Father Dave Pivonka, TOR '89 President | Franciscan University website

Franciscan University of Steubenville held its 30th annual Religious Vocations Fair on Friday, bringing together representatives from 50 dioceses and religious communities across the United States. The event gave students and visitors the chance to meet priests, religious brothers, and sisters to learn more about religious vocations.

Lucia Bortz, a 1980 alumna and personal vocation coach, has coordinated the fair for 20 years. She works with Koinonia, the university’s priestly discernment household, to organize the event. Bortz described this year’s gathering as “a beautiful cross-section of the Church’s many charisms.”

The fair included new participants such as the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, the Order of St. Augustine from Villanova, Pennsylvania, and the Missionaries of Charity Brothers, who recently opened a house for men in Cleveland. Representatives traveled from states including California, Connecticut, Louisiana, Texas, as well as nearby Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

Students attending expressed appreciation for the event’s impact on their discernment process. Magdalene Gallagher, a junior at Franciscan University, said: “This fair is a beautiful way to encounter people who have devoted their entire life to the Lord. The fair helps me keep my heart open, recognizing that if God calls, I’ll be better able to answer.”

Mark Paluselli, a sophomore discerning religious life, added: “It’s important to be able to talk to so many different religious orders. Getting a diverse view of all these communities really helps me discern where my heart is being called to be.”

Among those present were groups like the Glenmary Home Missioners. Father Aaron Wessman noted that several Franciscan students have joined their community after meeting them at previous fairs.

The Franciscan Friars Conventual began their “vocational season” at this event each year before moving on to larger Catholic gatherings such as the National Catholic Youth Conference and SEEK.

Father Nathan Ford of the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius commented: “Of all the college fairs I’ve been to, it’s the most well-organized and welcoming. It’s a really good event, and I wish it lasted longer.”

Franciscan University’s Religious Vocations Fair has connected students with religious communities for three decades.