University establishes scholarship named for Terri Schindler Schiavo

Published: 2005-07-19

NAPLES, Fla. (CNS) -- Ave Maria University in Naples announced July 8 the establishment of the Terri Schindler Schiavo scholarship for students in the university's pretheologate program who are discerning a vocation to the priesthood. The initial idea for the scholarship came from Joseph Grady, the father of an Ave Maria University student and president of My Jesus Mercy Ministries, an apostolate that promotes the Divine Mercy devotion. He also made the first contribution to the fund. According to an announcement, university leaders hope to the scholarship will assist future priests as well as lay people "in creating and developing a Catholic culture of life." Jesuit Father Joseph Fessio, the university's provost, said the scholarship will commemorate Schiavo's life and promote a positive message. "Terri's death was a tragedy not only to her family, but for the entire country," he said. "But it can also be a new beginning in renewing the conscience of Americans; and this type of pro-life scholarship will certainly contribute to that."

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