The Spiritan 150th Anniversary Gala in Honor of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit will be held Wednesday, April 6, in the Union Ballroom. Cocktails begin at 5 p.m. followed by dinner at 6 p.m. Individual tickets or tables of 10 people can be purchased online via the Gala website. All proceeds will benefit Spiritan activities around the world.
"For a century and a half, the Spiritans have served on the farthest margins of society in the U.S. We are here today as a university because of their decision to come to a city and educate immigrant children when no other order of missionary priests was willing to do so. Their work is the inspiration for all we do here at Duquesne, and are honored to be a small part of their legacy," Dr. Luci-Jo DiMaggio, director of mission animation for the Division of Mission and Identity, said.
In addition to their work at Duquesne, the Spiritans have long been serving others throughout the United States, including at Spiritan parishes in Arkansas, California, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia and Pittsburgh.
"The 150th anniversary of the Spiritans in the United States is being celebrated throughout the year in Spiritan parishes across the country, including Houston and Hemet, Ca., and of course here at Duquesne," DiMaggio said.
In addition, two individuals will be honored during the Spiritan 150th Anniversary Gala for their considerable contributions to the University.
John R. "Jack" McGinley, Jr., chairman of the Duquesne University Board of Directors, will receive the Cor Unum Award. The award is given by the Spiritans to an individual who exemplifies the charism of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, seeking to transform social structures of society to promote the freedom and dignity of all oppressed by poverty and unjust social and economic systems.
McGinley, a 1968 School of Law graduate, has been instrumental in funding scholarships, the School of Nursing's annual Symposium on Justice for Vulnerable Populations and public service fellowships in the law school. He is currently leading the drive to establish the proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine, which is scheduled to launch in the fall 2024.
The University, in conjunction with the Spiritans, will present the inaugural Mol an Oige ("praise youthfulness" in Gaelic) Award to the Rev. Sean Hogan C.S.Sp., president of the Duquesne University Scholarship Association.
Given to individuals that have spent their career working for the betterment of youth, challenging them and calling them to rise to their potential, the Mol an Oige award recognizes Hogan's 40 years of service to Duquesne and to its students, for whom he advocated and worked to better their experience while always putting the students first.
Individuals who cannot attend the Spiritan 150th Anniversary Gala but would like to sponsor a table can donate online. For more information, email%20DiMaggio.