Charities head receives honor

About 150 people gathered Jan. 11 to see Sister Maureen Joyce, RSM, director of Catholic Charities of the Albany Diocese, receive the recently conceived Centennial Medal from Catholic Charities USA.

"Sister Maureen Joyce has represented Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany for more than three decades and for the last 20 years as its chief executive officer," said Rev. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA. "She has always been a living example of the mission of Catholic Charities USA."

Sister Maureen deflected attention and said the award "is really for all that Catholic Charities has done."

The premier principle of the group, she told The Evangelist, "is to make any decision through the lens of the people being served."

During the lunch at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Albany, a group of friends from Sister Maureen's 1958 graduating class from St. Teresa of Avila School in Albany recalled a fun and level-headed girl who gathered with her friends and her beloved grandmother in the kitchen of her Academy Road home.

"She was always the voice of logical common sense," said Lois Novak. "She was never impulsive but was a lot of fun."

Bishop Howard J. Hubbard praised Sister Maureen's pioneering work with unwed mothers, people without homes, those with HIV/AIDS and other underserved groups.

After Hurricane Katrina flooded New Orleans, "Sister Maureen was the first to send staff and they were the last to leave," said Father Snyder.

The medal recognizes work on reducing poverty and a commitment to Catholic principles. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, archbishop emeritus of Washington, received the first medal last November.

Catholic Charities USA is celebrating its 100th year with the honor, several books and other activities to prompt the broader community to live a life of justice and social concern. (By Christopher D. Ringwald)

01/14/10