Hope Is Theme of Niagara University’s Annual Vincentian Heritage Week Celebration

Niagara University will celebrate its annual Vincentian Heritage Week Sept. 21-28, 2025, with a series of events that highlight its rich history of education and service in the spirit of St. Vincent de Paul. This year's theme, "Anchored in Hope," is inspired by the Jubilee of Hope, 2025, as declared by Pope Francis.

The celebration begins at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 21, with the prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours in the university's Alumni Chapel. The event includes a brief instruction, followed by prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours for the Solemnity of St. Vincent de Paul.

On Monday, Sept. 22, the film "Monsieur Vincent" will be screened in Glynn Hall Room 407 during two sessions: 1-3 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Niagara University professors will reflect on Vincent de Paul's life and discuss the film's depiction of 17^th century France, culture, religion, and society.

A lecture by Dr. Lisa Williams, associate professor of management, on the Catholic Intellectual Tradition will be held from 4-5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 23, in the Gallagher Center Multipurpose Room. A panel discussion on Niagara University's appropriation of the tradition in its efforts to build a thriving educative community will follow the presentation.

Students from the university's Justice House program will take over the lower level of the Gallagher Center the next day to discuss issues relevant to the week's theme of hope.

The celebration's signature event, the Vincentian Heritage Convocation, will take place on Thursday, Sept. 25, at 4:30 p.m. in Alumni Chapel. Four individuals will be honored for the ways they live the Vincentian mission:

• Dr. Youngsoo Choi, associate professor in Niagara University's College of Hospitality, Sport and Tourism Management-Vincentian Mission Award
• E. Bryan DalPorto, retired superintendent of the Niagara Falls, N.Y. Police Department-Founders Award
• Ava Palo, senior political science major at NU-Rev. Thomas A. Judge, C.M. Award
• Keynote speaker Rev. Emmet J. Nolan, C.M., '87, pastor of Parróquia San Vincent de Paul, Soloy, Republic of Panama-Doctor of Pedagogy

On Friday, Sept. 26, the Mass of the Solemnity of St. Vincent de Paul will take place in Alumni Chapel at 12:15 p.m.

The celebration will extend beyond the campus on Saturday, Sept. 27, when members of the Niagara University community will participate in the Friends of the Poor Walk on Grand Island with the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and in service and community-building opportunities with local agencies including Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, the Wildlife Festival, and the Underground Railroad Historic Heritage Center. A "Walk the Falls," event is also scheduled.

On campus, the annual Archbishop John J. Lynch, C.M. Lecture will take place at the Castellani Art Museum at 2 p.m. featuring renowned Native American scholar Rick Hill.

The celebration wraps up at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 28, with a Family Day Mass in Alumni Chapel during which the new class of Vincentian Scholars will receive commemorative pins.