Often, we only hear of the Vincentian Mission being lived out in an overtly Vincentian, or, at least Catholic, institution. But people trained by members of the Vincentian Family bring their training everywhere they go! This morning (January 30), I was privileged to be on the same speakers’ docket at St. John’s University’s Staten Island Campus (in New York City, USA) with a young adult who has been profoundly influenced by his Vincentian education.Matthew Corallo is a 1991 Poly Sci grad of St. John’s. His experience at St. John’s has led him to be among a group of creative leaders in a powerful experiment in New York City public education called the Bushwick School for Social Justice. BSSJ, a city high school, while maintaining its public character, is led by Matthew and his colleagues in this special mission of educating young people in a way that frees them to use their potential and envision a stronger future for themselves and their neighbors.
Creatively employing the theory of Brazilian educational theorist and practitioner Paulo Freire, BSSJ provides an educational framework where students, teachers and staff contribute to a common goal of learning. The school informs and develops young people with hearts and minds that seek the integral development of their own persons and of the communities in which they live. In the same graced moments, the faculty and staff are transformed by their own experiences with the students.
Accompanying Mr. Corallo was a young third-year student at BSSJ, Ms. Vanessa Martinez. Lively and self-assured, Ms. Martinez related her experience of her school, pointing out her commitment to the school community (They’re like my family. They are my family!). As the mission of the school explains, “We are committed to ensuring that every student is held to the highest standards, has constant and consistent opportunities for intellectual engagement, and becomes knowledgeable about and confident in facing the pressing issues of the day.”
You can learn more about what they are doing at http://bssj.net. Even in an environment that is expressly unconcerned with religious topics, Vincentian values of simplicity, charity, courage, and love and respect for the poor were clearly evident.
My guess is, Matt Corallo has more than a little to do with this, as did his alma mater. Matt is obviously proud of his St. John’s educational experience, and St. John’s today was proud to call him one of their own. I can’t think of a more telling example of what it means to form laity in the spirit of St. Vincent. Out into the world they go, as a leaven of the gospel. The mission doesn’t simply continue — it grows!
(Submitted by Aidan Rooney, CM)
Tags: Aidan Rooney
