Recent Events
-
September 29, 2012 - 11th Annual University Service Day
- September 28, 2012 - Lunch & Learn Series: Living the
Vincentian Mission
- September 27, 2012 - Founder's Week Mass: Feast of St.
Vincent de Paul. Special Blessing of VMC Cohort 6
- September 14, 2012 - VMC Opening Session and Welcome
Dinner
All Events
Wednesday, May 8, 2013:
VMC 6 members participated in a day long heritage trip to
Germantown, PA. The trip included visits to four local
organizations that serve the poor, disenfranchised and marginalized
in Germantown (Face to Face, Inn Dwelling, My Place Germantown and
DePaul House). Representatives from each of the local outreach
programs shared insights into their programs and their connection
to the Vincentian Mission. Additionally, the group toured the
the Miraculous Medal Shrine, a Catholic landmark and place of
pilgrimage visited by thousands of people every year. Before
returning to Queens, the VMC participants shared reflection over
dinner on the Staten Island campus.
Monday, April 29, 2013: VMC 6 members Cait McElroy, Jim Swike, Fran
Goldberg, Cathy Dewick, Rose Costales, Sawanee Khongsawatwaja and
Steve Neier from the Registrar Office prepared and served a
home cooked Italian dinner at the Ronald McDonald House in New Hyde
Park, NY, a “home away from home” for families of children
receiving care at the Cohen’s Children’s Medical Center.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013: VMC
6 members Nicole Bertram-Secor and Jack Flynn coordinated “Game
Night” for the residents and staff at Bethany
House in Roosevelt, NY. Sharing prizes…and lots of
laughter…in this safe, supportive, emergency housing site for women
and their dependent children, the VMC members brought out their
competitive spirit and Bingo skills for a fun social event.
April 11 and 17, 2013: Led by Fr. John
Kettelberger, C.M., VMC 6 members expanded their knowledge of the
Vincentian family as they shared in the stories of Blesseds Rosalie
Rendu and Frederic Ozanam. The lasting influence of the strong
connection between these two individuals was discussed as modern
applications of service and scholarship at St. John’s were
highlighted.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013: VMC 6 members
Bob Eschenauer, Laura Bellacicco-Cocchiarella, Jodi Cox, Sawanee
Khongawatwaja, Cait McElroy, Vikki Perez-Quinones, and Helene
Robinson joined VMC 5 Alumni Frank Jerome and Diana Lopez in
preparing and distributing food, coffee, clothing and toiletries to
homeless individuals throughout Manhattan that evening.
Thursday, March 21, 2013: Members of
VMC Cohort 6 and VMC Alumni participated in Providence House’s
annual “Easter Basket Project,” which provides Easter baskets for
mothers and children residing at the Providence House in Brooklyn,
NY and MOMMAS House in Wantagh, NY. Both not-for-profit
organizations assist women who are homeless or were formerly
incarcerated with finding permanent housing, securing employment,
completing their education, and providing them with daycare and
health services. Adriana Dino (VMC 5) and Pat Minton (VMC 5)
coordinated the efforts to collect items for the Easter basket
project, along with another VMC alum, Rino Grzinic (VMC 3), who
began the tradition. In addition to delicious Easter candy,
donations of personal care items, books, school supplies and baby
items were carefully organized into festive packages for
approximately 160 mothers, children and newborns staying at the two
residences.
Visit Providence
House and MOMMAS
House's websites for more information.
Thursday, March 14, 2013: Several VMC program
participants joined with other St. John’s community members in a
Vigil Mass honoring the Feast of St. Louise de Marillac (March 15).
Hosted by the Vincentian Community at Murray House and presided on
by Rev. Michael Whalen, C.M., this special gathering highlighted a
celebration of the Vincentian charism.
Thursday, March 14, 2013: Members of the VMC
program, including Rob Cote (VMC 5), Jack Flynn (VMC 6), Rino
Grzinic (VMC 3), and Provost Robert Mangione (VMC 2) participated
in the annual St. Baldrick’s/Locks of Love event at St.
John’s University. Volunteers could participate in one of two ways
to help support children with cancer – either shaving their heads
as part of a fundraising effort, or donating their hair to help
make wigs for childhood cancer patients who have lost their natural
hair.
Thursday, March 14, 2013: Past and current
members of the VMC program attended the Lunch & Learn
Series: St. Louise & St. Vincent – Soul Friends for the
Mission, which was hosted by the Vincentian Center for
Church & Society. Sr. Margaret John Kelly, D.C. discussed the
significant contributions of St. Louise de Marillac and her
timeless collaboration with St. Vincent de Paul in their efforts to
uphold the rights of the abandoned infants, galley slaves, and the
poor in 16th century France.
Monday, March 11, 2013:
VMC 6 members Colleen Greaney and Maciej Siekierski joined VMC 5
Alumna LJ Holmgren and Campus Ministry in preparing, serving and
sharing a home cooked dinner with the guests staying at St. Nick’s
Men’s Shelter for the homeless. They also learned a quick lesson in
the difference between electric and gas stoves, and how fire safety
is essential when using either one!
February 14 and 20, 2013:
VMC 6 participated in Spirit of St. Louise reflection
session. Fr. John Kettelberger C.M. provided a deeper
understanding of the relationship between St. Vincent de Paul and
St. Louise de Marillac, and the important role that each of them
played in building the legacy left by the Vincentian family.
In
Vincent de Paul: Charity's Saint, chapter 4 sheds light on
the spiritual development and life of St. Louise de Marillac.
Thursday, February 14, 2013: VMC 6
members Nicole Bertram-Secor, Jack Flynn, Erin McDonough and Jodi
Cox served at Bethany
House in Roosevelt, NY. Sharing green homemade
cupcakes and creating leprechaun magnets with the children, they
celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with residents of this safe,
supportive, emergency housing for women and their dependent
children.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013: VMC 6
members Nicole Bertram-Secor, Jack Flynn, Liz Arruda, and Jodi Cox
served at Bethany
House in Roosevelt, NY. Creating Valentines Day arts
and crafts with the children, along with sharing dinner, they
connected with residents of this safe, supportive, emergency
housing for women and their dependent children.
Monday, February 4, 2013: VMC 6 member
Sawanee Khongsawatwaja joined Campus Ministry in preparing, serving
and sharing a home cooked dinner with the guests staying at St.
Nick’s Men’s Shelter for the homeless.
January 16 and 17, 2013: Building on the
foundation providing during the first semester, VMC 6 members
delved deeper into the history of the Vincentian family and its
connection to Catholicism, using the mosaics in the lower portion
of the St. Thomas More Church Narthex. The primary focus of
this workshop centered on the saints of the worldwide Vincentian
family, including Vincentian missionaries (Ethiopia and China) and
martyrs from the French Revolution.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013: VMC 6 members
Nicole Bertram-Secor, Jack Flynn, and Erin McDonough served at Bethany
House, a new service site in Roosevelt, NY. Creating
arts and crafts with the children, they connected with residents of
this safe, supportive, emergency housing for women and their
dependent children.
Monday, January 14, 2013: VMC 6 members
Laura Bellacicco-Cocchiarella, Natalie Maio, Cait McElroy, Jim
Swike, Patty Voisin and VMC alumni Roberto Alas (VMC 5), Adiana
Dino (VMC 5), Linda Miller (VMC 3), Pat Minton (VMC 5), Diana Lopez
(VMC 5), and Jennifer Miranda-Velazquez (VMC 5) prepared and served
a home cooked Mexican dinner at the Ronald McDonald House in New
Hyde Park, NY, a “home away from home” for families of children
receiving care at the Cohen’s Children’s Medical Center.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013: VMC 6
members Fran Goldberg, Rose Costales, Cathy Dewick, Bob
Eschenauer, Lina Gilic-Amadio, and VMC 5 Alumni, Frank Jerome and
Mirian Cepeda, prepared and distributed food, coffee, clothing
and toiletries to homeless individuals throughout Manhattan that
evening.
Friday, January 4, 2013: VMC Alumni
Andre McKenzie (VMC 1), Michelle Kyriakides (VMC 5), and Nerissa
Palermo (VMC 2) participated in preparing, packaging and
distributing meals for clients of the St. John’s Bread and Life
Soup Kitchen in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.
December 22 and 23, 2012: Several
current and alumni VMC members participated in the Sponsor a Family
Program at the St. John’s Bread and Life Soup Kitchen in
Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Volunteers serve over 2,000 families
and bring warm winter gear to over 1,000 individuals through this
annual program.
Thursday, December 20, 2012: VMC 6
members Bob Eschenauer and Helene Robinson and VMC Alumni Nunzia
Manuli (VMC 5), Kathy Meehan (VMC 1), Roberto Alas (VMC 5),
Stephanie Shaw (VMC 5), Frank Le Veness (VMC 1) and LJ Holmgren
(VMC 5)prepared on the Queens campus, and distributed food, coffee,
clothing and toiletries to homeless individuals throughout
Manhattan that evening.
December 15 and 16, 2012: Several
current and alumni VMC members participated in the Sponsor a Family
Program at the St. John’s Bread and Life Soup Kitchen in
Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Volunteers serve over 2,000 families
and bring warm winter gear to over 1,000 individuals through this
annual program.
Wednesday, December 5 2012:
Through Understanding Homelessness: A
Personal Journey VMC 6 members connected with one
individual’s personal experience with poverty, and his commitment
to give back to those who helped him. Formerly homeless in New York
City from 1987 – 1990, Mr. Dale Williams has managed the operations
of the Midnight Run since
1991, spending the prior year as a part-time worker. Among his many
current responsibilities, he now serves as main liaison between the
Midnight Run and St. John’s University.
November 20, 2012: VMC 6 members Nicole
Bertram-Secor, and Bob Eschenauer, Jim Swike along with VMC Alumni
Dorothy Bukay (VMC 5), Ruth Lovelace (VMC 2), Nunzia Manuli (VMC
5), and Nerissa Palermo (VMC 2) prepared and distributed food,
coffee, clothing and toiletries to homeless individuals throughout
Manhattan that evening.
Monday, November 19, 2012: VMC 6 members
Maciej Siekierski and Liz Arruda along with VMC Alumni Pat Minton
(VMC 5), Althea Brown (VMC 4), LJ Holmgren (VMC 5) Nunzia Manuli
(VMC 5) and Frank Jerome (VMC 5) prepared on the Queens
campus, and distributed food, coffee, clothing and toiletries to
homeless individuals throughout Manhattan that evening.
November 8 and 14, 2012: During
Spiritual Journaling Reflection
Session, VMC 6 members participated
in an interactive and experiential overview of the use of
journaling as a tool for reaching a deeper spiritual understanding
of the Vincentian reflection experience.
October 11 and 17, 2012: Using Bishop Untener's
article How Should We Think About the Poor, VMC 6
members reflected on the Vincentian tradition of working with
the poor, both directly and indirectly, and how that affects their
daily lives.
Saturday, September 29, 2012: VMC
6 members joined VMC alumni in participating in the 11th
annual university-wide University Service Day. The volunteers
served with their teams at various sites throughout the New York
City area, including nursing homes, schools, soup kitchens, and
non-profit organizations.
Read the full story. View the
picture gallery.
Friday, September 28, 2012: As part
of the Founder's Week festivities and events, VMC 6 members, along
with VMC alumni, attended their first Lunch and Learn
Series: Living the Vincentian Mission. Fr. John Prager,
C.M. presented the core beliefs, virtues and faith that embodied
the life of St. Vincent de Paul. The talk was followed by a
discussion with the audience about ways in which St. Vincent's
example and message of charity can be applied to their daily lives
and work at St. John's University.
Thursday, September 27, 2012: The
newest VMC cohort members attended a special
commissioning ceremony in St. Thomas More Church. The
participants received a special blessing from their
colleagues and other members of the university community
as they began of their sixteen-month commitment to the
Vincentian Mission Certificate Program.
Friday, September 14, 2012: The Opening Session
and Welcome Dinner of the sixth cohort of the
Vincentian Mission Certificate (VMC) Program was held
on September 14, 2012. The twenty-two new
members attended an orientation session to understand the
expectations for the next sixteen months as they deepen their
understanding of St. John's University's Catholic and
Vincentian mission. After the opening
session led by Fr. John Kettelberger and Lucy Pesce,
Executive Director for Mission, the newest cohort members
were welcomed by VMC alumni from the five previous cohorts,
who joined them for dinner and a presentation in the Faculty
Club.