In recent weeks, we’ve all heard so many things about the damage
which Hurricanes Katrina and Rita caused in New Orleans and Texas.
Many organizations have been planning efforts to help the victims.
On September 27, St. John’s University Campus Ministry, together
with students from Habitat for Humanity, St. John’s Chapter, took
concrete action to help.
NBC, Habitat for Humanity and Warner Music Group organized
“Making a Difference Today” beginning on September 26. Throughout
the week, volunteers from all over the New York area came to
Rockefeller Plaza, renamed “Humanity Plaza,” to build houses for
hurricane victims in New Orleans.
Twelve students---Tiffany Wong, Nicole Cerdes, Leslie Goddard,
Carolyn Niebuhr, Aaron Helgevold, Grace Yeon, Kari Mocci, Katherine
Talbot, Sarah Roth, Rachel Taylor, John Fitzgerald and Emily Smith
(Manhattan Campus)---along with members of St. John’s University
staff---Angela Dilalla (Campus Ministry), Maureen Mulligan
(University Events) and myself, Rev. Tri Duong, C.M. (Campus
Ministry)---spent the night in Humanity Plaza to help people in New
Orleans.
On Tuesday, September 27, we gathered in Marillac student lounge
at 11:15 p.m. This date also marked the feast day of St. Vincent de
Paul who inspires the University’s commitment to serving those in
need. We left the University’s Queens campus and arrived at
Humanity Plaza at 12:15 a.m. on Wednesday, September 28.
By 1 a.m., the St. John’s University contingent and more than 60
other people were divided into groups of four or five. Each group
had a specific job that night. Some worked with hammers and
nails to build houses while others loaded those houses into trucks
for delivery to New Orleans.
At 4:45 a.m., we started to clean up and welcome other
volunteers who came for the next shift. Our night ended at
5:30 a.m. when we arrived at the Queens campus. After more than
four hours of hard work, we were tired, yet satisfied with what we
gave and received from this experience.
One thing that touched me most about this experience was our
students’ willingness to help others. They carry out the
mission of St. John’s University so well. Some of our
students had classes at 7 a.m., yet they saw the value of helping
people less fortunate than themselves. This motivation
brought our students to Humanity Plaza so early on that Wednesday
morning. This image of our students has stayed with me, and I
keep asking “Why?” Why did the students stay up all
night? For fun? I doubt that because I saw how hard
they all worked. Our students sacrificed their time because
helping one another is our obligation and mission as a
university.