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2024 - 2025 | 4 Seasons

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Join Father Dave Pivonka, TOR ’89, president of Franciscan University of Steubenville, as he shines the light of faith and reason on culture, science, politics, the arts, and current issues through lively, in-depth conversations with friends. Not seeing the video you're looking for? Click the toggle button below to browse previous seasons of "In Focus".

Pope Leo XIV is our first-ever Augustinian pope. How might this background influence his papacy? And who was St. Augustine?

Dr. Shane Owens MA ’15, author of Return to the Heart: The Biblical Spirituality of St. Augustine’s Confessions and Franciscan University theology professor, and Franciscan University President Father Dave Pivonka, TOR ’89, share their initial thoughts on Pope Leo XIV’s election and talk about how St. Augustine’s teachings still resonate more than 1,500 years later. Join them for this wide-ranging conversation about the ancient Church and the modern world—covering popes and saints, peace and missionary work, education and artificial intelligence, and beyond.

Shane Owens

Dr. Shane Owens is an assistant professor of theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville, where he also earned his master’s degree in theology. He also has taught classes at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, the Dominican House of Studies, and the Catholic University of America, where he completed his doctorate in historical theology. He is author of Return to the Heart: The Biblical Spirituality of St. Augustine’s Confessions.

Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR ’89

Father Dave Pivonka, TOR, has served as the president of Franciscan University of Steubenville since 2019.  He is a solemnly professed member of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Province of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Penance. Father Dave has hosted multiple video series including The Wild Goose on the Holy Spirit, Sign of Contradiction on St. Francis of Assisi, and 10th Hour Production’s My father’s Father on God the Father. Author of seven books, Father Dave hosts Franciscan University Presents on EWTN and cohosts the popular podcast, They That Hope.