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Sr. Ann Shields, Ralph Martin, Fr. Michael Scanlan and others are pictured here at a FIRE Rally in Ghana.

President Emeritus of the Franciscan University of Steubenville Father Michael Scanlan, TOR, passed away Jan. 7. According to the university, “His leadership as president transformed Franciscan University from a struggling regional college into a world-renowned leader in Catholic higher education and helped to inspire a restoration of faithful Catholic education in the United States and the world.” Fr. Scanlan played an influential role in the lives of Sr. Ann Shields, Ralph Martin, and Peter Herbeck. Below, Sr. Ann pays tribute to Fr. Scanlan. Her testimony also can be found here and is mentioned in this National Catholic Register article about Fr. Scanlan’s life.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord. And let the perpetual light shine upon him. And may the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

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By Sr. Ann Shields

I came to Steubenville in the fall of 1976 in response to Father Michael’s request, as the new president, for people willing to give a year or more of service to help create a new level of faith environment on campus. How glad I am that I said yes to that request. The first and primary thing we did was to pray daily for the College of Steubenville. There were about ten or fifteen men and women, lay and religious, who responded to that request. We prayed daily, asking God to bless Father Michael’s work and revitalize a declining student population. We carried out many other initiatives, and over the six years, I felt privileged to serve the College of Steubenville. But there were several things I learned while I was there that serve me in ministry still today.

From the first day, his priorities were very clear right in regard to the need to receive a new vision for the vessel that was the College of Steubenville. Before all else: 1) To help each person on the campus, in whatever role, to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 2) To build relationships among us that helped us all to grow—students and adults. When Father Michael was interviewed by the board as a candidate for the presidency, he was asked what his goal would be. His answer: That Jesus Christ be Lord of every aspect of this campus and every person. He told me he thought that would disqualify him, since there are many goals for any college campus. When he received a phone call asking him if he would accept the position, he was very surprised, but once that decision was made, he never looked back. His primary goals were set.

From his time as dean at the college, then as president, and to the present, relationships with one another were always cultivated with Christ and in Christ—helping people to see their relationship with the Lord as central to all other relationships. He encouraged and spent unknown hours ministering to people. Whether you were a member of the administration, faculty, board, or staff—including cafeteria, security, housekeeping, and maintenance—he ministered, long after the office closed. Such pastoral care at an academic institution built a unique loyalty base with abundant and lasting fruit.

Out of his relationship with Christ, his personal focus was on daily prayer to cover every decision, task, and project that was undertaken—whatever the area—waiting on the Lord was pivotal. His first secretary was a saint, because he would not leave his room in the monastery (especially in the first years) until, as he put it, God gave him his marching orders for the day. His reliance and openness to listen for God’s direction had a tremendous impact on me. His obedience in waiting upon the Lord, seeking to do God’s will to the best of his ability each day, I believe, was and is the key piece that made the university what it is today. His heart for the Gospel was deeply ingrained in those of us who ministered with him and, in turn, opened the students to a living faith and a willingness to begin to be true disciples.

It was out of these experiences that the household system was born. He wanted students to have regular support and encouragement—knowing how essential that is in our modern world. His willingness to abandon himself to the Lord and to wait on the Lord were lessons he passed on, by example, to those of us assisting him in building and strengthening the campus. His willingness, at times, to look like a fool for the sake of bringing the Gospel was also quite profound.

Conferences for youth and priests were at the heart of this part of the ministry. Yes, it brought publicity that was good for the college, but when young lives, parents’ lives, and priestly lives were changed, you witnessed the fruit of his prayer, his waiting on the Lord. I was privileged to witness some of those life-changing moments in people’s lives on campus—lives that were never the same again.

May God be praised for Father Michael’s obedience to the Lord.

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Fr. Mike Scanlan is pictured here with members of the Servants of God’s Love. From left to right, Sr. Rebecca Mierendorf, Sr. Ann Shields, Fr. Mike Scanlan, Sr. Sarah Burdick, and Sr. Christina Frey. Sr. Rebecca and Sr. Christina are graduates of the Franciscan University of Steubenville.