Nov. 11, 2005

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Photos from Staff Community Service Project

While the University was on fall break, members of the Villanova Athletics Department made good use of a little downtime. On October 11-12, a group of department staffers traveled to the Olde City section of Philadelphia to lend their time and energy at Olde St. Augustine Church.

The trip was organized by Susan Guarino, Coordinator of Office Services, who worked in conjunction with the University's Campus Ministry Department. Campus Ministry referred Guarino to Rev. Joseph Mostardi, O.S.A. '67 and Sean Dolan '99, who oversee all ministry activities for the parish. These two Villanovans were more than happy to provide a variety of volunteer opportunities for those interested.

During the two days spent on the job, the Athletics staff, including Director of Athletics Vince Nicastro and Associate A.D. Rev. Rob Hagan, O.S.A., participated in a number of different projects. Several individuals helped renovate a hallway in the building adjacent to the church. This facility houses three recent college graduates who have dedicated a year to serving the needs of others. In addition, other members helped in the restoration process of the church as well as landscaping the area around the perimeter of both the church and the volunteer facility.

Each year the department takes time around fall break to give back to the local community. This year's effort touched close to home since members of the department contributed to a parish based on the Augustinian tradition, the same order that Villanova University was founded.

"It is really satisfying to know that we have a great number of our staff and coaches who believe in giving back to the community. This is part of the fabric of Villanova and our department," said Nicastro. "We ask our student-athletes to become involved in community service, so it is imperative that we practice what we preach. I can tell you from first hand experience that the members of our staff who participate in this annual project considerate it a valuable and sometimes moving personal experience."

On a historic note, this volunteer experience allowed several staffers to catch a glimpse of the early days of the University. Villanova College was grown out of the all boys' school located on the corner opposite Old St. Augustine Church. The school was called St. Augustine Academy until it decided to expand and relocate to the Main Line.

One of the department volunteers, Equipment Room Intern Meghan Carolan, identified that the volunteer project stemmed from discussions amongst the Villanova Quality Improvement (VQI) team. When asked about her experience, Carolan pointed out that her group was able to enjoy immediate satisfaction, noticing visible improvement after the necessary renovations were finished. She continued, "It was a very rewarding experience to help the Augustinian order and to help fellow employees work together toward improvement for others."

Director of Administrative Services Mike Maerten was enthused about the opportunity to connect with his colleagues and give of his time. He stated, "It's always a great experience when members of the Athletics Department get together to assist in a service project." Maerten's group utilized their talents with painting, gardening, cleaning, and even some carpentry work. He credited Dolan with aptly coordinating the tasks to keep everyone busy. Based on this experience, Maerten summed up his group's feelings by saying, "We look forward to working with Sean and the Olde St. Augustine's Church on future service trips."

During her time on the scene, V Club Secretary Mary Mitchell contributed to the sprucing up the exterior of the church by cultivating the gardens and planting flowers. Mitchell reflected on the importance of the landmark on 2nd and Lawrence. She remarked that she was "amazed by all the activity through the courtyard. Many folks came to sit and relax for a few moments." Mitchell hit the nail on the head when she remarked, "It was gratifying to know that we were able to help make their surroundings a little more serene."

The 2005 community service outing continued an Athletic Department tradition that began in 2001 with the first annual service trip. That year the department visited the St. James-St. Agatha's Church and worked in the church's soup kitchen. Since then, department staffers and coaches have made service trips to the St. Francis Inn, and Philadelphia Food Bank. Recent trips have also included renovations to homes that are part of the Habitat for Humanity Program. In 2004, members of the department helped renovate the House of Grace in Philadelphia as part of that program.