Cherry Hill’s the Catholic Community of Christ Our Light is presenting an evening with Dr. Ali A. Houshmand, president of Rowan University, on April 30.
Attendees will hear his immigration story, and how under his leadership, Rowan University has invested in student wellness and the local community.
Dr. Houshmand’s visit comes after he received the Saint John Neumann Award from the Diocese of Camden at Catholic Charities’ Dinner & Awards Ceremony last fall in Atlantic City, for his “commitment to solidarity, development and the dignity of the human person,” Bishop Dennis Sullivan remarked during the night.
Present at the event was Kathy Zippilli, a member of Christ Our Light’s Justice and Community Outreach Commission, who came away “so impressed,” she said, after Dr. Houshmand shared his story as an Iranian immigrant, the generous acts he received that compelled him to do the same for others, and his belief that “it is absolutely essential for any human being who can, to help others.”
At the end of the Catholic Charities dinner, Zippilli introduced herself to Dr. Houshmand and invited him to speak at her parish.
Zippilli believes Dr. Houshmand’s visit “can help attendees understand the plight of immigrants, their struggles and how we can help them,” she said.
As well, he will share about his efforts to improve education access to Rowan students with the Student Emergency Scholarship Fund; and background on the university garden he helped begin, and the food pantry and hot sauce served and created by this effort. All proceeds from the hot sauce, which is sold online and locally, go to the scholarship fund.
The event is free, but a free-will offering will be taken up to support Rowan University’s Student Emergency Scholarship Fund.
Dr. Ali A. Houshmand’s visit to Christ Our Light Catholic Church, 402 Kings Highway, Cherry Hill, will take place April 30, from 6-7 p.m., in the Parish Center Gym. For more information, contact Julie DeMareo, pastoral associate for Justice and Community Outreach, at 856-667-2440.
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