January 29, 2009
Rev.
Donald J. Harrington, C.M., President of St. John’s, stated that he
had “reason for great hope” as he gave final remarks at the
University’s 2009 Vincentian Convocation to highlight Founder’s
Week. The University celebrates Founder’s Week each year to
commemorate the anniversary of St. Vincent de Paul’s founding of
the Congregation of the Mission.
Photo Gallery
The reason for his hope was the esteemed list of honorees
assembled at St. Thomas More Church on the Queens Campus last
night. These award recipients were feted before a large crowd of
family, friends, colleagues, students, faculty and administrators
to acknowledge their outstanding accomplishments and Vincentian
virtues.
“Vincent de Paul called us to believe and embody the gospel, and
not just to think about service to the poor but to effect service
for the poor,” said Rev. Harrington, C.M. “Tonight’s honorees are
truly the faces of Vincent.”
The following individuals were honored for their work within the
Vincentian community.
- Presentation of the Vincentian Mission Award to Larry W. Boone,
Ph.D., Associate Professor of Management, Department of Management,
Peter J. Tobin College of Business, St. John’s University
- Presentation of the Caritas Medal to Alexie Torres Fleming,
Founder and Executive Director, Youth Ministries for Peace and
Justice
- Presentation of the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Medal to Jean
Kelly, Executive Director, The Interfaith Nutrition Network
(INN)
- Presentation of the St. Vincent de Paul Medal to Joseph
Flannigan, National President Society of St. Vincent DePaul
- Presentation of the Frédéric Ozanam Award to Midnight Run,
Inc., Accepted by Dale Williams, Executive Director
- Presentation of the International Medal to Lisa Kurbiel, DPKO
SMART, Programme Manager, UN Department of Field Support
- Conferral of the Doctor of Humane Letters upon Patricia de
Nava, Liaison from the Association of International Charity (AIC)
to the Vincentian Family
- Conferral of the Doctor of Humane Letters upon Very Reverend
Michael J. Carroll, C.M., Provincial Superior Eastern Province of
the Congregation of the Mission
Prior to the evening’s convocation, Patricia de Nava of
San Luis Potosi, Mexico (recipient of the Doctor of Humane Letters
Degree conferred by Rev. Harrington, C.M.) gave this year’s
esteemed Vincentian Chair of Social Justice Lecture which focused
on “Vincentian Tradition and Systemic Change.” The lecture,
attended by the St. John’s community, was held in the School of
Law’s Belson Moot Courtroom.
Lecture Video
“Systemic thinking requires patience and a disciplined search
for solutions,” noted de Nava. “Vincent de Paul was a precursor of
Systemic Change and promoted radical changes in the lives of the
poor.”
Ms. de Nava is also the former President of the Ladies of
Charity-International Association of Charities, the largest AIC
association in the world.
St. John’s University’s 15th annual Founder’s Week theme is
“Vincentian Transformation: Changing Hearts; Creating Peace.” It
encourages us to follow in the footsteps of St. Vincent de Paul
(1581-1660), allowing God’s love to transform us, living lives of
virtue, working zealously to heal hearts, and working towards
alleviating poverty.
The
seven-day program (January 25-31, 2009) takes place at all five St.
John’s campuses: Queens; Staten Island; Manhattan; Oakdale; Rome,
Italy; as well as the newly affiliated Paris, France
site.
For more Founders’ Week information and a calendar of remaining
events visit the St. John’s University website at www.stjohns.edu/foundersweek.
Interested media representatives can contact Dominic Scianna,
Assistant Vice President for Media Relations by calling (718)
990-6185 or e-mail inquiries to sciannad@stjohns.edu.