Jack Maxwell | staff writer

Bagels, walking tacos and campus wide celebration seem like nice perks, but during Founders Week, they serve a deeper purpose.

Founders Week, celebrated Feb. 2 to Feb. 6, honors Francis Libermann, a founder of the Spiritans and a vital figure in Duquesne University’s history.  

Throughout the week, events across campus have been taking place to honor his legacy while reflecting on how Spiritan values shape Duquesne today.

“Founders Week is a yearly renewal, along with Heritage Week, of those Spiritan values. It also serves as a reminder that Libermann had suffered to found Duquesne,” said Kathleen Roberts, Executive Director of the Honors College and the Bridges Common Learning Experience.

According to the official Spiritan website, Libermann was born into an Orthodox Jewish family in France and converted to Catholicism at 24 years old. When his father, a rabbi, found out, he cast him off as dead. Liebermann was also restricted in what he could participate in because of health conditions such as epilepsy.

Feb. 2 is Libermann’s feast day, marking the start of Founders Week. To celebrate this, the Division for Mission and Identity organized a “Feast on Feast Day” event. This included free bagels in the morning and walking tacos for the afternoon.

“It is really fun attending Founders Week events because you get to learn more about Duquesne’s history and see how it impacts the values of the university,” said Brenna King, a first-year psychology major. “Interacting with people at Founders Week events reminds me how wonderful the Duquesne community is and why so many people choose to study at Duquesne.”

Although the initial founding of the Spiritans is attributed to Claude Poullart des Places, Libermann is credited as the “Second Founder.” He founded the “Congregation of the Holy Heart of Mary” and spent time recruiting and educating missionaries to expand the congregation.

It was during these missions that he laid the foundation for most missionary work today. He urged the Spiritans to “become one with the people” by presenting the Gospel in the context of their own culture.

The congregation, which originated in Paris, France, then came to North America and later founded Duquesne University to serve the poor immigrants of Pittsburgh.

Some of this work was on display during the “Be the Change: Post-Grad Service and Non-Profit Showcase,” a service and nonprofit fair on the second and third floors of the Student Union. This initiative was a partnership between the Center for Career Development and Division for Mission and Identity.

Non-profit and service organizations tabled and talked about different opportunities to serve others in their organization. There were over 20 different representatives ranging from The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh to the Peace Corps.

“Whenever I think of the Spiritans I think of justice, peace and the integrity of creation,” Roberts said. “That’s what makes Duquesne so unique, we are the only Spiritan institution of higher education in North America.”

The keystone for the week was the Founders Week Fair held on Feb. 4.  

The second and third floors of the Student Union were transformed into a fair where students could come and play games, win prizes and learn about Spiritan traditions. Games included cornhole, minigolf and a photo booth. The prizes ranged from free popcorn to free Duquesne merchandise.

“This week was more than free stuff for me,” said Keifer David, a first-year music major. “I could actually see how this week brought people together. I believe that if Libermann could see the campus today he would be very proud of the community we built.”

This event also teaches students how to practice those Spiritan values. They demonstrate commitment to justice, peace and participation in development. Through lectures, conversations, and campus events, students walk away with these values and learn how to apply them to everyday life.

However, Founder’s Week is more than just educating current students, it is also a reminder to the faculty. During the week there were events specifically catered to the administration, staff and alumni.

On Tuesday, the university hosted a luncheon in which various representatives from each department on campus came together in the Africa Room to listen to Raymond French, Vice President for Mission and Identity, speak about his journeys all over the world and how he tied in each value of the Spiritans’ mission in all of his work.

The Africa Room will be transformed into a brewery on Thursday night for Evening of Fights. Attendees will be served a flight of regional beers and hors d’oeuvres. Students will also have the opportunity to mingle with Spiritan leaders and learn about their global experiences.

“I love to share a meal and chat with colleagues, as well as be inspired by the Spiritan Fathers,” Roberts said.

Jack Maxwell can be reached at maxwellj@duq.edu