Meet the New Director of Mission & Ministry, Sean D’Alfonso
Iona College is pleased to welcome Sean D’Alfonso as the new director of the Office of Mission & Ministry (OMM). In beginning this next chapter of service, justice and spirituality, D’Alfonso looks forward to bringing new ideas to the College while honoring the traditions that have made Iona the service-driven, faith-based community that it is today. Learn more about him and his vision below.
1. Can you tell us about your background?
I am originally from Rhode Island, where I came to know the Christian Brothers and Edmund Rice at Bishop Hendricken High School. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to go on the first immersion trip that the Brothers offered to Peru in 2007.
I was a 2011 Loyola University Maryland graduate and stayed in Baltimore for three years, working as a Teach for America Corps member in West Baltimore. In 2014, I moved to New York and worked in Campus Ministry at Iona Preparatory School for eight years. I have also worked with the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers since 2015 directing their Advocacy Office. My wife and I now live in Long Island.
2. Why Iona?
Since 2014, I’ve had the chance to visit Iona College and work with students and staff members many times. Those experiences shed light on what a fantastic community Iona has and the incredible work that the Office of Mission & Ministry has done. Being able to work with students and staff members who are leaders and passionate about making the world a more just and equitable place also inspired me to come to Iona. I was also drawn by the opportunity to be a part of the rich history and tradition that Iona College has, particularly their close relationship with the Christian Brothers.
3. What are some service initiatives that you are most excited about?
I am very excited to connect students and members of the Iona community with the many opportunities to serve both locally and around the world. The Gael Service Grant is a fantastic opportunity for first-year Gaels to jump in to service here at the College. It provides them with an opportunity to serve those in need in and around New Rochelle, while growing with their peers through reflection in cohort groups. I am excited to see the growth of this program and watch as first-year students become passionate about servant-leadership.
For other students, we are looking forward to next year and reopening many in-person service opportunities that shut down due to the pandemic. This includes a number of new service opportunities in New Rochelle and Mount Vernon as well as the return of our Iona in Mission immersion trips around the world.
For those who are more passionate about advocating for social justice issues and human rights concerns, I am also hoping to bring some of my experiences working with the Christian Brothers and their NGO at the United Nations, Edmund Rice International, and finding ways for members of the Iona community to get involved. I am excited to work with students who are passionate about social justice and to be able to help raise their voices to make change.
4. What are some of the goals you would like to reach on campus and within your office?
Our main goal in OMM is to get students and members of the Iona community engaged with our office and to truly live out the mission and values of Iona College and the Christian Brothers, and to be agents and leaders of positive change in the world. Thankfully, OMM has a very long history of doing just that and connecting with many members of campus in the process.
First and foremost, I would like OMM to continue to be a place for all Gaels, and advertise the fact that our door is always open and all are welcome. OMM strives to be a place that promotes community and I hope that we continue to connect with many groups here on campus to not only be involved with our programs, but to step into roles of leadership.
Looking forward, I would like to grow our community service offerings, particularly in the local community. New Rochelle is a fantastic place and there are many different ways to serve and get involved right down North Avenue. I’d like to see OMM and Iona College continue to be a beacon here in New Rochelle and also find new and innovative ways to support and build up our community. We also look forward to developing new possibilities for immersion programs around the world. As Iona College is part of the Edmund Rice Global Network of schools, there are so many places around the world where Iona is known and welcome. As COVID numbers continue to decrease, I’m hopeful that we will be able to bring back the variety of immersion experiences we have offered in the past and to add some new trips as well.
Our spirituality and retreat offerings are also great opportunities for students to get away from campus to explore and challenge their faith amongst their peers. We already offer a number of terrific retreats, including two annual Kairos retreats, and I hope that students continue to take advantage of these meaningful experiences.
5. How can students become involved in the Office of Mission & Ministry?
When I think of OMM and the work that our office does, I hope that the following quote from theologian and writer Frederick Buechner might offer an idea not of how, but of why, students might want to get involved in Mission & Ministry: “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”
I hope that when students look for ways to get involved in our office, they are able to develop their skills and passions while meeting the great needs of our world.
There really are countless opportunities to become involved with OMM. I think the best way to learn about all the things we offer is to stop by our office in LaPenta Student Union, but you can always visit our website or check out our Instagram for more information.
For those who are looking to just dip their toes in to see what OMM is all about, we host various events, such as a Hospitality Supper on Thursday nights at Montgomery House (or in Burke Lounge in the winter) where students can get FREE food and learn about opportunities with OMM. It’s a great way to get to know our office.
Our student campus ministers are the backbone of our office, and they create and lead many opportunities that students can get involved in. Getting in direct contact with them here is a great way to get involved.