St. John’s University and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) have
signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work on a new
collaborative venture known as the Scholars in Global Solidarity
program. The agreement was signed by St. John’s University
President Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M. and Joan Rosenhauer,
Executive Vice President of U.S. Operations for CRS. It is the
result of several years of collaborative work between the
University and CRS, the official international humanitarian agency
of the Catholic community in the United States.
Scholars in Global Solidarity is designed to foster the exchange of
expertise between faculty working in Catholic higher education and
technical experts leading CRS overseas humanitarian work. In the
past, the mutual understanding and similar goals of CRS and St.
John’s have produced significant programs that embody and advance
global solidarity. Thus, the Scholars in Global Solidarity
initiative perfectly aligns these mutual goals. St. John’s will be
the third Catholic university to team with CRS in this venture,
joining the University of San Francisco and Dayton
University.
“This program relates the broad range of expertise and
experience available in our two institutions,” said Sr. Margaret
John Kelly, D.C., Executive Director of the Vincentian Center for
Church and Society at St. John’s. “By uniting the academic sector
with the service-provider world, mutual benefits will occur so that
service to those in need will be enriched, which is our shared
purpose.”
The agreement notes that St. John’s and CRS “… share a common goal
with the other Catholic universities to advance the Catholic values
of global solidarity, peace and social justice through scholarship,
formation, service and research. The parties shall therefore work
together to fulfill their common goal while affirming their
different identities.”
Faculty members trained through this program will ultimately
develop and implement with students and colleagues sustainable
outcomes to advance the principles and experience CRS uncovers
through its transformational, justice-centered work with vulnerable
communities around the world. The project brings together the long
history of CRS expert responses to victims of war, natural
disasters and poverty with the academic resources of the
universities.
“The agreement is the first step in a partnership that will build
on the strengths of both institutions to develop faculty leadership
in solving pressing global issues affecting the poor overseas,”
noted Rosenhauer. “By linking our talents we become a stronger
force with even greater foresight in fighting poverty and
injustice.”
Ultimately, it is hoped that the reach of Scholars in Global
Solidarity will extend to Catholic colleges and universities across
the United States and that global solidarity will be a major
priority that impacts communities and the lives of the poor
overseas.