Cece Razo
Staff Writer
Nestled in the back corner of the St. Joseph Center are the offices of some of the many heroes working at Franciscan University. These heroes are dedicated whole-heartedly to the university’s mission: to educate, evangelize and send forth joyful disciples. One of the ways they are living this mission out is through Franciscan University’s Faith and Reason website.
One of these great heroes is Executive Director of Marketing John Romanowsky. Beginning his position in June, Romanowsky and his team have moved in strides with growing viewership and providing a place for spiritual growth for all.
Faith and Reason has been up and running since 2021 but it was not until this past June, with a change of strategy, that the content library doubled in subscribers. The idea behind the revision, Romanowsky commented, sparked from a single question: what more can we do?
Franciscan University has a diverse variety of spiritual content. From YouTube videos and appearances on Eternal Word Television Network to podcasts with the Rev. Dave Pivonka, TOR. Romanowsky and his team recognized the incredible gift of spiritual knowledge and the abundance of grace flowing through the university. It almost seemed unfair not to share it.
The refocus on Faith and Reason is “not just marketing but truly following the mission of the university,” stated Romanowsky. Faith and Reason is not about gaining viewership and subscribers but starting relationships and forming spiritual lives.
The website includes several free tools such as weekly scripture reflections, interviews with Catholic guests, pilgrimages and more. As the website progresses, new content will be added, including an upcoming podcast with Professor of Theology Dr. Alan Schrek and another program with Professor of Biology Dr. Dan Keebler.
With this variety of resources, the goal and hope for Faith and Reason is to continue evangelizing and reaching more people. In fact, over the last couple of months, the site has reached 18,000 subscribers, most of whom have never heard of Franciscan University.
Faith and Reason is not just a website but an extension of the university for everyone to access. Romanowsky commented “My greatest success was not simply in the website itself but in the team behind it who truly value the gift of Franciscan University.”
Faith and Reason is one of the many ways the university strives to share the beauty and value of Franciscan University with all.