The Ozanam Scholars Program at St. John’s University in Queens, NY, is a unique, highly selective scholarship program where students critically examine the systems that perpetuate poverty. Through academic scholarship, Vincentian leadership, and global citizenship, scholars take active steps to advance social justice. The program empowers students to become social justice advocates and responsible citizens in both their local and global communities by actively participating in people-facing service and community-led decision-making for sustainable growth.

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This past May 2026 marked the third travel excursion to San José, Costa Rica for our First-Year Scholars—an experience I have had the privilege of leading alongside several colleagues. This initiative was born out of an idea I had in the Fall semester of 2023 to combine my love for the country and its people (dating back to my time living and working there as a volunteer from 2017 to 2018). Since then, it has blossomed into incredible partnerships and friendships with local leaders who advocate for vulnerable communities using a people-first approach.

One of our core partnerships is with Colegio Seminario CR (“Seminary College”), the country’s only Vincentian high school. Through this collaboration, we have gotten to know the students and educators, their educational goals, and the inspiring ways they carry the Vincentian charism into local Costa Rican communities. Through them, we also had the pleasure of meeting Fr. Rolando Gutierrez, CM, Costa Rica’s Congregation of the Mission Provincial! This year, we continued our tradition of joining the school staff and Vincentian community in their weekly volunteer activities. One of these programs is Casa del Pobre (“House of the Poor”), which serves Saturday morning breakfast to unhoused individuals, beginning with community prayer and gratitude. We also served a severely impoverished community that houses many undocumented migrants seeking economic opportunities, where our group had the wonderful chance to lead youth activities and hand out snacks.

Through this Vincentian family connection, our program was able to donate funds and work directly with a family who received a home through the FamVin Homeless Alliance’s 13 Houses initiative. This specific project was blessed by Pope Francis in 2024 when he selected 13 symbolic keys for projects supporting marginalized people as a gesture of charity for the upcoming Jubilee year. We were deeply honored to be a part of this family’s journey.

The other community organization we spent time serving with is Fundación Génesis (Genesis Foundation). A family-founded, Christian, community-run organization, Fundación Génesis offers a full spectrum of social service programs for high-risk individuals. Their wide-ranging programs include free meals for children (ages 6 months to 12 years), elementary through high school education, a day program for adults with diverse abilities, a home for the elderly, and ten other vital initiatives. At the core of their mission is the transformative power of love and compassion to build relationships, heal from difficult environments, and break cycles of hardship. Their staff works tirelessly with the utmost dedication and respect for all members of their community.

This year, we had the distinct honor of attending a private hour-and-a-half lecture and meeting with Dr. Quince Duncan, one of Latin America and Costa Rica’s most notable authors! His work focuses on education, advocacy, and literature regarding Afro-Costa Rican and Afro-Caribbean history and culture. Dr. Duncan spoke powerfully on how Spanish colonialism and slavery ravaged Costa Rica, the destruction of indigenous communities, and how the nation ultimately evolved into the democratic republic it is today following the 1940s civil war and the establishment of the 1949 constitution. It was an awesome privilege to hear firsthand accounts of the violence, indoctrination, and ultimate resilience of the Afro-Caribbean community fighting for civil recognition within Dr. Duncan’s own lifetime. Our First-Year Ozanam Scholars cohort thanks him deeply for his generous and gracious presence.

It has been incredible to witness the strength of community and the power of putting humanity first. It can be so easy to ignore systemic problems, or to claim we don’t have the financial resources or time in our busy schedules to help. However, if we took any single lesson away from this week, it is that volunteer service isn’t solely about financial donations or hours logged on a spreadsheet. While those may matter, what sets Vincentian service and leadership apart is offering even the smallest smile or conversation with old and new friends acknowledging our shared humanity, seeing Christ in one another, and validating our place in this world.

We would like to share a special thank you to the following:

• Our institutional partner, Universidad LCI Veritas: Specifically, Sonia Gamboa Alvarado, for her incredible diligence in coordinating our in-country travel logistics.
• The leadership of the Vincentian Family in Costa Rica and Colegio Seminario: Fr. Rolando Gutiérrez, CM (Provincial); Fr. Rogelio Díaz, CM (Rector of Colegio Seminario); and Don Marco Naranjo Sánchez (Director of Colegio Seminario).
• Fundación Génesis: Andrés Castro Génesis, his father, and their dedicated team.
• St. John’s University: The Office of International Education and Dr. Angela Seegel from the Institute for Vincentian Impact (IVI)
• My co-facilitators/colleagues: For making all three travel experiences a massive success: Elvira Garcia and Fedaling Agwumezie (2024); Dani Diaz, Myrna Fuentes, and Dennis Cuadros (2025); and Holly Warner and Maria Alfonso (2026).
• Our 67 incredible students: Who have served countless community members and carried their “Johnny Pride” and excellent reputation across Costa Rica!

I thank each and every person involved for their generous hospitality. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to help this mission succeed, and more importantly, for contributing to our students’ understanding of our core question: What Must Be Done? We are excited to continue growing our connections in San José and watching our scholars develop into true global citizens!