Welcome to The Bridge , the newsletter of the Office of Global Engagement.

The motto of our office is Faciamus cum sociis pontes , "Let us build bridges with our partners." We hope you will begin to partner with us by subscribing.

SACRU's Response to the Conflict in Ukraine

Pope Francis strongly appealed for peace on several occasions in the last couple of months, and on February 23rd, 2022, he again expressed his great sorrow about the escalation of events.

In light of the Holy Father’s appeals for peace, the Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities (SACRU) started collecting the perspectives of various experts in International Relations, Economics, and Theology from its partner universities during the worsening of the situation in Ukraine.

This document reflects SACRU's mission of global cooperation for the Common Good.

Global Scholars Lecture Series

Please join us for the two Global Scholars Lectures in March. "Nursing’s Impact on Health and Well-becoming: A Global Perspective" on March 2nd and "Ethnophilosophy of Dalits" on March 16th. Both events are in Devlin 101 at 4:30 pm or viewable on zoom. Visit the link for the full schedule. 

Maintaining Global Partnerships during a Pandemic 

Colleen Simonelli, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Clinical Professor in the Connell School of Nursing, was recently featured in the Global Public Health and the Common Good newsletter to describe the strategic alliances between 亚色影库 and seven other Catholic Universities from around the world with the goal of working collaboratively to tackle global health challenges.

"On March 6, 2020 I had just returned from Australian Catholic University’s (ACU) Melbourne campus with two students and other 亚色影库 faculty, with plans to expand the summer program to include faculty and staff from ACU and Portugal’s Catholic University (UCP) and open up research and student exchange opportunities. The global pandemic forced us to suspend travel but we were able to pivot and create innovative ways to not only maintain but expand our partnerships."

Dean Simonelli and students from Boston College, PUC—Chile, Universidade Católica in Mozambique, Bethlehem University, and Hong Kong University participated in a collaborative on-line international learning (COIL) in summer 2021. Students shared information about their country’s healthcare system, the impact of COVID-19, customs, values, and beliefs, as well as the educational path of their nursing workforce.

A COIL is planned between the 亚色影库 and ACU senior Nursing students for the Spring of 2022 to discuss healthcare issues resulting from the pandemic. Dean Simonelli has also initiated planning for a two-week program in Boston and a two-week program in Lausanne during June 2022. This will bring students and faculty together to discuss global healthcare challenges and opportunities once again. Dean Simonelli's international efforts have brought about a promising new chapter for the School of Nursing's international partnerships. 

As partnerships develop and international travel becomes more feasible, consider utilizing the resources available for the Boston College community on the Global Engagement Gateway.

In Memoriam: Paul Farmer

As many of us feel sadness after learning about the death of Paul Farmer, a physician, anthropologist, and world-renowned figure in global public health, who helped found Partners in Health and the University of Global Health Equity in Rwanda, we also feel gratitude for his life and all his good work to improve and bring healthcare to people in need around the globe. Vice Provost for Global Engagement, Jim Keenan, reflects on Paul's life saying:

From the very first time I met Paul some twenty years ago, I always thought of him as playful; it was that playfulness that made him so accessible. By that playfulness, he made you believe that you were fun to be with. He helped you, wherever you were, to laugh.  

When I learned the tragic news of his death I found this photo [left] that I posted on Facebook. You can just imagine the silly way he's talking to his new found pal. That playfulness was infectious. He helped each of us to be child-like. Where the child was, Paul was. And everyone who had a child in him found access to him. He welcomed the child.

I am not trying to romanticize his work or his death.  To know Paul, was to know a man who faced disease and death more than anyone we knew. He was fearless and, if for instance, you read  , you knew how incredibly courageous he was. It is said that what makes us vulnerable to one another is when we recognize the child in each other. Paul saw the world as a world of children. Against the backdrop of disease, threat, and death he wanted the children to flourish. All of us.

I imagine he is right now playing with God. And, I imagine, everyone else around the Kingdom of God is watching. And they are probably thinking that he's helping God to feel that God is fun to be with. RIP, Paul.

- James F. Keenan, S.J.

Global Conversations Program

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