South Fayette’s Grant Franjione spreads the good word
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South Fayette resident Grant Franjione grew up in Bridgeville, graduated from Chartiers Valley High School, then Carnegie Mellon University with honors with a major in applied mathematics and industrial management.
He moved to California to work in information systems at the corporate headquarters of Oracle. He was with the company for 31 years, during which time he married and raised three children after returning to South Fayette in 1991.
But in 2017, he left Oracle to explore other ideas and endeavors.
One of these pursuits was public speaking.
“Speaking publicly came fairly naturally to me, from being tapped as announcer for my cousin’s band concert when I was in the fifth grade, to giving the valedictorian address in high school, to helping a college professor with classroom instruction, to presenting to clients and employees while with Oracle, to emceeing banquets, to being the announcer at South Fayette High School football games for seven seasons,” Franjione said. “Moving to matters of faith and Scripture seemed natural as well.”
More than 20 years ago, he attended a neighborhood Bible study that got him thirsting for more knowledge. This led to eventual connections to mentors Dr. Scott Hahn and Mike Aquilina, the latter a fellow Bridgeville resident who is the co-founder of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology in Steubenville, Ohio. Hahn, a prominent theologian, and Aquilina, a renowned early church historian, have authored dozens of religious books. By 2004, under their tutelage, Franjione was leading Bible studies in his home and speaking at various adult faith formation programs in the area.
Recently, he was part of an eight-part speaker series called “Foundations of Faith” held by the parish grouping of St. Mary/Holy Child/St. Barbara where he talked about the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds. He also has been a guest lecturer on authentic leadership at Duquesne University and has led reflections or studies on “The Bible and the Virgin Mary,” “The Sacraments,” and “The Seven Last Words of Christ” at other local parishes.
For the past 10 years Franjione has been on the board of trustees of the St. Paul Center, which helps foster the study of sacred Scripture, producing everything from packaged parish Bible studies to online blogs and videos, publishing books, and hosting conferences and leading pilgrimages. The organization serves the Catholic Church worldwide, addressing three audiences: clergy, theologians/educators and the laity, or, as Franjione dubs them, “the preachers, the teachers and those in the bleachers.”
The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh recently underwent reorganization, consolidating 188 parishes into 57 groupings to better leverage staff and resources in serving the faithful. As the local communities continue to adjust to the changes, Franjione is helping to ensure the faithful continue to embrace the Word of God.
Contact him at 412-916-0248 to discuss having him speak at your next event.