STEUBENVILLE, OHIO—For the third year in a row, Franciscan University sent forth its largest class ever, this time with 818 graduates, a 30 percent increase since 2021. Even as many small colleges struggle to keep their doors open, Franciscan is thriving, growing, and launching more missionary disciples into the world than ever before.

But what is most inspiring about this year’s class is not its size; it’s their exemplary quality.

One such graduate is Clare Scott ’23 of Cary, North Carolina, recipient of the Lucy Marie Quinn Excellence in Pediatric Nursing Award, who received her BS in nursing.

“I am beyond thankful I chose Franciscan for my college experience!” said Scott. “What I’ve loved the most about my time at Franciscan are the Jesus-centered friendships I am leaving with. The community here has blessed me in more ways than I can count.”

Scott plans to serve in a neonatal intensive care unit at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.

“I am so excited to begin my career serving God’s smallest children!” she said.

Brendan Burke ’23, BA in theology and catechetics graduate from Pinckney, Michigan, is another. Recipient of the Kuzma Cup Scholar Athlete Award and future FOCUS missionary, he achieved academic honors and athletic recognition as a top Baron baseball player.

“My time at Franciscan has been filled with an abundant outpouring of graces, and I am so grateful,” said Burke. “In every field of work or study, even in activities outside the classroom, people are keeping their eyes fixed on Jesus and striving for holiness.”

Franciscan’s graduates are also having a global impact. Ma Celeste de Leon Magsino ’23, an online student, flew all the way from the Philippines just to walk the stage and receive her MA in theology and Christian ministry.

“It was an intense immersion in the faith,” she said. “I could not imagine a more perfect way to celebrate the fruit of these past few years’ studies than to be in the commencement ceremonies.”

Commencement weekend kicked off on May 12 with Archbishop Paul. S. Coakley of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, presiding over the Baccalaureate Mass. Recalling Oklahoma missionary priest Blessed Stanley Francis Rother, martyred in 1981 in Guatemala, he exhorted graduates to embrace their own heroic mission.

“You, too, are being sent into a world that is desperately in need of the light of Christ and the good news of Jesus Christ, to be salt and to be leaven, to make a difference and an impact,” he said.

Elected USCCB Conference Secretary in 2022, Archbishop Coakley received an honorary doctorate in Christian ethics for “his pastoral leadership” and “defense of the dignity of the human person.”

On May 13, commencement speaker Lila Rose, renowned pro-life activist, speaker, and founder and president of Live Action, also focused on mission when she delivered her address at both the Science and Arts Ceremonies. Following her reception of an honorary doctorate in Christian ethics “for her lifelong commitment to defending unborn children and promoting the sanctity of human life,” Rose had one message for graduates: “Be dangerously good.”

To do that, she told them, each graduate needs to be a visionary who acts with courage out of love. A visionary “sees all that is possible in the Kingdom of God and uses their everyday, ordinary lives to build it.” This takes courage because “there will be moments when you feel tempted to fit in, to be quiet, to be safe,” she said. “Hold on to the vision God has given you. Fight for it and take risks for it. You weren’t made to be safe.” Most importantly, she concluded, “a courageous vision must be infused with love, with a radical generosity for others and a focus on building community.”

“Go out into the world with vision, daring, and generosity, Franciscan Class of 2023,” she concluded. “Together, let’s build the kingdom and share the treasure of our faith. Be dangerously good!”

In his closing remarks, Father Dave Pivonka, TOR ’89, president of Franciscan University, gave graduates a spiritual roadmap for their mission, drawing on the Gospel in which Jesus called Peter to walk on water.

First, he said, you need to follow Jesus into the boat, even if you’re not sure where he’s leading you. Then, when the storms of life come, and you’re tempted to escape, he said, “Stay in the boat!” It’s the safest place to be, because in the boat of the Church, “You learn to love one another, to care one for one another, and to forgive one another.”

Finally, when the Lord does call, and only when he calls, “Get out of the boat! The Lord invites us to make a step in faith. To trust that he’ll be faithful. It may be dangerous, but if you don’t get out of the boat, you don’t know the thrill of walking on water.”

“God bless you, graduating Class of 2023,” he concluded. “Go, walk on water!”

Following tradition, the senior ranking faculty member, Dr. Regina Boerio, psychology, carried the ceremonial mace as she led all three faculty processions. Dr. Alan Schreck, long-time theology professor, passed the mace on to Boerio after retiring last year.

Commencement ceremonies also included an invocation by Father Jonathan St. André, TOR, vice president of Franciscan Life; a welcome by Father Joseph Lehman, TOR, chairman of the Board of Trustees; and a benediction by Father Jonathan McElhone, TOR, local minister of Holy Spirit Friary.

Franciscan’s Class of 2023 hails from Ohio, California, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York, Texas, Illinois, Florida, Virginia, Maryland, and 28 other states and 8 countries. The Class of 2023’s top 10 majors are theology, business, psychology, philosophy, nursing, education, communication arts, biology, catechetics and evangelization, and English.

Father Pivonka conferred the degrees, and Father Joseph Lehman, TOR, chairman of the Board of Trustees, presided along with members of the Board of Trustees.

View the livestreamed ceremonies at academics.franciscan.edu/commencement/.

Photos of Franciscan University’s 2023 Commencement can be found here.