January 29, 2010
The
Most Rev. Timothy M. Dolan, Ph.D., D.D., Archbishop of New York,
was the featured speaker during St. John’s 16th annual Founder’s Week
celebration yesterday in Queens and received an honorary degree
from the University along with six other deserving individuals who
were lauded for their service and accomplishments.
Archbishop Dolan delivered a spiritual 50-minute keynote lecture
titled “Vincent de Paul, A Saint for Yesterday and Today” on the
Queens campus before more than 400 students, faculty,
administrators, Board of Trustees, alumni, deacons and priests who
gave him a rousing standing ovation as he stepped through the doors
and walked into St. Thomas More Church.
In addition, several influential clergy were on hand,
highlighted by Edward Cardinal Egan, the Most Revs. Nicholas
DiMarzio,Octavio Cisneros, and Alfonso Cabezas, C.M., and The Very
Rev. Michael J. Carroll, C.M., Provincial of the Congregation of
the Mission, Eastern Province.
Marking his first visit to St. John’s since his installation in
June 2009, Archbishop Dolan spoke of a Vincentian presence in his
life that has been formed by the teachings of St. Vincent de
Paul.
“The Church and culture of his (St. Vincent de Paul’s) day are
remarkably similar to today, meaning that his message is timely and
valuable to us right here and now,” said Archbishop Dolan. “The
recipe for renewal in Vincent’s troubled times needed two essential
ingredients. The first was the education of the clergy through a
holistic strategy combining mind, heart and soul and the second was
love of the poor.”
“I appreciate so very much the fact that you (St. John’s
University) are loyal to the charism of St. Vincent de Paul. As I
look at your programs, and as I see how you train men and women for
the helping professions, teaching and consulting in providing
services to the poor – through this your students truly become
agents of social justice,” he added.
Later that evening, Archbishop Dolan was awarded an
honorary Doctor of Sacred Theology degree by
Rev. Donald Harrington, C.M., President of St. John’s
University, as part of the Vincentian Convocation also held in St.
Thomas More Church. Six others were also honored by the University
for service and merit along with Archbishop Dolan.
“I had the pleasure, in a sense, of watching the State of the Union
Address earlier this week. It was very striking to me how often one
side stands and the other side doesn’t. Very rarely does that
audience, which is typical, stand together,” said Rev. Harrington,
C.M., to the Vincentian Convocation crowd. “Tonight, both
figuratively and literally, we stand together with no hesitation –
because in each individual (honored) we see the face, the vision
and the heart of St. Vincent de Paul himself.”
Those individuals who were lauded with Archbishop Dolan at the
Vincentian Convocation ceremony included:
- Mary C. Daly, Esq. (posthumously), former Dean, St. John’s
School of Law, awarded the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Medal
- Dr. E. Francine Guastello, Associate Professor, Department of
Human Services and Counseling, St. John’s University School of
Education, presented with the Vincentian Mission Award
- Hour Children (represented by Sister Teresa Fitzgerald, CSJ),
an organization that works to serve families of incarcerated women,
awarded the Sr. Elizabeth Ann Seton Medal
- Joseph Martino, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Brooklyn,
presented with the St. Vincent de Paul Medal
- Rocco J. Mirro, Graphic Designer and Illustrator, St. John’s
University, presented with the Exceptional Service Award
- Rev. Msgr. Gregory Mustaciuolo, Chancellor, Archdiocese of New
York, awarded with the President’s Medal
Founder’s Week, held January 25-30, celebrates the legacy
and tradition of St. John’s University’s Vincentian mission. This
year’s Founder’s Week celebrates the 350th Anniversary of the death
of St. Vincent de Paul, founder of the Vincentian order which seeks
to empower others to change the world through the practices of
charity and social justice. Founder’s Week will also remember the
death of St. Louise de Marillac, who, like St. Vincent de Paul,
served the poor, oppressed and marginalized.
Earlier in the day, Archbishop Dolan was asked by a Theology
Professor at the University to recount his recent trip to Haiti in
the wake of the tragic earthquake that hit two weeks ago. He
admitted that it was the worst devastation and loss of life
(estimated at 175,000) he had ever seen.
“What I saw was nothing less than Good Friday but what I saw was
nothing less than Easter Sunday,” said Archbishop Dolan. “Good
Friday in abundance – darkness, suffering and death galore, but
interesting to everybody there were also glimpses of Easter Sunday.
It was difficult for me to describe the massive relief effort that
made one stand tall as a human being – that made one particularly
stand tall as a Catholic and an American.”
For media inquiries regarding Founder’s Week activities and
Archbishop Dolan’s appearance, please contact Dominic Scianna,
Assistant Vice President for Media Relations, by calling (718)
990-6185 or e-mail inquires to sciannad@stjohns.edu.