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Saint Ö±²¥×ÔοÊÓƵ University Welcomes Opus Prize Foundation Finalists to Campus

11/15/2019

Campus events this week include Masses, a Panel Discussion, an Ecumenical Prayer Service and Class Visits

Saint Ö±²¥×ÔοÊÓƵ University will celebrate the Opus Prize with a week of events, beginning at SLU’s regular Sunday evening student Mass, and culminating in the awarding of the $1 million prize on Thursday, Nov. 21.

The 16th annual Opus Prize for innovative humanitarianism is awarded each year in partnership with a Catholic university. Past host universities include the University of Notre Dame, Georgetown University, The Catholic University of America, Marquette University, Gonzaga University and the University of Portland.

The finalists for the award, Michael Fernandez-Frey, founder and director of Caras con Causa; Sr. Catherine Mutindi, founder of Bon Pasteur; and Brother Charles Nuwagaba, Provincial Vicar of the Bannakaroli Brothers of St. Charles Lwanga, will spend the week of Nov. 17-21 on campus, sharing their organizations’ missions with the SLU community. They come from Puerto Rico; the Democratic Republic of Congo; and Kenya.

The 9 p.m. Sunday Mass at St. Francis Xavier College Church will open Opus Prize week. Kevin Burke, S.J., vice president for mission at Regis University, will be the homilist at the Mass, speaking on the 30th anniversary of the University of Central America (UCA) Martyrs. 

On Monday, the finalists will attend Mass and dinner at Boileau Hall. Throughout the week the finalists will participate in class discussions and events with students. 

SLU will also host several free events which are open to the public.

• Panel Discussion with Finalists - The public will have an opportunity to learn about the work of the three finalists at a panel discussion at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, in the Cook Auditorium in the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business.
• Ecumenical Prayer Service - A Taize’ Ecumenical prayer service will be held at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20, at the Aquinas Institute Chapel. Parking is available in SLU’s Laclede Garage. A dessert reception will follow. Click to register.
• Award Ceremony - The award ceremony will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, at the Center for Global Citizenship, with a reception to follow. Parking is available in SLU’s Laclede Garage. Click to register.

The Opus Prize Foundation

The Opus Prize Foundation is a private and independent nonprofit foundation. Established in 1994 by the founding chairman of earlier Opus Companies, the Opus Prize Foundation is a self-sufficient foundation independent from The Opus Group. The foundation selects universities as partners to organize and execute the Opus Prize selection process and award ceremony. Through these partnerships, students are challenged to think globally and inspired to live lives of service.

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Saint Ö±²¥×ÔοÊÓƵ University is a Catholic, Jesuit institution that values academic excellence, life-changing research, compassionate health care, and a strong commitment to faith and service. Founded in 1818, the University fosters the intellectual and character development of more than 13,500 students on campuses in St. Ö±²¥×ÔοÊÓƵ and Madrid, Spain. Building on a legacy of nearly 200 years, Saint Ö±²¥×ÔοÊÓƵ University continues to move forward with an unwavering commitment to a higher purpose, a greater good.