VILLANOVA, Pa. – UNITAS in Athletics hosted its premier event of the fall semester on Tuesday night in conjunction with Villanova's Office for Mission and Ministry with a screening of "Hesburgh" at the Mullen Center.
Various members of both the Villanova University and Athletics communities were in attendance for the event. This is the second documentary-based premier event for UNITAS in the last two academic years, the last one being the screening of "The Loyola Project" in February 2023.
"Hesburgh" is an award-winning documentary that commemorates the 60th anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and explores the life of Reverend Theodore Hesburgh, former president of the University of Notre Dame. It recounts his life as an educator, advisor and activist who built a reputation as builder of bridges between enemies, both domestically and internationally, while also maintaining a strong moral compass centered on bipartisan leadership.
A panel discussion moderated by Brian McCabe, Director of Spirituality and Outreach for Mission and Ministry, followed the screening. He spoke with Rev. Kevin DePrinzio, OSA, Vice President for Mission and Ministry, and Hezekiah Lewis, Associate Professor and Director of Waterhouse Family Institute for the Study of Communication and Society, about Fr. Hesburgh's legacy and various themes from the documentary could be found in their own lives. Common discussion topics pointed to empowering those around you while also putting task to those in power for the greater good and how to make the most of the tools and power that each individual harnesses to impact surrounding individuals.
"I was deeply moved by how the documentary captured significant historical events throughout Fr. Hesburgh's life and how he consistently centered God's love in his pursuit of equity, justice and liberation," Assistant AD for UNITAS Leashia Lewis said. "I was especially touched by the loving relationships he nurtured, from his sister Mary to figures like Ann Landers, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Pope, various U.S. Presidents and the students he mentored. A theme that resonated with me during the panel discussion was around power, privilege and difference and how we can use these for the greater good. Inspired by Fr. Hesburgh, we left reflecting as a Villanova community on the question of 'What keeps us up at night and what drives us to get out of bed in the morning?' We learned that our personal stories and perspectives shape how we can best serve our communities."
UNITAS in Athletics is a framework to build a welcoming and supportive athletic department through constructive dialogs, educational programming and community engagement. Through UNITAS, Villanova Athletics is committed to fostering an inclusive, anti-bigotry environment where every member of the community has a voice and feels respected, valued and safe.
