NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Iona College students, faculty and staff are participating in a variety of activities in celebration of Pope Francis’ historic visit to New York this week. Approximately 40 members of the campus community will be attending the Papal Mass on Friday, September 25, at Madison Square Garden. Over 400 campus community members were engaged in multiple community service activities on Saturday, September 19 in celebration of Iona’s 75th Anniversary and International Day of Service.
Alfred F. Kelly Jr. ’80, ’81MBA, Scarsdale resident and Iona College alumnus is overseeing logistics of Pope Francis’ visit. He is referred to as the “Chief Layman” for the event.
Other Iona participation includes:
Thursday, September 24
Elena Procario-Foley, Ph.D., participated in a panel discussion during live coverage of the Pope’s address to Congress at the Fios1/RNN studio in Westchester, NY.
Sr. Kathleen Deignan, CND, Ph.D., will attend a vigil in front of the United Nations on Thursday evening.
The Thomas Berry Forum for Ecological Dialogue at Iona has been engaged in designing and planning the multi-faith celebration and prayer ceremony to be held on Thursday, September 24th at 4:30 PM at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza in support of Pope Francis’ mission to the UN on behalf of “Our Common Home.” Sponsored by the religious environmental leadership organization GreenFaith, Sister Kathleen Deignan and Brother Kevin Cawley – both GreenFaith Fellows – have been working for several months with people of faith across the religious spectrum and students from Iona College to prepare for this event.
Iona Pipers will inaugurate the ceremony whose centerpiece is a symbolic flame created by student artist and Biology Major, Sandybelle Anorga. The flame will “Light the Way” for Francis’ visit to the United Nations General Assembly on Friday morning, and will accompany all those who will vigil overnight in the Church of The Savior to pray for the success of the Pope’s mission to the world.
Friday, September 25
Carl Procario-Foley, Ph.D., will participate in a panel discussion at News12 Westchester during live coverage of the Papal visit from 7:30 a.m. to noon.
Elena Procario-Foley, Ph.D., will participate in a multi-religious service at 9/11 Memorial and Museum, World Trade Center at 11:30 a.m.
Sr. Kathleen Deignan, CND, Ph.D., of Iona’s religious studies department, will be a guest panelist on NBC’s evening news programs with Chuck Scarborough.
Approximately 40 selected students, staff and faculty will attend the Papal Mass at Madison Square Garden.