Catholic Faith Network (CFN) recently hosted its annual Telethon, raising more than $324,000 for TV ministry. The two-day telethon featured numerous guests, including SJC President Donald R. Boomgaarden, Ph.D.
Dr. Boomgaarden appeared via Skype and discussed with Msgr. Jim Vlaun the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has presented, remote learning, and the Year of St. Joseph.
“We’re especially excited this year, not only St. Joseph’s, but all the colleges associated with the Sisters of St. Joseph,” Dr. Boomgaarden said. “To continue that important journey of bringing a deep education inspired by the spirituality of the Sisters. So many students who then go out into the world and in all of their different activities have such a positive and powerful impact.”
Dr. Boomgaarden hosts CFN’s series “Living Our Mission,” which features familiar faces from SJC and covers a broad range of topics, from racial injustice and COVID-19 to SJC’s mission and the liberal arts. New episodes are now airing on Catholic Faith Network.
On March 5, Dr. Boomgaarden presented a keynote address, The Challenges Faced By Higher Education During Uncertain Times, to attendees of Long Island Metro Business Action’s (LIMBA) virtual meeting.
Dr. Boomgaarden discussed COVID safety at SJC, remote learning, changes in higher education and how students adapted, with some even finding their voices in online forums and learning environments.
“I feel good about the future of higher education but the pandemic has changed how we think about education,” he said. “Remote learning will never replace the classroom experience, but it can enhance it.”
Dr. Boomgaarden also shared his personal experience of living through the 1964 earthquake on Kodiak Island, Alaska, and his time as a leader at Loyola University New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.
Most recently, Dr. Boomgaarden appeared on CFN Live in celebration of the Year of St. Joseph, a celebratory year proclaimed by Pope Francis to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the declaration of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church.
On March 18, Dr. Boomgaarden was interviewed by Emmy award-winning news anchor Colleen McVey. He discussed the College’s plans for the Year of St. Joseph, including the Sisters of St. Joseph’s annual vow renewal on St. Joseph’s Day, and SJC’s plans for summer and fall course offerings.
“When we talk about St. Joseph, we think of him of course as St. Joseph the Worker, but St. Joseph was also a teacher,” said Dr. Boomgaarden. “He was the teacher of Jesus. When we look at the special devotion that the Sisters of St. Joseph have to teaching, you can see the inner relationship there between education and St. Joseph.”
For more information about the Year of St. Joseph and upcoming events, visit sjcny.edu.
