Fr. Levesque installed

Reverend Joseph L. Levesque, C.M., Installed as St. John’s President during Annual Founder’s Week Celebration

The capstone event of Founder’s Week was, as always, the Vincentian Convocation, held September 26. This year’s event was particularly notable because Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M., was formally installed as President of St. John’s University during a special ceremony performed by Peter P. D’Angelo ’78MBA,’06HON, Chair of the Board of Trustees.

View the photo gallery from Founder’s Week 2013

During his opening remarks, Fr. Levesque thanked Mr. D’Angelo and the Board as well as Very Rev. Michael Carroll, C.M., Provincial Superior of the Eastern Province of the Congregation of the Mission, for their confidence in his ability to lead St. John’s.

After receiving the mace and medal that are symbols of the office, Fr. Levesque observed, “In accepting this role, I determined that I would work extremely hard to continue to build upon the strengths of the University. Our goal is to fulfill our mission by offering a Catholic and Vincentian education to our students.”

Of the honorees, Fr. Levesque observed, “Coming from different paths, diverse professional lives and a variety of backgrounds, it is quite evident that our honorees all hold a commonality of purpose that perpetuates the vision and mission of St. Vincent and St. Louise.”

Honorees included:

Vincentian Mission Award:  Barrett P. Brenton, Ph.D., Professor of Anthropology, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, who has modeled the Vincentian mission of service both inside and outside the classroom

The Caritas Medal:  Cristo Rey Brooklyn High School, which reaches out to young people with very limited opportunities, and helps prepare them to lead meaningful and productive lives

St. Vincent de Paul Medal:  C. Mario Russell, J.D., Director, Senior Attorney, Division of Immigrant and Refugee Services, Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of New York, who has dedicated his professional career to protecting the rights of the poor

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Medal:  Natalie Boone, President, Ladies of Charity, St. John’s University, who has spent her life serving the disadvantaged in myriad ways

Frédéric Ozanam Award: LAMP Ministries, an organization that emphasizes the importance of faith in our initiatives with the poor and needy

Honorary degree recipient:  Sr. Louise Sullivan, D.C., Ph.D., Vincentian Heritage Projects, Daughters of Charity, and Professor Emerita Foreign Languages, Niagara University, who has translated the words of St. Louise de Marillac for followers worldwide

During the Convocation, the annual Vincentian Chair of Social Justice Lecture, entitled, “The Vincentian Mission of Justice and Charity: A 17th-Century Vision for the 21st Century,” was delivered by Sr. Louise Sullivan, D.C., Ph.D., who Fr. Levesque noted, “has singlehandedly given life to the words and wisdom of St. Louise de Marillac to thousands who would, otherwise, lack such access.”