MIAMI | As president of St. Thomas University, Msgr. Franklyn Casale is leading the way in the fight for social justice, especially against modern-day slavery.

That is part of the reason why he received this year�s Lumen Christi (Light of Christ) award from the archdiocese�s Catholic Educators Guild.

�Our university academy on human trafficking�s role is crucial,� said Msgr. Casale after a Mass and award presentation at St. Mary Cathedral Oct. 13. �Higher educational institutions have and must continue to develop curricula and modules focused on educating their students on the roots, causes and solutions of this problem.�

The Human Trafficking Academy is a top-level, renowned program of St. Thomas University�s law school. The academy prepares aspiring leaders for the struggle to protect and defend the inalienable rights of every human being while engaging in a global intercultural dialogue, Msgr. Casale said.  

And then there�s Haiti Tec, a 700-student vocational school in Port-au-Prince which Msgr. Casale helped found with help from STU alumnus Laurent Lamothe, now the prime minister of Haiti.

Ordained in New Jersey in 1967, Msgr. Casale served as vicar general, chancellor and moderator of the curia for the Archdiocese of Newark as well as board member of Seton Hall University and Bloomfield College. He became St. Thomas� president in 1994 and is active in a number of community organizations, maintaining leadership positions in several higher education associations.

The Catholic Educators Guild is made up of Catholics who teach in both Catholic and public schools, said Guild President Marjorie Wessel. Now in its 43rd year, the Lumen Christi award honors Catholic individuals for outstanding service and dedication to education.

�It�s a great recognition for STU and all the work we�ve been doing to produce a quality educational institution,� said Msgr. Casale. �Many of my colleagues came to Mass and I�m honored by their presence.�

Among them he pointed out Roza Pati, STU law professor, director of the Human Trafficking Academy and executive director of the Intercultural Human Rights graduate program. A native of Albania, the STU alumnus served in the Albanian parliament and cabinet. She was recently appointed by the Vatican as one of about two dozen members of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.