Nelson Pérez, the Archbishop of Philadelphia, participated in the 2023 Concursus held at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. During the event, he presented an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws to Helen M. Alvaré, a Philadelphia native and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. 

“Please join me in offering prayerful best wishes and congratulations to all of the graduates honored today as well as their teachers, professors, instructors and loved ones who have supported them on this journey!” Pérez said on Twitter after the event. “What a great day!” 

Alvaré, serving as both associate dean and professor, delivered the keynote speech at the seminary's annual graduation ceremony, where academic degrees are awarded to seminarians, religious, and lay students in undergraduate and graduate programs. Alvaré also acts as a faculty advisor for the law school's Civil Rights Law Journal and Latino/a Law Student Association, while being an active member of various groups including the Holy See's Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life (Vatican City) and Catholic Relief Services, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia said in a release. 

Alvaré also holds the esteemed Robert A. Levy Endowed Chair in Law and Liberty at Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University, according to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Previous recipients of honorary degrees from the seminary include Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, Archbishop Borys Gudziak, and other notable figures. 

Alvaré has taught at the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America; represented the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops before legislative bodies, academic audiences and the media. Her work regularly appears in media outlets such as the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.

The St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, established in 1832 by Bishop Francis Kenrick, stands as the oldest Catholic institution of higher learning in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. It enrolls 136 seminarians from 14 dioceses and religious orders, the archdiocese said.