STEUBENVILLE, OHIO—The legacy of Father Michael Scanlan, TOR, will continue to live on in a tangible way outside the United States. On Sunday, Father Peter Lyons, TOR, of Food for the Poor presented Franciscan University of Steubenville President Father Sean O. Sheridan, TOR, with a commemorative plaque honoring Father Scanlan’s memory and with a gift to a family in Haiti.

“Our Franciscan community has had a longstanding relationship with the mission of Food for the Poor, and accordingly chose to honor the memory of Father Michael Scanlan by donating a home to a homeless family in Haiti in his name,” said Father Lyons, who teaches philosophy at St. Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania.

A priest of the Franciscan Third Order Regular Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Father Scanlan served as president of Franciscan University from 1974-2000, chancellor from 2000-2011, and became president emeritus in 2011. His leadership as president transformed Franciscan University from a struggling regional college into a world-renowned leader in Catholic higher education and helped to inspire a restoration of faithful Catholic education in the United States and the world.

In accepting the plaque on behalf of the University, Father Sheridan noted Father Scanlan’s devotion to causes like Food for the Poor, which provides food, medical assistance, and infrastructure development to poverty-stricken nations in Latin and South America.

Many people will recall that Father Michael’s first desire in life was to be a missionary, but he ultimately followed the will of God in doing what he was told to do, and came here to Franciscan University,” said Father Sheridan.

I think he would be very pleased and proud of this recognition and honor,” added Father Sheridan, speaking to a Finnegan Fieldhouse crowd packed with students at the University’s senior sendoff Mass.

For more about Father Michael Scanlan, TOR, comments from those who knew and worked with him, plus videos of Father Mike and an opportunity to share your own memories and prayers, visit the tribute page