Fr. Michael’s achievement
by Kathleen van Schaijik
A student recently described FUS to me as “a delightful, wonderful and fantastic swimming pool of God’s grace and love that I am currently splashing around in.”
It is, to be sure, an unusual description of college life, but I thought it beautifully apt for my alma mater.
It has been announced that Fr. Michael is retiring this summer, but it is marvelous to behold how he leaves behind him not only a pool of grace at FUS, but new springs popping up in unexpected places throughout the parched terrain of modern Catholic education . His vision for renewing, enlivening and deepening the faith of students is taking root in other schools now too, like Ave Maria College, where my husband and I and other alums now live and work, and where still more are coming—bringing with them what they have gratefully received. There is a marvelous sense that we are only just beginning to see the wonder of what God has done through Steubenville.
Eternal thanks to our dearly-beloved out-going president! (since there is no earthly measure for what we owe him.)
