November 16, 2011
The
Staten Island Catholic High School Leadership
Workshop took place on Friday, November 4, from 9
a.m. – 2 p.m. in the Kiernan Suite, Kelleher Center at the
University’s Staten Island campus. The program was the result of
collaboration between the Office of the Academic Vice President,
Staten Island, and the Office of Campus Ministry, and is one of
several that have been designed and implemented to meet the needs
of the Island’s local Catholic high schools. Like V.I.T.A.L., a
leadership program for St. John’s students that is grounded in
faith and a strong commitment to service of others, the Office of
Campus Ministry developed this program around the leadership
qualities of St. Vincent de Paul. Its purpose was to expose
students from each of the Staten Island Catholic high schools to
the notion of servant leadership from a Catholic and Vincentian
perspective. “The Catholic High School Leadership program was
conceived as another way of meeting the needs of our local
community”, said Christopher Cuccia, Ed.D., Academic Assistant Vice
President. “We are happy to offer high-quality, values-based
programs that support the academic communities of our neighboring
Catholic high schools.”
Four Staten Island Catholic high schools — Notre Dame Academy H.S.,
St. Joseph Hill Academy H.S., St. Peter’s Boys H.S. and St. John
Villa Academy H.S. — identified a total of 18 student leaders
chosen to participate in this unique opportunity because of their
commitment to service and leadership within their schools and
communities. “It was obvious to me that the students who attended
the Catholic Leadership Workshop had been well prepared for their
roles as Catholic leaders in their schools,” said Stephen DeBlasio,
Director of Campus Ministry, Staten Island campus. “That
preparedness allowed them to be open to our discussion of some of
the qualities of effective Catholic leadership.”
The high school students had time for personal reflection and
prayer, as well as opportunities for group discussion, much of
which was facilitated by St. John’s student leaders. The morning
sessions introduced basic leadership skills, while the afternoon
provided an opportunity to create action plans for incorporating
those skills into the students’ respective schools. In addition,
the program included presentations pertaining to leadership through
the eyes of St. Vincent de Paul. Students listened to some personal
talks on Catholic leadership given by the Staten Island campus
Student Government president, Mr. John Pereira, and by the
Associate Dean of Student Life, Staten Island campus, Mrs. Kimberly
Palmieri-Mouded. “The day provided St. John’s a fantastic
opportunity to introduce the Vincentian mission and rich Catholic
traditions of the University to high school students who have shown
a strong commitment and dedication to the faith and serving those
less fortunate”, said Associate Dean Palmieri-Mouded. “It also
allowed our current student leaders the chance to provide insight
and personal accounts of how St. John’s has served as a rewarding
and fulfilling college experience for them.”