Theology Department Consecrated to Our Lady of Guadalupe

September 28, 2011 - 10:41 PDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA ADVISORY

STEUBENVILLE, OH (September 28, 2011) - Meandering through the narrow hallways of Franciscan University of Steubenville's Theology Department in Egan Hall, a visitor is startled to come face-to-face with a larger-than-life image. Dozens of tiles, brightly painted and shining under the heavy ceiling lights, boldly portray the familiar form of a woman, clothed in a blanket of blue stars, with an angel at her feet. Flanking the picture are two large, carved wooden boards, one deep-set with the words, "Acaso no estoy yo aqui que soy tu Madre?" and the other with its translation, "Am I not here, who am your Mother?"

The familiar figure is Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of the Americas--now linked in a special way to Franciscan University's Department of Theology. On Wednesday, September 14, faculty, students, and religious crowded around the newly unveiled image as Father Daniel Pattee, TOR, chair of the Theology Department, consecrated the department--and all present--to Our Lady of the Americas.

The artwork, Father Pattee said, like the original image of the Virgin that miraculously appeared on St. Juan Diego's tilma, has mysterious origins. A student came to Father Pattee's office last spring and gave him a carry-on bag she received from her father. When Father Pattee opened the bag, he was surprised to see the anonymous gift was dozens of ceramic tiles, hand-painted in Honduras.

"I thought we could set it up here in the Theology Department," Father Pattee said. "I didn't know what it looked like at the time. I didn't know whether it would fit. I brought it to Mark Nelson [of Nelson Fine Art & Gifts], and he laid it out on the floor so we could see exactly what we had. And we were stunned when we saw it."

Father Pattee was not only stunned by the sheer beauty of the image, but because Our Lady of Guadalupe has a special relation to Franciscan University. Over the past several years, the school relied on Mary's intercession under this title to oversee its Capital Campaign, which recently surpassed its goal by nearly 25 percent.

The short consecration ceremony included a blessing and dedication of the image, followed by a prayer in honor of Our Lady.

"Today, we place the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe in a special place within this Department of Theology," Father Pattee prayed. "As the spouse of Christ, the Church raises its eyes to Mary, the exemplar it must look to in carrying out the work of the apostolate, and in particular the apostolate of study."

Following the prayer, Sister Ana C. Hidalgo first read the story of Our Lady's apparition to St. Juan Diego in Spanish, followed by an English recitation by Dr. Scott Hahn, professor of theology.
The new image was then blessed and the Theology Department was officially consecrated to the patroness of the Americas, Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Father Pattee said including the Spanish inscription on one side of the image served a greater purpose. "We are getting more and more Hispanic students who want to catechize in the Hispanic community, and we want to help in the development of this important work."

Katherine Schluter, a senior theology and catechetics major, attended the consecration.
"Our Lady of Guadalupe's an example to all students, but especially theology majors," Schluter said. "I think, like Our Lady, we're called to bear Jesus and bring him to the world. Through her intercession, we can learn how to carry him."

Contact

Franciscan University of Steubenville
http://www.franciscan.edu
OH, 43952 US
Tom Sofio - Associate Director of Public Relations,

Keywords

consecration, theology, mary, guadalupe, image, blessing

Category

Marian

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