Organized by the Canisius Office of Campus Ministry, Winter Service Week provides students with opportunities to serve, work and learn in some of the poorest communities across the country. All trips are centered around the cornerstones of spirituality, solidarity, social justice and simplicity.
“We want our students to serve others but more importantly learn about and with others,” explains Sarah Signorino, associate campus minister. “This knowledge has the power to transform our students in many ways. They feel affirmed in their vocations, sometimes change majors, or even commit to a year of post-graduate service.”
Students traveled to New York City, where they served at three different locations including two Jesuit Nativity-Miguel Middle Schools (Brooklyn Jesuit Prep with Chris Luthi ’03 and St. Aloysius) and Mercy Center.
Students traveled to New Orleans for Winter Service Week and helped rebuild homes damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. They partnered with the St. Bernard Project, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to ensure that disaster-impacted communities recover.
In Erie, PA, Canisius students worked and served alongside the sisters of the St. Benedictine Community in a variety of ministries throughout the inner city and within the monastery, itself. They served at education centers for adults and children, at a community center for disabled adults, at after-school programs for underprivileged children, and at a children’s art house, a soup kitchen and a food bank.
Students who participated in Winter Service Week in Syracuse partnered with the Catholic Charities Catholic Youth Organization (CYO). They assisted in pre-k classrooms and took part in an evening respite program for disabled teens and refugees.
Canisius is one of 28 Jesuit universities in the nation, and the premier private university in Western New York.
