King’s College today announced its new St. André Society, a professional association that furthers health science education at King’s College by connecting mission-driven health care professionals from across Northeastern Pennsylvania and beyond.
The new organization offers unique professional development and networking opportunities for alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the College. In addition, all members will receive regular news updates highlighting the latest health science news from across King’s College and the Dean of Health Sciences.
“A pair of crutches, which belonged to a boy healed by St. André Bessette, are mounted in the lobby of our Kowalski Center,” said King’s College President Rev. Thomas P. Looney, C.S.C., Ph.D. “The crutches, given to Brother André in thanksgiving, were donated to King’s from St. Joseph Oratory in Montreal because Brother André was a member of the same religious community as the priests and brothers that sponsor King’s, the Congregation of Holy Cross.”
“At King’s, our healthcare programs form graduates who will champion the inherent dignity of every person; a commitment that Brother André shared,” he continued. “Thus, we have named St. André as the Patron Saint of our healthcare programs and wish to unite alumni, friends, faculty, and students as members of the St. André Society in order to support one another in the healing professions.”
The Society is co-sponsoring the upcoming St. André Lecture and the inaugural White Mass for Healthcare Professionals, both of which are free and open to the public.
The 2026 Saint André Bessette Lecture, entitled “Information, Formation, and Transformation: From Artificial Intelligence to Human Imagination,” features Jeffrey Bishop, M.D., Ph.D., who serves as the Trent Endowed Chair in Bioethics at Saint Louis University. The event takes place Feb. 10, 2026, at 4 p.m. in the Burke Auditorium on the first floor of the McGowan School of Business on 131 N. River St. in Wilkes-Barre.
The White Mass for Healthcare Professionals will be held at 12:05 p.m. on Feb. 11., 2026 at the Chapel of Christ the King on 29 W. North St. in Wilkes Barre. Named for the white coats worn by many health care professionals, the White Mass is a special Catholic Mass honoring and praying for all those involved in the health care professions. Father Looney will preside at this inaugural event.
To learn more information and become a member, visit www.kings.edu/stAndrésociety.
