Keynote presentation from Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR, from the 2025 Discipleship Conference for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.

A solemnly professed member of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Province of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Penance, Father Dave was ordained to the priesthood in 1996.

From 2012-2019, Father Dave served as the director of Franciscan Pathways, an evangelistic outreach of his Franciscan, TOR, community.  In that role, in association with 4PM Media, he hosted and produced The Wild Goose video series on developing a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit, a documentary on St. Francis of Assisi titled Sign of Contradiction, and Metanoia, a 2019 video series on conversion. He hosted and produced Jesus and the Dead Sea Scrolls (2020) with Dr. John Bergsma. He also hosted and produced the 10th Hour Productions documentary series My father’s Father, released in 2024.

Father Dave Pivonka, TOR, was elected president of Franciscan University of Steubenville by a unanimous decision of the Board of Trustees on May 21, 2019.

The first Franciscan University alumnus to assume the school’s top pastoral leadership role, he graduated with his BA in theology in 1989, then earned an MDiv and MA in theology from the Washington Theological Union in 1996, writing his MA thesis on the indissolubility of Christian marriage. He earned a doctorate in education from the Graduate Theological Foundation in 2005, with a doctoral project focused on Catholic education in a post-modern world. He also earned an executive juris doctorate from Concord University School of Law of Purdue University Global in 2011. 

At Franciscan University, Father Dave held a number of pastoral, leadership, and administrative positions from 1996-2008. He also served on the faculty as an adjunct professor of theology (1996-1998) and as vice president for Mission and Planning (2003-2005), serving on the President’s Cabinet, leading a team of faculty, staff, and students in strategic plan development, and building mission awareness on and off campus. In addition, Father Dave served as director of Household Support (1996-1998), assistant to the president under Father Michael Scanlan, TOR, (1998-1999), director of Youth Outreach Conferences (1999-2003), and director of the Study Abroad Program in Austria (2005-2008).

From 2008-2012, Father Dave directed Post-Novitiate Formation for the Franciscans, TOR, in Washington, D.C., forming student friars in their spiritual, educational, and psychological development.

Father Dave preaches at approximately 50 events annually, including retreats, workshops, pilgrimages, parish missions, and Franciscan University’s youth and adult conferences.

He has written eight books, including his newest, Joyful Sons and Daughters, Embracing The Father’s Love, hosts Franciscan University Presents on EWTN, and cohosts the popular podcast, They That Hope.

Since 2008, he has served on the board of Renewal Ministries; since 2020, on the board of Damascus Catholic Mission Campus; and since 2016, as the spiritual advisor to Walking With Purpose. He is a past member of the Board of Trustees for Saint Francis University (2000-2012) and a past board member for the National Service Committee.

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