Our Annual
Gathering & Awards Event
was held on
Tuesday, October 20, 2020
Gathering & Awards Event
was held on
Tuesday, October 20, 2020
It’s been a year like no other, and our annual
celebration was like no other!
Our Annual Social Justice Dinner and Awards
goes virtual!
We kept some of our regular components:
Keynote Speaker! Awards! Messages from the Archbishop and the Executive Director.
celebration was like no other!
Our Annual Social Justice Dinner and Awards
goes virtual!
We kept some of our regular components:
Keynote Speaker! Awards! Messages from the Archbishop and the Executive Director.
If you were unable to attend or would like to view the event again - it can be seen on our You Tube Channel
You can scroll down for all the information about our Keynote Speaker and our Award Winners.
Keynote Speaker—Kimberly Mazyck
Kimberly Mazyck is the Senior Manager of Engagement and Educational Outreach at Catholic Charities USA Cat(CCUSA), where she is developing a grassroots network that advocates for justice in social structures. Before joining CCUSA, she served as the Relationship Manager for National Partnerships at Catholic Relief Services (CRS) where she coordinated national speaking tours for CRS which highlighted CRS overseas programming including peacebuilding, food security and HIV and featured staff and partners from around the world. Kim also managed Catholic Relief Services’ Africa Rising: Hope and Healing campaign. In 1995 she traveled on a fact-finding mission to Rwanda and contributed to Human Rights Watch’s publication of Leave No One to Tell the Story: Genocide in Rwanda which contributed to the formation of the tribunal
Kimberly Mazyck is the Senior Manager of Engagement and Educational Outreach at Catholic Charities USA Cat(CCUSA), where she is developing a grassroots network that advocates for justice in social structures. Before joining CCUSA, she served as the Relationship Manager for National Partnerships at Catholic Relief Services (CRS) where she coordinated national speaking tours for CRS which highlighted CRS overseas programming including peacebuilding, food security and HIV and featured staff and partners from around the world. Kim also managed Catholic Relief Services’ Africa Rising: Hope and Healing campaign. In 1995 she traveled on a fact-finding mission to Rwanda and contributed to Human Rights Watch’s publication of Leave No One to Tell the Story: Genocide in Rwanda which contributed to the formation of the tribunal
Keynote Address:
Grab your knapsack, we have a house to build.
Let us prepare for the inclusive Church of our dreams.
Our church teaches that, “every type of discrimination, whether social or cultural, whether based on sex, race, color, social condition, language or religion, is to be overcome and eradicated as contrary to God's intent.” (Gaudium et Spes, #29) We are committed to this teaching, but we must ensure that we are eliminating discrimination and creating truly welcoming spaces so that the love of God is evidenced in all that we do.
Grab your knapsack, we have a house to build.
Let us prepare for the inclusive Church of our dreams.
Our church teaches that, “every type of discrimination, whether social or cultural, whether based on sex, race, color, social condition, language or religion, is to be overcome and eradicated as contrary to God's intent.” (Gaudium et Spes, #29) We are committed to this teaching, but we must ensure that we are eliminating discrimination and creating truly welcoming spaces so that the love of God is evidenced in all that we do.
The Most Rev. Joseph F. Donnelly Memorial Awards
Individual Award: Mary Lou Benoit-Connors
Founder and Board of Director President
of Helping Haitian Children
Mary Lou Benoit-Connors recently retired as the Pulmonary Rehab Coordinator for St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, in Hartford. Throughout her career, she volunteered her time arranging annual medical mission trips to Haiti, bringing medical teams and supplies since 1983. She also coordinated medication coordination at a group home for men with HIV for 14 years. Her experience in Haiti led her to found the nonprofit Helping Haitian Children whose mission is to support the Catholic Brothers in their educational and health ministries.
For many years, Mary Lou served as the chair of the Social Justice Committee at St. Ann Church in Avon, where she facilitated the JustFaith program, coordinated donations of food and school supplies, and serves as the Catholic Relief Services Parish Ambassador. She also worked with Catholic Charities, helping newly arrived sponsored refugee families.
Founder and Board of Director President
of Helping Haitian Children
Mary Lou Benoit-Connors recently retired as the Pulmonary Rehab Coordinator for St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, in Hartford. Throughout her career, she volunteered her time arranging annual medical mission trips to Haiti, bringing medical teams and supplies since 1983. She also coordinated medication coordination at a group home for men with HIV for 14 years. Her experience in Haiti led her to found the nonprofit Helping Haitian Children whose mission is to support the Catholic Brothers in their educational and health ministries.
For many years, Mary Lou served as the chair of the Social Justice Committee at St. Ann Church in Avon, where she facilitated the JustFaith program, coordinated donations of food and school supplies, and serves as the Catholic Relief Services Parish Ambassador. She also worked with Catholic Charities, helping newly arrived sponsored refugee families.
Individual Award: Patrick Speer
Founder of Amos Resources
Early is his career, Patrick served as the Program Director at the Catholic Campaign for Human Development in Washington, DC, where he supported the efforts of farm workers in Florida. He later worked as a community organizer for a variety organizations with the United Mine Workers of America to raise awareness of health issues related to unjust working conditions. This was followed by the Sponsoring Committee, addressing issues of concern in the greater New Haven area, which became ECCO (Elm City Congregations Organized) and Patrick became their first Lead Organizer. When ECCO broadened its scope to include Bridgeport and its surrounding communities, Patrick continued as the Lead Organizer of the new organization, CONECT (Communities Organized for a New Connecticut). He subsequently retired from CONECT to become a Mentor Organizer for the Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance.
Founder of Amos Resources
Early is his career, Patrick served as the Program Director at the Catholic Campaign for Human Development in Washington, DC, where he supported the efforts of farm workers in Florida. He later worked as a community organizer for a variety organizations with the United Mine Workers of America to raise awareness of health issues related to unjust working conditions. This was followed by the Sponsoring Committee, addressing issues of concern in the greater New Haven area, which became ECCO (Elm City Congregations Organized) and Patrick became their first Lead Organizer. When ECCO broadened its scope to include Bridgeport and its surrounding communities, Patrick continued as the Lead Organizer of the new organization, CONECT (Communities Organized for a New Connecticut). He subsequently retired from CONECT to become a Mentor Organizer for the Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance.
Rice Bowl Donation Information
In lieu of a ticket, we ask that you consider making a donation to Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl program. The pandemic greatly impacted the parish participation in this program as well as the recipients. We administer the twenty-five percent which stays in our Archdiocese, helping to address local poverty and hunger.
In lieu of a ticket, we ask that you consider making a donation to Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl program. The pandemic greatly impacted the parish participation in this program as well as the recipients. We administer the twenty-five percent which stays in our Archdiocese, helping to address local poverty and hunger.
CRS Rice Bowl donations
Catholic Relief Services
Attn: CRS Rice Bowl
P.O. Box 17090
Baltimore, MD 21297-0303
Or donate online at www.crsricebowl.org/give
(with credit card or withdrawal from bank account)
Catholic Relief Services
Attn: CRS Rice Bowl
P.O. Box 17090
Baltimore, MD 21297-0303
Or donate online at www.crsricebowl.org/give
(with credit card or withdrawal from bank account)