St. Mary’s University’s Inspiration Unplugged Catholic Lecture Series kicked off 2025 with a special collaboration with the St. Francis Xavier Chaplaincy (SFXC) to host featured guest, Father David Bellusci, OP.
Fr. David’s presentation on Pier Giorgio Frassati: Truth and Friendship was timely as this summer, after many decades of thorough investigation, Frassati will be declared a canonized saint by Pope Francis.
The lecture had 200 registrants, and the room was packed with a significant number of young adults, all eager to learn about this young, inspiring saint-to-be who had a great love for the mountains, adventure, faith, and a deep devotion to his friends and family. Fr. David shared his insights into charity and generosity in how Frassati lived and even offered the audience a couple of moments of comedic relief, including when he described Italian beverage traditions. The event also included a raffle, where two lucky pre-registered individuals won signed copies of Father David’s book, Pier Giorgio Frassati: Truth, Love, and Sacrifice.
Brielle S., a current student at St. Mary’s, shared her experience:
“You could really see the impact Pier Giorgio had on Fr. David through how he spoke about him. Hearing about Frassati taught me that, even with a short lifespan, we can’t procrastinate being a good person or truly repenting. You can die young and still have a significant impact.”
When asked about his favorite part of the lecture, St. Mary’s student John C. said, “My favorite part of the lecture was seeing Frassati’s letters on the screen; they were so genuine and full of childlike language.”
Inspiration Unplugged lectures continue to draw great crowds to campus to experience thought-provoking presentations by talented speakers. Join us for the final lecture which will feature Heather Khym, one of the hosts of the popular Abiding Together podcast, author of Abide, and co-founder of Life Restoration Ministries, on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
St. Mary’s University is grateful for the generous support provided by the St. Francis Xavier Chaplaincy and Access 52.
Father David’s presentation can also be viewed below.