July 20, 2009
St.
John’s University marked its 14th anniversary in Italy this past
weekend by hosting its Commencement Exercises on Sunday, July 19 at
Scuola Ufficiali Carabinieri on via Aurelia 511 in Rome.
Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M., President of St. John’s,
presided over the graduation ceremony and conferred Master of Arts,
Master of Arts in Liberal Studies and Master of Business
Administration degrees to this year’s Class of 2009.
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At the ceremony, St. John’s University recognized Dott. Sergio
Balbinot, Managing Director, Assicurazioni Generali, S.p.A., who
received an honorary degree of Doctor of Commercial Science.
“For
all of you who go forth from St. John’s today, Pope Benedict XVI
reminds us that true social development will occur only to the same
extent that personal conversion takes place within each of our
hearts,” said Rev. Harrington, C.M. “You have received much
knowledge during your days studying at St. John’s. Your minds in
many ways have been transformed, but unless your hearts also are
transformed you will not be able to contribute to the development
of our world. Each of us is called to change our hearts, to convert
ourselves. To the extent we respond – to that same extent the world
also will be different.”
In attendance at the commencement were several members of the St.
John’s University Rome Campus Executive Committee and
community.
In October 2008, St. John’s dedicated and blessed its new location
in Rome (at via Marcantonio Colonna), a 4-story, 75,000 square foot
structure that houses 13 classrooms, 200 resident beds, a chapel,
courtyard and administrative offices. It is owned by the Vincentian
community of priests and brothers, the same faith-based community
which founded St. John’s University in 1870 in the spirit and
beliefs of St. Vincent de Paul.
“Last summer our Rome Campus moved to its new site, a
wonderful expansive space with not only academic facilities, but
also residence facilities for our students,” added Rev. Harrington,
C.M. “And, during the past 12 months we have had 340 undergraduates
who have studied and prospered on our new campus. Yes, today we
have much to celebrate.”
For more information, please contact Dominic Scianna, Assistant
Vice President for Media Relations, at (718) 990-6185 or at sciannad@stjohns.edu.
Italian media may contact the St. John’s Rome Campus at (06) 393
842.