Founder's Week

Founder's Week 2023 Schedule

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Event: Queens Campus Administrators and Staff Luncheon

For: Administrators and staff on all campuses
Time: 12:30–1:30 p.m.
Location: D’Angelo Center, Room 128
Speaker: Sarah Jean Kelly, J.D., Vice President for Student Success and Retention Strategy, St. John’s University 
Registration required:  RSVP for the luncheon here
Contact: Vincentian Center for Church and Society at 718-990-1612; [email protected]

Thursday, September 21, 2023

Event: Queens Campus Faculty Research Luncheon (in collaboration with the Vincentian Institute for Social Action)

For: Faculty on all campuses
Time: 12:30–2 p.m.
Location: D’Angelo Center Ballroom
Speaker: Heather Robertson, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Counselor Education, The School of Education

Faculty Mission Award Certificates will be awarded to one or more faculty.

Registration required: Register for the Queens Campus Faculty Research Luncheon
Contact: Vincentian Center for Church and Society at 718-990-1612; [email protected]

Friday, September 22, 2023

Event: Vincentian Mission Orientation, Queens Campus

Time: 9 a.m.–1 p.m. 
Location: University Center, Human Resources Training Room, Suite D, Queens Campus 
Registration required: Register for in-person training on UIS > Employee Tab > Employee Workshops > HR Employee Training.
Contact: Lucy A. Pesce, Executive Director for Mission Initiatives, at [email protected] or 718-990-3004

Interested in getting more connected to our University’s mission? Want to know more about our history? Wonder about the meaning of some of those Catholic and Vincentian statues on campus? Join us and find out!

Event: Guided Tour of St. Thomas More Church, Queens Campus

Time: 1–2 p.m.
Location:  St. Thomas More Church, Queens Campus
Registration required: RSVP for the guided tour here  
Contact: Lucy A. Pesce, Executive Director for Mission Initiatives, at [email protected] or 718-990-3004 

Join us on a guided tour of the beautiful St. Thomas More Church on the Queens, NY, campus. From the building’s history and background to the symbolism and meaning behind the murals, windows, and sacred spaces, learn why so many people of all faiths and traditions have come to appreciate the beauty and inspiration that the church offers.  

Event: Gen Verde Concert

For: All students, faculty, administrators, staff, and community
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: The Little Theatre            
Registration:tinyurl.com/sjuconcert
Contact: Campus Ministry, 718-990-6255

The Gen Verde international performing arts group is coming to the United States for an intensive two-month tour through more than 10 cities in six different states. Join us for their first stop at St. John’s University as a part of our Founder's Week celebrations!

Gen Verde is made up of 19 artists from 14 countries. The group’s rich cultural mix provides an original twist to their music. They have been a friend of the Vincentian family for many years as collaborators at several international events. 

Saturday, September 23, 2023

Event: University Service Day, Queens Campus

For: Students, Faculty, Administrators, Staff, and Alumni
Time: All day
Registration required:registration and information
Contact:  Vincentian Institute for Social Action (VISA)

Event: University Service Day–Staten Island Campus

Time: Opening Ceremony 8:30 a.m.
Location: Student Center Cafeteria, Staten Island Campus
Registration: Required. Details are forthcoming.
Contact: Rev. Tri Duong, C.M. ’00C, Campus Minister, at [email protected] or 718-390-4305

Event: 13th Annual Dribble for Victory over Cancer

For: Students, Faculty, Administrators, Staff, and Alumni
Time: 10 a.m.
Registration required:Register here

Event: Youth/young adult performing arts workshop for the Vincentian family led by Gen Verde

Time: 2 p.m.
Location: St. John the Baptist Church, Brooklyn, NY
Registration required: Details are forthcoming.
Contact: Campus Ministry

Sunday, September 24, 2023

Event: Sunday Mass with Gen Verde

For: Students, Faculty, Administrators, Staff, and Alumni
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: St. Thomas More Church, Queens Campus
Registration: None required 
Contact:Campus Ministry

Monday, September 25, 2023

Event: Mission Walking Tour, Queens Campus 

Time: Noon–1 p.m. 
Location: St. Vincent and Friends Statue, Queens Campus 
Registration required: RSVP for the Mission Walking Tour here  
Contact: Lucy A. Pesce, Executive Director for Mission Initiatives, at [email protected] or 718-990-3004 

Are you new to campus and haven’t had the opportunity to look around yet? Maybe you’ve been on a tour, but are wondering about the story behind some of the statues? Are you looking for an inspiring way to celebrate Founder’s Week and get in a few extra steps? Join us for a walk around the Queens campus, which will highlight several statues, symbols, and inscriptions that help to tell our 150+ year-old story. 

Event: “The Saint and the Duchess: Collaboration at the Heart of Vincentian Heritage” lecture with author/historian Bronwen McShea

For: Students, Faculty, Administrators, Staff, and Alumni
Time: 1:50 p.m.
Location: Belson Moot Courtroom, School of Law, Second Floor, Belson/Finley Halls
Registration: Register for Bronwen McShea Lecture
Contact: Vincentian Center for Church and Society at 718-990-1612; [email protected]

Our speaker, Bronwen McShea, M.T.S., Ph.D., is an historian, writer, speaker, and artist based in New York City. Her lecture will unveil the interesting relationship between St. Vincent de Paul and the powerful Duchess of Aguillon amidst the religious and political turbulence of 17th-century France.

Event: Vincentian Service Fair

For: Students
Time: Noon–3 p.m.
Location: D’Angelo Center, Living Room
Description: Come meet our community service sites and organizations!
Contact: Louis Saavedra, [email protected]

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

University Giving Day—our biggest online fundraising event of the year—is always part of Founder’s Week. In keeping with this year’s theme, “Be Vincentian, Be a Listener,” we ask you to show your support for those at the University who encourage our students to listen and respond to the needs of those around us in unique ways. Help us build this future generation of leaders! The University Giving Day campaign runs online from September 1 through 26. Visit www.stjohns.edu/Listen today.

Event: Vincentian Service Opportunity—Make Cards for Hospitalized Children (Queens Campus)

Time: Noon–2 p.m.
Location: Sullivan Hall, First Floor, Multipurpose Room
Registration: Required; register for this event here
Contact: Ethel Liang, Executive Assistant, University Mission, at [email protected] or 718-990-6353

Cards for Hospitalized Kids, Inc. (CFHK) is an internationally recognized organization that aims to spread hope, joy, and magic to hospitalized children across America through uplifting and positive handmade cards. More than 500,000 kids in hospitals in all 50 states have received cards from CFHK since the organization was created—and that number continues to grow, spreading strength and smiles to as many hospitalized children as possible.

Using CFHK’s guidelines, volunteers will use their creativity to make handmade cards that will later be sent to CFHK for distribution. No specific artistic skills are required—just a willingness to spread cheer and joy!

All supplies (e.g., construction paper, markers, etc.) will be provided, but don’t hesitate to bring your own if you have supplies to share!

Please note: Drop-in volunteers are welcome as long as space is available. 

Event: “Cry of the Innocent” lecture with Timothy Jaccard

For: Students, Faculty, Administrators, Staff, and Alumni
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Location: D’Angelo Center Ballroom, Queens Campus
Registration: Register for "Cry of the Innocent"
Contact:  Vincentian Center for Church and Society at 718-990-1612; [email protected]

Timothy Jaccard is the Founder and President of the AMT Children of Hope Foundation. A  retired paramedic for the Nassau County Police Department, he works endlessly and passionately to educate and prevent the abandonment of infants.

Rome Campus

Event: Be Vincentian Mass & Pizza Discussion
Time: 3:00 pm
Location, Rome Campus, Room 213W
For more information contact Massimiliano Tomassini, Europe Campus & Operations, [email protected]. 

Event: The Vincentian Convocation

Event Time: 3:30 p.m.
Location: St. Thomas More Church, Queens Campus 
Keynote Speaker: Kevin Ryan, Former President and Chief Executive Officer of Covenant House
Contact: Office of University Events at 718-990-6365 

The Vincentian Convocation will honor recipients of the Vincentian Mission Award, St. Vincent de Paul Medal, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Medal, Caritas Medal, International Medal, and the Frederic Ozanam Award. 

Honoree Dinner

Time: 5 p.m. 
Registration: By invitation only
Contact: Office of University Events at 718-990-6365

Event: Mass at our Paris, France, location for St. Vincent de Paul Feast Day 

Time: 1 p.m.
Location: DePaul France Day Center for the Homeless
Contact: Farida Khatchadourian, [email protected]

Mass will be followed by lunch service for the homeless, served by St. John’s Paris students and DePaul France staff. 

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

Event: Vincentian Mission Orientation: Module I (Virtual) 

Time: 10–11:30 a.m. 
Location: Virtual (WebEx) 
Registration required: RSVP here for Module I   
Contact: Lucy A. Pesce, Executive Director for Mission Initiatives, at [email protected] or 718-990-3004 

St. John’s University was founded in 1870…but why? Why Brooklyn? Why is the University named St. John’s? What does St. Vincent de Paul and “poverty and social justice” have to do with it? Join us for the first of three online modules as we examine these questions and more as the foundation of our Catholic, Vincentian, metropolitan, and global University mission. 

Module I: Faithful to the Mission since 1870 (Wednesday, September 27) 
Module II: Virtual Mission Walking Tour (Friday, October 6) 
Module III: What Makes St. John's a Catholic University? (Friday, October 20) 

Event: Queens Campus Mass, St. Vincent de Paul Feast Day

For: Administrators and Staff on all campuses
Time: 12:15 p.m.
Location: St. Thomas More Church, Queens Campus
Contact: Dennis Gallagher, Director of Liturgy and Faith Formation, at [email protected] or 718-990-2125

Event:  Staten Island Campus Mass, St. Vincent de Paul Feast Day

Time: 12:15 p.m.
Location: St. Vincent de Paul Chapel, Staten Island Campus
Contact:Rosemarie Stephanie Sussex ’10C, Administrative Assistant, at [email protected] or 718-390-4473