Steubenville, Ohio, Sep 1, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Most people have never heard of Front Royal, Virginia or Steubenville, Ohio, but for throngs of faithful Catholics, these places are like small icons.
Both towns are home to colleges who boast both faithfulness to the teaching Magisterium of the Catholic Church and record enrollments for this year’s incoming freshman classes.
Speaking to Franciscan University of Steubenville’s 390-member freshman class--the largest in the school’s 59 year history, Steubenville Bishop Daniel Conlon told the group that, “Mom and Dad have their faith. They have shared it with you. Praise God. But it now must become your faith. This is your chance to come face-to-face with Jesus Christ who wants to have a loving relationship with you.”
Likewise, he called Franciscan University “a particularly holy place that can help you discern the call to religious life, to married life,” an important component, he said, of the university experience.
The bishop encouraged students to use their time in college “to grow intellectually to understand the mysteries of God. Use theology and philosophy to enter into the mystery of God’s truth.”