St. John’s becomes a Catholic Relief Service Global Campus. St. John’s is only the 10th CRS Global Campus in the United States.

“It really shows how connected we are to the world as a Catholic university,” said Juliana Lombardo ’21Pharm.D. “It’s a wonderful chance for St. John’s students to use the collective resources of the two institutions to spread Catholic social teaching around the world.”

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Highlighting a shared commitment to helping impoverished and disadvantaged people around the world, Conrado “Bobby” Gempesaw, Ph.D., President of St. John’s University, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing the University as a Global Campus of Catholic Relief Services (CRS). Dr. Gempesaw signed the Memorandum with Carolyn Y. Woo, Ph.D., President and CEO of CRS, on November 28. Together, Dr. Gempesaw pledged, St. John’s and CRS will assist others “through education, awareness, prayer, giving, and action.”

“As a Catholic, Vincentian, Metropolitan, and Global university, we are honored to be a partner with CRS,” said Dr. Gempesaw as he addressed the audience. “Being a CRS Global Campus strengthens our focus on learning by serving.”

A Long-Standing Relationship

St. John’s is only the 10th CRS Global Campus in the United States.

“This is a comprehensive and long-standing relationship that only happens because people work at it and are passionate about it,” said Dr. Woo, who is completing her fifth and final year as President of CRS. “Our work is a privilege, and we take our work very seriously.”

St. John’s and CRS have worked together in formal and informal capacities for nearly 10 years. In 2014, Campus Ministry launched a chapter of CRS Campus Ambassadors, which prepares undergraduates to address global poverty and injustice. In 2016, CRS collaborated with St. John’s at the University’s Poverty Conference. Most recently, students participated in CRS’s Rice Bowl program during Lent.

CRS is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the US. They work to assist the poor, while responding to major emergencies, fighting disease, and nurturing peaceful and just societies around the world. Their work has touched more than 100 million lives in over 100 countries around the world.

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