STEUBENVILLE — Franciscan University of Steubenville will host its 30th-annual Religious Vocations Fair from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday in the Pope St. Paul VI Event Center, Christ the Teacher Hall.

For three decades, this fair has been a day of grace and encounter, offering Franciscan students and Catholics from across the Ohio Valley and beyond an opportunity to meet priests, religious brothers and religious sisters who have given their lives to Christ and his church.

More than 50 dioceses and religious communities of men and women will be represented at this year’s milestone event, sharing their charisms and personal experiences of faithfully living out their vocations.

“This fair has borne great fruit over the years in helping everyone involved take one more step in seeking to respond to God’s call in their lives,” said the Rev. Jonathan St. Andre, TOR, vice president for Franciscan life at Franciscan University. “I am grateful that in the last 30 years, presently, and moving forward we continue to provide opportunities for encounter between our students and brothers, sisters and priests in this concrete way.”

The fair is organized through the Office for Personal Vocation and Koinonia, the priestly discernment household at Franciscan University.

“The fair gives our students and the general public the opportunity to meet and speak with men and women who have heard and responded not only to God’s call to the priesthood or religious life, but also to a call to a particular religious community or diocese. This fair is not primarily about gathering information on different vocational options, but about truly encountering our guests, hearing their stories and, in some cases, establishing relationships that will lead to next steps in discerning and living out their own personal vocations,” said David Schmiesing, dean for personal vocation.

Participating communities include orders from the Franciscans, Dominicans, Augustinians, Norbertines, Paulists, Passionists, Carmelites and many others. Dioceses represented include Steubenville, Pittsburgh and Columbus, along with the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh.

The vocations fair is free and open to the public. Local parish groups, families and individuals discerning their vocation are encouraged to attend.