De Porres Center for Community Service

Heeding the Christian call to serve the poor, the Office of Campus Ministry's De Porres Center provides opportunities for involvement in serving the local and global communities. Named after the 16th century saint of the Dominican Order, St. Martín de Porres who lived and ministered in Lima, Peru devoting his life to prayer, love of neighbor and care for creation. Martín was born in 1579 of Juan de Porres, a Spanish nobleman and Anna Valesques, an African freedwoman. At his death on November 3, 1639, Martín was immediately hailed as a saint for his service to the poor and tireless work of reconciliation among those divided by race, ethnicity and religion. Canonized by the Catholic Church in 1962, he was named the patron saint of social justice for the universal Church.

It is in the spirit of St. Martín that the Center develops and promotes volunteer opportunities on a weekly and monthly basis and organizes several community service events throughout the year, such as the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service and the Volunteer Fair. The Center supports activities of service and social action by student clubs and groups. It also provides a location for students to learn about and get involved in volunteer and social justice opportunities available in the local community.

In addition, the Center encourages Barry students to make the connections between faith, service, justice, and the mission of the University by providing opportunities for theological reflection and integrative workshops. Campus Ministry is always looking for student leaders, motivated by the Gospel call to serve their neighbor; to help promote student involvement, schedule volunteer trips, and special events and to create a spirit of teamwork, responsibility, and collaboration among students and local placement sites.

Volunteer Opportunities

Regular local service opportunities include working with after-school tutoring and activities programs, the elderly and homebound, the homeless and economically marginalized, environmental restoration, and much more.

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity is an international Christian organization that invites all people to become involved in issues of housing for the poor. From raising awareness to the hands-on labor of building homes, Barry's own chapter of this organization makes a profound difference in the local community. For more information or to get involved, please e-mail: habitat@mail.barry.edu.

Alternative Spring Break

Alternative Spring Break is a registered student organization recognized by the University's University Funded Organization. Directed by and for students, the mission of Barry's Alternative Spring Break is to educate students about social, political, and environmental justice issues through direct service, individual and group reflection, student leadership, diversity, and engagement beyond the local community. Students interested in participating in Alternative Spring Break may e-mail the organizations' faculty advisor, Christina Leano at cleano@mail.barry.edu.

Charity Drives

Campus Ministry supports a variety of charitable drives to share God's love and justice with those in need. From collecting vitamins for children in the Dominican Republic and school supplies for children attending inner city schools to sponsoring the Thanksgiving food drive for local families, Campus Ministry needs you to help make a difference!

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

In 1994 Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act, designating the holiday as a national day of volunteer service. Instead of a day off from work or school, Congress asked Americans of all backgrounds and ages to celebrate Dr. King's legacy by turning community concerns into citizen action. The King Day of Service brings together people who might not ordinarily meet, breaks down barriers that have divided us in the past, and leads to better understanding and ongoing relationships in our communities. In observance of this holiday on campus, Barry's students, faculty, and staff are dispersed throughout the North Miami community working to end what Dr. King called the "curse of poverty [which] has no justification in our age." Our university community gathers on the Saturday nearest our country's observance of the holiday to advance Dr. King's legacy of faith in action.