Remembering the Vincentian mission
SJU celebrates Founder's Week with opportunities for service, learning
Christina Heiser, Staff Writer
Issue date: 1/24/07 Section: News
The thirteenth annual St. John's University Founder's Week begins Thursday with the Founder's Week Mass in St. Thomas More Church, running through Feb. 1.
The week, first held in 1995, was designed to "promote and celebrate the University's Vincentian heritage," and to commemorate St. Vincent de Paul's founding of the Congregation of the Mission in 1625, according to Mary Ann Dantuono, associate director of the Vincentian Center for Church and Society, which helped to organize the events of the week. This year's theme for Founder's Week is "Respect + Compassion = Solidarity."
"Founder's Week is unique in that the University has committed itself to asking everyone for one week to look at who we are as Vincentians," Dantuono explained. "The Vincentian mission means not only being an excellent university, but also having a global view. That's part of what St. Vincent de Paul had in his time, back in 17th century France."
She said that to accomplish the goal of celebrating the Vincentian ideals, the University has planned a number of events throughout the week for students, faculty and administrators.
"We target various events to various groups," Dantuono said.
Following the opening Mass, celebrated by University president Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M., will be the presentation of the annual "recognition awards." The day will also include a lecture on social justice by John E. Sexton, president of New York University and the beginning of a week-long toiletries drive for the homeless of New York City entitled "In Solidarity with the Homeless."
Saturday will include most of the service opportunities associated with the week. "Many campus groups are organizing [their own] service days," Dantuono said. Habitat for Humanity, the Students for Life, Water for Life and the St. Vincent de Paul Society all are sponsoring service events.
One of the most heavily promoted events of the week comes on Jan. 31 with "Forgiveness and Reconciliation: A Path to Global Solidarity," in which author Immaculée Ilibagiza will speak about her life as a refugee in Rwanda during the Rwandan Holocaust.
The week, first held in 1995, was designed to "promote and celebrate the University's Vincentian heritage," and to commemorate St. Vincent de Paul's founding of the Congregation of the Mission in 1625, according to Mary Ann Dantuono, associate director of the Vincentian Center for Church and Society, which helped to organize the events of the week. This year's theme for Founder's Week is "Respect + Compassion = Solidarity."
"Founder's Week is unique in that the University has committed itself to asking everyone for one week to look at who we are as Vincentians," Dantuono explained. "The Vincentian mission means not only being an excellent university, but also having a global view. That's part of what St. Vincent de Paul had in his time, back in 17th century France."
She said that to accomplish the goal of celebrating the Vincentian ideals, the University has planned a number of events throughout the week for students, faculty and administrators.
"We target various events to various groups," Dantuono said.
Following the opening Mass, celebrated by University president Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M., will be the presentation of the annual "recognition awards." The day will also include a lecture on social justice by John E. Sexton, president of New York University and the beginning of a week-long toiletries drive for the homeless of New York City entitled "In Solidarity with the Homeless."
Saturday will include most of the service opportunities associated with the week. "Many campus groups are organizing [their own] service days," Dantuono said. Habitat for Humanity, the Students for Life, Water for Life and the St. Vincent de Paul Society all are sponsoring service events.
One of the most heavily promoted events of the week comes on Jan. 31 with "Forgiveness and Reconciliation: A Path to Global Solidarity," in which author Immaculée Ilibagiza will speak about her life as a refugee in Rwanda during the Rwandan Holocaust.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
reklama
posted 4/14/10 @ 3:50 AM NA
I consider, that you are mistaken. Write to me in PM.
Torch Lover
Torch Lover
posted 4/20/10 @ 1:32 PM NA
Dig a widdle bit deeper, kids. See how gweat it is to be Vincenshun? You get a week of the administration self-aggrandizing, pointless awards, and guilt trips. (Continued…)
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