Fr. Dave Pivonka, President of Franciscan University in Steubenville, joins The BeatiDudes at the National Eucharistic Congress for the first live-audience episode in the show’s history.

The episode weaves together many important aspects of college life, the Eucharist, the need for humor, reasons for hope, the harm of smartphones, the root of anxiety, authentic worship, and the breakthroughs that happen when you place the Holy Spirit at the center of all that you do.

Fr. Dave tells an incredible story about his visit to a leper colony and the question that played in his head as he prepared for the encounter: “Will you get close to them?” That inner dialogue helped him connect with Jesus’ earthly ministry, where he became man and got close to all of us.

Father Dave Pivonka, TOR ’89, became president of Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2019. The prolific Catholic speaker, author, podcaster, and video producer received his bachelor’s from Franciscan University, then earned an MDiv, MA in theology, doctorate in education, and executive juris doctorate. In 1996, he was ordained a priest in the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Province of the Franciscan Third Order Regular. Before being elected University president, he served in leadership at Franciscan University, including as vice president for Mission and Planning, then as director of the TOR’s Post-Novitiate Formation and the TOR’s Franciscan Pathways.

On Blessed are the Joke Makers, each Dude takes on a different personality to address the prompt, “_______, the hit Catholic musical.” The show ends with an improv game of text-message roulette that gives everyone a great final laugh.