January 25, 2007
Queens, N.Y. -
A new winter session involving culture, photography, and service
learning entitled: Southern Italy, a Visual and Cultural Journey,
has been inaugurated this year in Italy.
Sixteen students headed by
Dr. Annalisa Sacca and Professor Belenna Lauto traveled to
Southern Italy to study its culture through experiential learning
and documentary photography.
“The criterion for this experience was to focus on what we
called the ‘silent Italy,’ referring to the south, often forgotten,
and yet instrumental in shaping the course of the country through
its history, culture and people,” said Sacca.
Students had the opportunity to visit the Paleolithic Caves of
Matera and its Sassi Stones complex, the Greek Temples of Paestum,
Pompeii, Naples, and the breathless cliffs of the Amalfi Coast.
More importantly, they discovered the small mountainous towns of
Southern Italy, such as Felitto, San Lorenzo, Roccadaspide and
Agropoli, all with their medieval castles and winding
roads.
In these towns students interacted with the poor and the elderly
from the community who invited them into their homes and offered
hospitality with open hearts. Students had the opportunity to
experience first hand the culinary traditions that date back to the
ancient Greeks and Saracens through the rich cuisine of the Hotel
Poseidonia Mare, which made each meal a memorable experience.
Students also had an encounter with famous painter and sculptor,
Ferdinando Ambrosino, who personally gave them a tour of his studio
in Vietri sul Mare, and autographed his latest book for each of
them.
The centerpiece of the six credit program, in the tradition of
St. Vincent de Paul, is the commitment of the students to community
service.
In the town of Paestum, students focused on painting and
renovating the local church, The Church of Saint Anne. Their
service culminated in a painting, with the theme of Saint Anne,
Saint Joachim, and the Virgin Mary, created and donated by two of
St. John’s illustration majors, Bianca Spizzirri and Christopher
Lauto.
“I got so much out of the service learning aspect of the study
abroad program - I felt a sense of accomplishment and a connection
to the daily life of the local culture,” said Derek Hoy, a junior
at St. John’s. “I felt like I was part of the community, I
suppose it was because I was working as a part of a greater
community – a community of faith, which transcends all barriers. It
is an experience that will never be forgotten and lives on inside
of me each day, though I am now a world away back here in New
York.”
“My favorite experience was when the program participants and I
painted a local church in Paestum, Italy,” senior Monica C. Moran
said. “There, I was able to effectively implement St. John’s
Mission Statement as a Vincentian, Catholic, Metropolitan
Institution-something that is dear to my heart.”
At the Sunday Mass on January 14, St. John’s University was
praised and admired by all the parishioners who applauded at the
unveiling of the painting during the homily. The parishioners
repeatedly kissed and embraced Professors Sacca and Lauto and
started to pray before the new painting. Don Guerino, Pastor,
praised St. John’s and its students for their dedication and gift
to the Paestum community.
“I never imaged how life changing and inspirational studying
abroad would be,” Moran added. “The tools and insight that I
gained from studying aboard are priceless. This experience
without a doubt has made me into a finer woman.”
For media inquiries, please contact Elizabeth Reilly, Assistant
Director of Media Relations, St. John’s University at (718)
990-5789 or by e-mailing reillye@stjohns.edu.