Fr. Michael Weldon, OFM, was looking to serve at a Franciscan community located nearer his family in Iowa. Viterbo University was seeking an assistant chaplain. Some might say it was a match made in Heaven.

“I’m where I’m supposed to be,” said Fr. Michael, who began at Viterbo in January 2023. “I like it here. The young adults and teachers are a great group of people who have a lot of energy. They’re going to change the world.”

Fr. Michael’s priestly duties at Viterbo include administering the sacraments, presiding at Mass, hearing confessions, and offering religious and other counseling. He also teaches and serves as the university’s mission officer.

“Viterbo is both Catholic and Franciscan and keeping that fresh and fiery is exciting,” said Fr. Michael, who earned a Doctor of Ministry from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, a Master of Divinity from the Franciscan School of Theology in Berkley, a Master of Arts in Franciscan History at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, and a bachelor’s degree in education from Arizona State University. “I want us to keep talking about mission across the academic disciplines and other programs.”

There is tremendous value in Catholic higher education, and the church provides the best framework for the liberal arts according to Fr. Michael.

“The future is dependent on people who know how to think,” Fr. Michael said. “The liberal arts are going to save us, and theology is critical to the liberal arts. You can’t skip around God.”

Fr. Michael has wanted to serve God since he was a child and met an old Irish priest he greatly admired. The informal nature of the Franciscan Friars and hearing them preach led him to join the order. He serves at Viterbo with Chaplain Fr. Conrad Targonski and Fr. John Abts.

“There is so much going on in the Sr. Thea Bowman Center,” Fr Michael said. “It’s wonderful. It’s a happy place, and people are in the kitchen cooking all the time. The building is the center of campus in my mind. And San Damiano Chapel is beautiful.”