Pastoral Care of Students Policy
“It shall be the further purpose of the University, publicly identified as a Catholic and a Franciscan institution, to promote the moral, spiritual, and religious values of its students. The University will be guided by the example and teaching of St. Francis of Assisi.” (Franciscan University Bylaws Article II.1.b)
Franciscan University’s Bylaws recognize the President as the “spiritual leader” of the University. (Franciscan University Bylaws Article VI.4) As such, the President and his designees have the responsibility for the pastoral and spiritual activities at Franciscan University. This enables the University to fulfill the sacred trust placed in it by its alumni, parents, students and benefactors to protect and foster a healthy spiritual environment in which University students can grow.
The persons designated by the President to serve as spiritual leaders include the vice president for Franciscan Life, the University Chaplain; the Franciscan friars, TOR; other officially appointed Chaplains and Pastoral Assistants; the vice president of Student Life and Dean of Students; and other members of the Student Life and Franciscan Life staffs.
Pastoral and spiritual activities include, but are not limited to all sacramental ministry, spiritual direction, pastoral ministry and guidance, the household system, retreats, and presentations on pastoral, moral and spiritual topics. All pastoral and spiritual activities must receive direction, supervision, or approval from the appropriate University pastoral authority.
Any non-University person or group who conducts, promotes or advertises a pastoral or spiritual activity on campus must request permission in writing, and receive explicit written approval in advance, from the University Chaplain, vice president of Franciscan Life, or the vice president of Student Life.
Any ordained minister who desires to exercise sacramental ministry on University premises must provide to the University Chaplain a letter of good standing from his appropriate superior, and must receive faculties for ministry from the Diocese of Steubenville.
As it strives to encourage the moral and spiritual development of its students, the University recognizes the following guidelines:
- As a Franciscan institution of higher learning, the University is specifically committed to promoting Franciscan spiritual values. Therefore, Franciscan theologians, philosophers and spiritual writers are to be given special prominence in the University’s pastoral and spiritual activities.
- The University recognizes that the moral and spiritual development of its students must take place in an atmosphere of authentic freedom and love. Any pastoral or spiritual guidance or direction that is deceptive, coercive or manipulative is a violation of the dignity of the human person, and is therefore strictly prohibited.
- The University strives to create an environment in which all vocational callings, lay and consecrated, can be discerned prayerfully, freely and peacefully. To this end, any diocese, religious order, lay apostolate, or individual is permitted to recruit on campus only in the context designated vocational events (e.g., the Religious Vocations Awareness Day or Career Fairs) or campus visits that have been approved in writing by the University.