Spiritual Pulse

Guided by Dr. Tina Holland’s extraordinary vision, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University has emerged from what one might consider relative obscurity to one of the region’s leading academic institutions.

A renaming as well as a comprehensive branding change several years ago gave FranU a new identity allowing the Catholic university to emerge from what was once predominantly a nursing school to an institution offering diverse curriculums and new degree programs.

Even through those mammoth changes, however, Holland, FranU’s president who is in her 10th year at the Franciscan-based university, never once waivered from her ambitious goal to build a center to serve as the university’s spiritual hub, student gathering place and a signature to the rest of the city that FranU was no longer a secret.

Nearly two years ago, a dramatic first step was when Holland helped turn the spade during a ground-breaking ceremony for St. Francis Hall.

Recently, with tears occasionally rinsing her eyes, Holland watched as Bishop Michael G. Duca blessed the chapel at St. Francis Hall, authoring the latest chapter in FranU’s successful history. The dream had come full circle.

Holland said the dedication marked the end of what was a “pretty long struggle” but quickly pointed out, “Now it’s just beginning.”

“A distinctly Catholic institution, something that is the reason why I got into the work,” she said. “Catholic higher education is the work of the church and this is what it is all about.”

“It’s all going to be great from here out,” she added. “Everything goes around this. We are good to go now.”

During his homily, delivered under a stunning San Damiano cross that is the centerpiece of the new hall but in reality the entire urban campus, Bishop Duca noted that after the 40 days of rains had stopped and the sun had finally broken through, Noah’s first inclination was to construct an altar. First and foremost, the bishop explained, was Noah’s understanding to give thanks and to praise God.

“We have an altar here (in the chapel), and that’s an important thing,” he said. “It is the maturing of the ministry; it is the maturing of the Catholic university. And brings us to a kind of completion of a Catholic university that reminds us that Christ is at the center.”

The 75,000 square-foot building has been designed to meet the academic and student development needs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The hall includes a library, social space, study space, a grab-and-go lunch area, administrative offices, chapel, green space and designated parking areas, which has been met with delight by students and faculty.

Critical to the new building is 19,000 square feet of simulation space, nearly four times the previous square footage dedicated to simulation.

The building features “mini hospital” floors dedicated to intake and outtake. Near the lunch area are two doors leading an area that is set up much like an actual hospital.

The building also includes a home health care area.

Simulated mannequins allow students to work hands-on in their respective disciplines. The technically advanced mannequins simulate human reactions in various procedures so the students will learn how to address those symptoms in real time.

Holland said when she took the job it was with the understanding that one day such a building would be completed. Admittedly,  it has exceeded her own lofty expectations.

“I didn’t expect it to be as meaningful as it is, personally meaningful as well as meaningful for the church,” she said. “We are instruments of God. I am just doing my job. I know that sounds trite but you have a charge and you do it.

“And you just pray you will do your best work.”

Holland acknowledged FranU had always been a wonderful ministry long before she arrived but it was “kept under a bushel.”

“God said you have to let your light shine,” she said. “And that is what I was hired to do.

“We just kind of lifted off the bush and let the light shine”

Bishop Duca said St. Francis Hall sanctifies everything the university does. He said it brings Christ to the center, bringing the tradition of St. Francis to the university.

“All that we do here is sacred,” he said. “The altar grounds us.”