Manhattan University
Mission & Ministry
Rooted in 1853, alive in everything we do today.
Manhattan University is a Lasallian Catholic institution where faith, learning, and service shape how students live and lead. Our mission inspires the classroom, the chapel, and the communities we serve across New York City and around the world.
The Manhattan University Difference
Our Lasallian Catholic Identity
Manhattan University was founded in 1853 by the Brothers of the Christian Schools, a Catholic teaching order inspired by Saint John Baptist de La Salle, the patron saint of teachers. More than 170 years later, that founding vision still shapes who we are. The word "Lasallian" is far more than a label. It is a way of teaching, learning, and living that places the dignity of every person at the center of education.
Born in 17th-century Reims, France, De La Salle left a life of wealth and ordained ministry to serve children who had been denied an education. He believed that learning was the most powerful path out of poverty and that every student deserved a teacher who saw them, knew them, and walked with them. That commitment, to the student as a whole person and to education as an act of service, is what it means to be Lasallian today.
At Manhattan University, our Lasallian Catholic mission drives everything we do: how we teach, how we serve, how we welcome students of every faith and background, and how we send our graduates into the world ready to make it more just.
The Office of Mission
The Office of Mission supports the entire Manhattan University community in understanding and living out our distinctive Lasallian Catholic identity. Working with schools, departments, and programs across campus, the office helps ensure that the five Lasallian principles remain visible and active in everything Manhattan does.
Through Lasallian and Catholic formation programs, the Lasallian Educator Awards, and ongoing consultation with faculty and staff, the Office of Mission helps every part of the University connect its work to our founding tradition.
What the Office of Mission Supports
- Lasallian and Catholic formation programs
- Lasallian Educator Awards
- Mission Week programming each spring
- Lasallian feast days and reflection resources
- Consultation with academic departments and offices
- Strategic alignment with the University's Lasallian identity
Contact: mission@manhattan.edu | 718-862-7734
Faith, Service, and Belonging
Campus Ministry
At Manhattan University, Campus Ministry works to ensure that everyone on campus, regardless of faith or religious tradition, has an opportunity to worship and grow spiritually. Rooted in the Gospel, Catholic Social Teaching, and our Lasallian mission, our community welcomes students of every faith background and honors religious celebrations of all kinds.
Religious Services
Campus Ministry facilitates the celebration of Masses, morning prayers, meditations, Advent and Lenten reflections, Jummah prayer for Muslim students, and transportation to local Jewish synagogues throughout the academic year.
Spiritual Retreats
Each month during the semester, Agape Latte hosts a coffee house style speaker series that offers a social, welcoming environment for students looking to explore how faith applies to real life questions and everyday situations.
Agape Latte Speaker Series
Each month during the semester, Agape Latte hosts a coffee house style speaker series that offers a social, welcoming environment for students looking to explore how faith applies to real life questions and everyday situations.
Faith-Based Student Groups
Grow your faith alongside peers by joining one of the many spiritual and worship groups on campus, where students gather for prayer, conversation, and community across a range of religious traditions.
Prepare for the Real World
At Manhattan University, your education is built around who you are and where you want to go. Whether you’re ready to apply or just starting to explore, take the next step when you’re ready — we’re here to help.