August 20, 2008
A team of seven members of St. John’s University’s Vincentian
Mission Certificate (VMC) program recently traveled to New Orleans
to aid in the ongoing efforts to rebuild the city. Through
New Orleans’ Habitat for
Humanity, the National Consortium for
Academics and Sports (NCAS) and Hope for Stanley
Foundation, the group volunteered their services to build new
homes and restore damaged recreational facilities in the local
community. They also toured the Lower Ninth Ward, the area
most affected by the catastrophic flooding following Hurricane
Katrina.
The volunteer group included: Mary Pat Beirne (Athletics);
Christine Felicetti (Office of the Executive Vice President); Vice
President Andre McKenzie, Ed.D. (Academic Support Services); Kathy
Meehan (Athletics); Patricia O’Keefe, Lucy Pesce
(Leadership/Special Events), and Joan Vivian (Human Resources).
Associate Vice President Nancy S. Kaplan, Ed.D. (Academic Support
Services), NCAS Northeast Region Chair and member of the VMC,
organized the team from St. John’s.
Photo
Gallery
Richard Lapchick, Ph.D. (’67 C, ’01 HON), St. John’s alumnus and
son of famed St. John’s basketball coach Joe Lapchick, spearheaded
the service project through his leadership of NCAS and his
commitment to the Hope for Stanley Foundation.
“This was my fifteenth week of service in New Orleans since
December 2006,” Dr. Lapchick notes. “None made me more proud than
to work shoulder-to-shoulder with such a strong team from St.
John’s. It increased my pride as an alumnus to see the Vincentian
commitment to service in action.”
NCAS describes itself as “a national organization of colleges,
universities, and administrators whose mission is to create a
better society by focusing on educational attainment and using the
power and appeal of sport to positively affect social change.” Its
Hope for Stanley Foundation was created in honor of Stanley
Stewart, an inspiring and faith-filled New Orleans resident whose
family survived the hurricane despite the near destruction of their
home. Dr. Lapchick and Mr. Stewart met in December 2006, and
have developed a mutual respect and appreciation for each other’s
commitment to rebuilding New Orleans. The Foundation serves to
create opportunities for people in sports to help rebuild and
revive the city.
Nearly three years after Hurricane Katrina’s devastating
landfall, an incredible need still exists for volunteers to help
revitalize the city. At the reflection sharing that occurred
at the end of each day of service, the volunteers often spoke of
the sadness and frustration that they felt, witnessing first-hand
how much of New Orleans had been “forgotten” by the mainstream
media. Although Bourbon Street and the French Quarter appear
alive and flourishing again, much of the Lower Ninth Ward remains
untouched since the storm hit – and the levees broke – on August
29, 2005. However, the theme of hope and inspiration was also
clearly evident in these reflections, as the volunteers experienced
the energy, passion and resilience of the residents of “The Big
Easy,” a city known for its celebrations and ability to survive
hardship.
Mary Pat Beirne, Assistant Director of Athletic Development,
reflected that “the trip truly awakened my spirit. I think our
group accomplished a great deal, and it was fun to see the rugged
side of our colleagues!” Christine Felicetti shared, “I am
humbled, honored, and blessed to have served by your sides and
shared our very special experience in New Orleans this
week. It was a wonderful trip in so many ways.”
Patricia Finnegan, a Springfield, NJ volunteer who served with
the group in New Orleans, commented on her impressions of the
team. “It seems to me that the University has done a great job
in instilling a higher purpose in all of your lives. I am very
impressed by the amount of service work you have all done and the
tremendous amount of Faith you all have. If the University has
succeeded in doing this for its employees, I can only imagine what
a great experience it is for its students.”
The volunteers are among approximately 90 St. John’s faculty,
staff and administrators participating in the VMC. This
program provides them with professional and personal development
that enriches their lives and prepares them to be role models on
campus and in the surrounding community. It also helps to empower
them to live out and reflect upon the Vincentian mission and
prepares participants to emerge as mission leaders who carry on St.
Vincent’s legacy by inspiring others into action.
Fr. Patrick J.
Griffin, C.M., Executive Vice President for Mission and Branch
Campuses at St. John's, noted: "The VMC program offers another sign
that the mission at St. John's is not limited to the gates of our
campus, or the borders of our city, or the young men and women who
come here to study. It is meant to be embraced by all in the campus
community and the learning takes place in the streets as well as in
the classrooms. Those who participate in programs like this in New
Orleans bring the mission forth with them and come back more deeply
committed. They are a blessing for us."
In order to be considered for the program, one must have
participated in a Vincentian Mission Orientation or the Vincentian
Leadership Program, have a minimum of one year, full-time, active
employment with the University, and satisfactory work
performance.
For more information on the VMC, the NCAS Hope for Stanley
Foundation, or additional opportunities to help rebuild New
Orleans, please contact:
Vincentian Mission Certificate
Program
Sue Scacalossi
(718) 990-3004
NCAS Hope for Stanley
Foundation
Dr. Nancy S. Kaplan
(718) 990-1893
Service Projects in New
Orleans
Campus Ministry, Queens Campus
(718) 990-6255
Campus Ministry, Staten Island Campus
(718) 390-4475
Campus Ministry, Manhattan Campus
(212) 277-5129
Mary Pelkowski, Director of Leadership Development
(718) 990-1420