Dr. Roseanne Mirabella, Professor in the Department of Political Science and Public Affairs and Executive Director of the Center for Community Research and Engagement at Seton Hall University brought a group of 10 undergraduate students for an intensive three-credit course in which she and Dr. Robert White, Director of the Académie Cor Iesu, explored the Christian roots of philanthropy in Western society and the nature and meaning of charity from theological, philosophical and public policy perspectives.
Daily classes and seminar sessions examined the influence of Christianity on the development of philanthropy from the first through the twenty-first century. Among the authors studied were Aristotle, the books of the Old Testament, the Gospels, the Rule of St. Benedict, St. Gregory the Great, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Ignatius of Loyola and others from the Christian tradition. The texts were studied to provide clues for understanding the role of Christianity in the formation of societal expectations and the public and private structures established around philanthropic giving and receiving. Students were also encouraged to examine and discern the ultimate purposes of philanthropy and charity in their daily lives through a series of service-learning encounters with local civil and ecclesiastical authorities, focused on considering the issues surrounding immigration in France.
The course, which also featured cultural experiences in Paray-le-Monial and in Paris, fulfilled Seton Hall University’s Engaging the World Core 3 requirement and could double count as an elective for Non-profit minors, Political Science majors or Catholic Studies majors.
“Visiting Paray-le-Monial with Dr. White and the Académie Cor Iesu was one of the best experiences of my life. Getting to see the birthplace of the Sacred Heart as well as the many ways in which people chose to honor it gave me a better understanding of the Catholic faith and the power it holds. Dr. White made sure that we met with leaders from multiple walks of life and had the ability to ask any questions we wanted. It is an amazing experience, and I would highly recommend studying here.” - Grace Shearer, Sophomore in B.A. Social Work, Buccino Leadership Institute at Seton Hall University.
"Thank you to the Academie and Dr. White for giving me incredible cultural immersion opportunities and aiding in my learning of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition. I have loved my time in France and would recommend this study abroad experience to anyone interested!" – Sydni Harris, Senior in B.A. Political Science & Philosophy, College of Arts and Sciences Special Projects Intern, Buccino Leadership Institute Executive Admissions Team at Seton Hall University.
“I am so grateful for the opportunity to study with Academie Cor Iesu. Having the opportunity to learn about the great issues of today and meet with leaders who are tackling them head on was truly life changing. It was an experience I will never forget.” - Tim Dziekan, Final Year of Masters in Public Administration at Seton Hall University.
