Hi there! I went on an overnight visit there a few months ago, and I’ll probably go there a year from now for school.
Not sure what the “Electi Mariae” is, but I have heard about the Pre-Theologate program, which I’m sure is very good. FUS is pretty much the top or one of the top Catholic schools in the country, so all theology and philosophy courses there are sure to be top-notch, also. I sat in on one philosophy class, “Metaphysics,” which COMPLETELY WHOOOOSHED over my head. But the students seemed to understand it. Not sure if it is the same every time, it was a big lecture with lecture notes for the duration of the class. Sooo, I guess that’s good if you love philosophy. And I can’t judge completely from one class.
Going there was completely shocking, really. It’s good to just go to your home parish and you can be with some very devout Catholics, but when you go to Franciscan, literally EVERYONE is a devout, devout Catholic and it is just shocking to think that there are so many people who share your values and that they’re everywhere. Not only that, they are also extremely friendly. I had numerous people approach me just because they saw that I was a visitor in order to make me feel welcome.
Spirituality at Franciscan is absolutely central. I went to a noon Wednesday mass and it was absolutely packed! I would describe the spirituality as very emotion-driven, but in a good way. It is a charismatic campus, so there is toooooooons of that.
There is also 24 Eucharistic Adoration and a separate chapel and tabernacle in every dorm. Also a Stations of the Cross outside and Rosary circle.
