September 7, 2018
Reflecting St. John’s enduring commitment to offer students a global campus, this summer the University marked the 10-year anniversary of the opening of the popular Paris location, a fixture in its popular study abroad programs.
The University first opened the Paris, France, location in August 2008, through an agreement with the Congregation of the Mission (the Vincentians). At the time, it was the newest destination for St. John’s burgeoning study abroad program, Discover the World (DTW). Today, DTW: Europe offers students the opportunity to study in Paris; Rome, Italy; and Limerick, Ireland, in one semester.
Located in Paris’s popular St. Germain district within the Sixth Arrondissement, the property is found across the street from the Vaneau metro stop and a short walk down the rue de Sévres from Le Bon Marché.
According to Matthew Pucciarelli, Ed.M., Associate Provost of Global Studies, the neighborhood is reminiscent of two of Manhattan’s most distinctive neighborhoods. “I have always thought that the area felt like a combination of Greenwich Village and the Upper West Side,” he said. “All three have a history of Bohemian flair.”
While the Paris location first opened its doors to St. John’s students a decade ago, the building itself is part of a large complex of buildings, some of which date back to 1685. The original property was given to the Vincentians in 1817 by King Louis XVIII following the French Revolution. For more than 125 years, that site served as the Vincentian’s “Maison Mère,” or motherhouse. The vast complex also includes a chapel and reliquary that holds the remains of St. Vincent de Paul, who died on September 27, 1660.
Paris as Director General of the Daughters of Charity, feels one of the key advantages for students and the University is the city’s connection to the Vincentians.
“Every church you visit in Paris has a picture, a window, or a statue of St. Vincent de Paul,” he said. “It is where he worked his entire adult life. St. Louise de Marillac; Rosalie Rendu, D.C.; and Frédéric Ozanam did most of their ministries in Paris. So, there is a strong connection between the city, the Vincentians, and for the past decade—St. John’s University. Our students have the opportunity to experience it all.”
Mr. Pucciarelli agrees with this notion. “Between St. John’s presence at the site, the Congregation of the Mission, and the reliquary, it really is a small Vincentian community,” he said. “When they venture into the city, students also get to experience the vibrancy of the modern Paris—a city that, like New York, is incredibly multicultural and complex.”
In addition to DTW: Europe, the Paris location hosts Discover France: Paris and Discover France: Biology and Chemistry. Every program in Paris takes advantage of the city’s history and location by offering courses in Arts and Architecture, among other core subjects.
“It is a real opportunity for an education you cannot get anywhere else,” said Fr. Griffin. “It is the art, architecture, and history. What could be more impressive than the Louvre, or the Eiffel Tower—or Notre Dame? It is incomparable.”
Following the University’s Vincentian mission, service-learning is a key component of the courses offered in Paris, giving students a perspective on the city that few visitors can access. St. John’s students at the Paris campus regularly volunteer at local schools, soup kitchens, and other locations throughout the city.
Theresa Vogel, a junior who is majoring in English, with minors in French, Theology, and Business, spent the spring semester in Paris, where she volunteered her time at a local high school by helping students practice their English speaking and listening skills. “As they became more comfortable in their fluency, they would ask me to speak French, so that they could help me, just as I was helping them,” she said. “It was an amazing experience, and I am confident that we all learned from each other.”
Farida Khatchadourian, Associate Director of St. John’s Paris location, has been a part of the team there since 2010 and is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the site. “My fondest memory of Paris is not a single event or a location,” she said. “It is the students who have studied here and keep in touch even after graduation.”
One such student is Sasha Tylerbest ’15CPS, who attended the Paris location as a participant of DTW: Europe in Fall 2012 and returned two years later for Discover France: Paris.
“After participating in DTW: Europe, I fell in love with the beauty and diversity of Paris, so, I went back in 2014,” said Ms. Tylerbest. “It was a life-changing experience. St. John’s students are fortunate enough to attend a University that has campuses in some of the most amazing cities.” —Sasha Tylerbest
More than 44 percent of St. John’s undergraduates participate in at least one study abroad opportunity by the time they graduate. According to the Institute of International Education’s 2017 Open Doors® Report on International Educational Exchange, the University is in the top 10 percent nationwide for study abroad participation among doctorate-granting American universities.
Mitchell Petit-Frere ’14C, ’16GCPS attended the Paris location in 2012 and again in 2014. During his time abroad, he became immersed in the local community through one of France’s enduring pastimes—soccer.
“Almost every day after class, we would walk over to the Champ de Mars to play soccer with the locals,” he recalled. “We became regulars and made a few new friends along the way. It was an incredible experience that I will take with me for the rest of my life.” —Mitchell Petit-Frere