ST. VINCENT DE PAUL 

 

Location on Queens Campus:  Outside of Newman Hall, facing the Great Lawn.   

 

About the statue:  The statue was originally located in the rose garden in front of Newman Hall. It was then moved to St. Vincent Hall before being placed in its present location in front of Newman. It is said that it was place in front of Newman so that administrators see St. Vincent and may be inspired by him as they enter and leave the building.

 

Symbolism :  St. Vincent de Paul was a French priest who founded the order of priests, the Vincentians and the religiousorder the “Daughters of Charity”. He also founded the “Ladies of Charity”.  St. John’s University mission and values are based on Vincent, his life and his teachings.  St. Vincent devoted his life doing charitable works for poor and impoverished while also teaching them about Jesus Christ. St. Vincent said:

“Deal with the most urgent needs. Organize charity so that it is more efficient…teach reading and writing, educate with the aim of giving each the means of self-support. Intervene with authorities to obtain reforms in structure… there is no charity without justice.”

St. Vincent is the ultimate symbol for social justice. He worked to help the poor and uneducated so that they may have some of the opportunities that more well off people had. He treated the poor like people with rights and dignity. His compassion for others and the values that he lived by are the same values that St. John’s bases their mission on.