The St. John’s University community will come together to serve neighboring areas in New York City for the 24th annual University Service Day on Saturday, September 27. This year, the event coincides with the Feast Day of St. Vincent de Paul, a day when the Catholic Church honors the French priest recognized as the patron of Catholic charities.
Rev. Aidan R. Rooney, C.M., M.Div., M.Th., Executive Vice President for Mission at St. John’s University, commented on the significance of this alignment: “How fitting that the University community gathers for Service Day on the feast day of St. Vincent.” He added that St. Vincent de Paul once said, “We should assist (the poor) in every way and do it both by ourselves and by enlisting the help of others’—and that is what Service Day embodies.”
Service Day takes place annually on a Saturday close to September 27 and is part of St. John’s Founder’s Week—a series focused on enhancing understanding of the University’s Vincentian heritage through various events.
In previous years, volunteers engaged in activities such as visiting nursing home residents, spending time with children in local communities, serving meals at soup kitchens, performing park clean-ups, painting school rooms, and more.
Last year’s service opportunities included collaborations with organizations like Juniper Valley Park and Kissena Synergy Park Clean Up among others.
This year’s volunteer activities are scheduled from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., starting with participant check-in at 8 a.m. at St. Thomas More Plaza on St. John’s Queens campus. Volunteers will receive T-shirts and breakfast before attending an 8:30 a.m. ceremony and rally featuring music and speeches.
Students, faculty members, staff, administrators, and alumni are encouraged to register ahead of time for available service opportunities or suggest new projects or partners.
Ms. Dolamakian stated: “Whether you participate in service activities, the ceremony, or both, your presence helps to strengthen our Vincentian mission and deepen our impact on the world around us.”