| January 17, 2007 | Vol 8. No. 8 |
Nearly 75 Canisius Students Participate in Winter Service Week (WSW)
Christopher Morse '07, pictured with Marcel, one of the students at Mercy Center in the Bronx, during Winter Service Week.
Sixty-one Canisius students and four campus ministry staff members returned from New York City January 13 following Winter Service Week (WSW). Accompanied by Campus Ministry Director John P. Bucki, S.J., Campus Minister Rev. Thomas Colgan, S.J., and Campus Minister Joe Van Volkenburg, the students served at 16 different sites throughout the city, including homeless shelters, afterschool programs, hospitals and soup kitchens.
In addition, Sarah A. Signorino '04, associate campus minister led a contingent of 13 students to New Orleans. The group worked with Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of New Orleans to focus on the demolition of several houses near the upper Ninth Ward. These residents, affected by Hurricane Katrina, wish to rebuild but do not have the means.
"The New Orleans trip, part of WSW for the first time this year, was a powerful experience, especially because of all the special connections we were able to make through the Jesuits in New Orleans," adds Father Bucki.
Canisius students on WSW in New Orleans gutted homes down to the studs to help prepare them for rebuilding. This is one of three homes completed during the project.
"Our students had the chance to meet the residents whose houses they worked on and hear their stories, including one man lost his wife during Hurricane Katrina," says Signorino.
Father Bucki, who founded winter service week, is pleased to see its growth.
"In six years, we have grown from 23 to 78 people. The experience makes real our Canisius commitment to serve, to be men and women for and with others."
Among the various service WSW projects in New York City: students created an afterschool camp for kids in grades k-8 at the Mercy Center in the Bronx; provided pastoral care to patients at North Central Bronx Hospital and Lincoln Medical Center, and volunteered at STEPS to End Family Violence and North Manhattan Improvement Corp., both agencies which provide legal advocacy.
Teresa Golebiewski '10, who worked at Mercy Center, says she switched her major to elementary education because her experience was so significant.
"We could actually see the impact we made on these kids faces, and the impact that they had on us was tremendous," says Golebiewski.
"Not only do our students have an opportunity to serve the poor of New York City, but they get to work alongside amazing people who are committed to serving the poor all year round," says Joe Van Volkenburg, assistant director of campus ministry.
Communication studies/international relations major Christian Dingethal '09 volunteered with the homeless at Life Experiences and Faith Sharing.
"I really didn't understand homelessness before, and this experience helped me understand it much better, and more in terms what I can do to help," says Dingethal. "The people who work at Life Experiences and Faith Sharing are dedicated, and it is very powerful to be a part of that even for just a week."
A service experience over winter break, WSW is an opportunity for Canisius students to experience the rich diversity of New York City in the context of community living and service to others. This is the sixth consecutive year that Campus Ministry has hosted a Winter Service Week for students.
Hurley Promoted to Executive Vice President
John J. Hurley '78 has been promoted to executive vice president and vice president for college relations, effective January 1, 2007. College President Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., made the announcement in mid-December. In his new role, Hurley is responsible for the college's strategic planning, integrated marketing and compliance while managing the agenda for the senior executive team. He retains his roles in the college relations division in which he oversees development, public relations, alumni relations, government relations and community relations. Hurley also serves as secretary to the college's Board of Trustees.
"In his ten years at Canisius, John has made outstanding contributions to our fund raising, public relations and external relations efforts," said Father Cooke. "He has been a key member of the senior management of the college as we have pursued a very ambitious agenda for Canisius. He brings tremendous vision and energy to Canisius and I look forward to working with him in this new role."
Hurley joined Canisius as vice president in 1997 after more than 16 years in private commercial law practice, including 13 with the Buffalo law firm Phillips Lytle LLP.
He led the college's Imagine Canisius capital campaign which raised $39 million, 30 percent over goal by its June 2000 completion date. The campaign was recognized as the top fund-raising accomplishment of the nation's 28 Jesuit colleges and universities by the Jesuit Advancement Administrators in 2001.
Hurley is currently the national chair of the Jesuit Advancement Administrators, a professional association of advancement professionals serving Jesuit higher education in the United States.
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