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In August, ��ɫӰ�� received the 2024 Uniservitate Global Service Learning Award. Three months later, a St. Kate’s team of three was in Rome presenting their work to international faculty, staff, students — and the Pope.

Global movement  promotes service-learning in Catholic higher education, engaging students as community leaders and integrating the work in curriculum and research. St. Kate’s was one of two North American recipients of the Uniservitate award for ongoing work on , an interdisciplinary project on structural racism within housing and its lasting impacts. WTDN is facilitated by faculty members in collaboration with students in classes, collaborative research, and opportunities through the Center for Community Work and Learning and the Office of Scholarly Engagement.

“Through this experience, I have been able to live out the mission of our Sisters of St. Joseph, but I've also had the opportunity to bring in my own experiences and from my community,” she shared. “Being able to work on a real world project that acknowledges how our history continues to make its presence today is very powerful and motivating for me, and I feel very grateful and empowered to be able to share this project on behalf of everyone who has been doing a lot of work to push our efforts forward.”

Attendees participated in a Eucharist Celebration at the Basilica of Saint Peter, Vatican City on the evening of Friday, November 8. On Saturday morning, the Uniservitate groups had the incredible honor of a private audience with His Holiness Pope Francis. During his address to the groups, Pope Francis shared that the meeting of Uniservitate awardees was of great interest to the Catholic Church, particularly in its focus on service-learning. He called for Catholic schools to implement this philosophy for the world’s sake, drawing on two principles from his 2013 Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium:

“First, education programmes should bring students into contact with the realities around them, so that, starting from experience, they learn to change the world not for their own benefit, but in a spirit of service,” said the Pope. “Second, Catholic education should promote a ‘culture of curiosity,’ emphasizing the art of asking questions. Let us support young people in this exploration of themselves and the larger world … and the generosity born of a passionate heart.”

Pope Francis then received the Uniservitate groups, shaking hands with each individual. Delgado-Palma discussed St. Kate’s WTDN work with him, and presented him with a note of gratitude; a copy of Mary Ann Brenden’s book ; and one of the ornaments designed by the , faculty emeritus of art.

“I was very honored to be able to represent St. Kate’s at this conference,” West said of the Uniservitate experience. “The work of the WTDN project has been a widespread effort and the award specifically noted the broad involvement of our community. Everyone who contributed should feel pride in this recognition.”

The Uniservitate symposium offered not only recognition for the work of many St. Kate’s project members, said Urbaniak Lesch. It was an opportunity for St. Kate’s representatives to learn about campus-community projects taking place at other Catholic institutions around the world, and to network and build connections for potential collaborative work. 

“It was an incredible experience to be part of such a prestigious and diverse group of educators — staff, faculty, and students alike — actively engaged in collaborating with their communities to make positive change,” said Urbaniak Lesch. “I feel so grateful to have had this opportunity, am truly inspired, and will draw on the learning in the months and years ahead.”

In December, Delgado-Palma, West, and Urbaniak Lesch will share back with the community about the Uniservitate experience (open to all).

December 4
4-5 p.m.
Carondelet Village Auditorium

In the meantime, read more about WTDN in the research article published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Urban Health: 

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