pray, build authentic community and friendships, combat loneliness and anxiety, and navigate the storms of life. The Khyms and I will offer simple reflections from Scripture and practical ways you can grow in prayer and live the good life as a college student.

08/24/2026

The first day of the fall semester is always filled with so many emotions. Whether it's your very first day at Franciscan or your last "first day" of school, you might feel excited, overwhelmed, or nervous as you look at your schedule.

I encourage you to find time to pray today. Keep Jesus at the center of all your new beginnings and ask for his peace.

I am excited to witness new milestones, new memories, and new saints in the making! Go forth with love and joy.

08/19/2026

Dear Incoming Freshman, As Franciscan University eagerly awaits your arrival, I want to encourage you as you embark on this new adventure!

You have been invited to Franciscan University for a reason. The Lord wants you to witness, create, or encounter something here. He himself awaits you in the Eucharist but also in your professors, roommate, teammates, and soon-to-be friends!

Allow yourself to feel whatever you're feeling--that complex sense of excitement, nerves, anticipation, and joy that comes with life's best changes--but remember that you've got this! And we've got you! Your next four years will be filled with highs and lows, and I invite you to embrace each and every one. Open yourself up to new people and new experiences. You have the opportunity to say yes to something great, something bigger than yourself! Say yes to God as he guides you through this next chapter.

Please know I--and so many friars, professors, parents, and staff members--are praying for you.

08/13/2026

Don't be afraid to show people who Jesus is by being who you were created to be. Stay close to heart of the Father and the mission he has for you.

Be fully alive in his presence!

07/28/2026

In a recent Sunday Gospel was the Parable of the Sower.

Jesus describes three types of soil the seed falls on, representing the state of our hearts as we receive God's Word.

First, the seed falls along the path and birds eat it. This is Satan plucking the Word right out of our hearts, an immediate rejection. It never takes root.

Second, the seed falls on rocky ground with little soil. It springs up fast but is scorched by the sun. These are the people who get excited hearing the Word but have no depth. They love it in the moment but don't live out of it.

Third, the seed falls among thorns that choke it out— sinfulness, love of worldly things, unforgiveness. The Word can't grow because other things get in the way.

Lastly, the seed falls on good soil and produces a crop. This is the heart that is humble and poor in spirit, tilled by suffering, ready to receive the life of God's Word.

May we open our hearts to the Lord's cultivation, so we receive the seeds of his Word, his power, and his presence, and they bear much fruit.

07/23/2026

To the newest members of our Franciscan family... it's almost time!

One month from now, you'll step onto this campus and your story here begins.

You may be feeling some nerves mixed with excitement for your arrival, wondering if you'll meet new friends, like your classes, encounter the Lord in a new way.

Here's what I want you to know: You already belong here. Before you've unpacked a single box, God has gone ahead of you to prepare your place, just as he's been preparing you for it.

The next four years will challenge you, grow your faith, and give you friendships that last a lifetime. Some days will be hard. Most will be full of the Lord's love and the great memories you will make.

We're praying for you, and we can't wait to welcome you to your new home.

07/10/2026

Fatherhood is one of the most beautiful reflections of the heart of God.

As a priest, I've been entrusted with the gift of being a spiritual father to many. To walk alongside students, to pray with them, to celebrate the sacraments with them, and to witness God at work in their lives. This is one of the deepest joys of my vocation.

We live in a culture marked by an orphan spirit, where so many feel lonely and abandoned, searching for something to ease the ache in their hearts.

The world needs good fathers. Men who love, guide, protect, provide, and heal, and who ultimately lead others to God the Father.

May we never stop drawing closer to the Father who created us for himself, the One in whose presence we long to dwell for eternity.

07/06/2026

The Lord has done great things for you.

At the heart of your spiritual life is your relationship with Jesus and the ways he shows his love.

Consider how his mercy, compassion, faithfulness, kindness, and sacrifice on the Cross all show his great love for you.

Do you believe this? That the God of the universe loves you, personally.

Take some intentional time in prayer this week to specifically reflect on the Lord's personal love for you.

During your prayer, ask the Lord to help you recognize new ways he expresses his love and to open your heart to truly receive it.

06/30/2026

Something amazing happened during the opening of our 50th anniversary season of Steubenville Youth Conferences...

For decades, these conferences have been a powerful extension of Franciscan University’s mission to bring young people into a real encounter with Jesus Christ.

On June 19, we shared a surprise with the teens attending the first of our 19 summer Youth Conferences. A video message from Pope Leo XIV played—addressed directly to them.

Joy filled the entire room as the Holy Father encouraged these young people to seek authentic peace and discover true joy in Christ as St. Francis did—and to be open to the call God has placed on their lives.

It was both deeply personal and incredibly encouraging for everyone present.

Moments like this are a powerful reminder of what God has been doing through these conferences for the past 50 years, and how that work continues to reach young people in a real and lasting way.

As our conferences continue throughout the summer across the country, I simply ask for your prayers for the teenagers attending, for the leaders serving them, and for the grace of continued transformation in every heart.

Thank you for the ways you’ve stayed connected to this mission; you make moments like these possible.

If you want to watch Pope Leo XIV's full message, check out our Steubenville Conferences YouTube. youtube.com/go2steubenville

Address

1235 University Boulevard
Steubenville, OH
43952

Website

http://franciscan.edu/

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