Iona University Students Embark on Mission Trip to Ireland, Honoring Legacy of Blessed Edmund Rice
Iona University students recently traveled to Ireland on a transformative mission trip, deepening their connection to the University’s Irish heritage and its commitment to service. The journey followed in the footsteps of Blessed Edmund Rice, founder of the Congregation of Christian Brothers, whose legacy continues to inspire Iona’s mission.
Led by student leaders Ryan Murphy and Will Quincy, the group explored the legacy of Edmund Rice, visiting the places where he lived and served. More than a historical journey, the experience was a call to action—challenging students to embrace their role as advocates for service.
"I think part of the mission is to help young people realize their role in society,” said Christian Brother Raymond Vercruysse, “as advocates of justice, as men and women of faith, and as people conscious of our world."
At the heart of the trip was hands-on community engagement. Students volunteered in soup kitchens and shelters, providing support to individuals experiencing homelessness.
“A lot of people can look around and be bystanders, but if we’re able to be a doer then it sets an example for those around us,” said Makena Spatz ’28, a freshman participant of the mission trip. “That’s one of the biggest things I took away from this trip.”
This mission trip exemplifies Iona’s core values of learning, service and justice. It reinforces the University’s commitment to preparing students to make a meaningful impact in the world—whether in New York, Ireland or beyond. Through experiences such as these, Iona students continue to carry forward Edmund Rice’s legacy, ensuring that the work of faith and service thrives in today’s world.
Iona’s spiritual connection to Ireland has strengthened further with the opening of its new campus in County Mayo in May 2024. Located on the historic 400-acre Westport House Estate, the campus provides opportunities for global learning and deepens Iona’s connection to its Irish roots. Students are set to return this May.
ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of more than 50,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona also continues to be recognized in prestigious national rankings. Most recently for 2025, Iona has been named one of the nation’s best colleges by The Princeton Review, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and others. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report recognized Iona as one of top for social mobility in the country, while Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) ranked an Iona degree in the top 5 percent nationally for long-term return on investment. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business, meanwhile, is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just 6 percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review recognized Iona’s on-campus MBA program as a “Best Business School for 2024.” Iona also offers a fully online MBA program for even greater flexibility. In July 2021, Iona announced the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, which is now principally located on Iona’s Bronxville campus in collaboration with one of the nation’s top hospitals. Connecting to its Irish heritage, Iona also opened a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland, located on the historic 400-acre Westport House Estate. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.