Caldwell
Dominicans Grant Peace Award
 CALDWELL,
NJ -- June 23, 2008 – Sister deMontfort Kinchellagh,
OP (Caldwell) received the 2008 Dominican Peace Award recently in
the congregation's Motherhouse Chapel. The Caldwell Dominican
Commission on Global Issues presented the award.
Her position as Councilor for Ministry in 1979 offered Sister
deMontfort the opportunity to activate more fully her natural gift
of leadership and her passion for justice. She formed a
Justice Committee for the Caldwell Dominican Community. That
committee originally known as the Church and World Committee evolved
into the present day Commission on Global Issues.
In commenting on the choice of this year’s peace award recipient,
Sister Mary John Kearney, OP, commented, “Sister deMontfort’s
consistently superior leadership in the work for justice expands
into many directions on behalf of our modern - and often wounded
- world community.” Her work for global justice spans
three decades:
- When the 1979 Sisters’ General Chapter voted to adopt
a Boat Family, it was Sister deMontfort’s responsibility
to coordinate that blessing to our Caldwell Community. Sister
is still in contact with the Tran Family.
- Sister deMontfort was the central coordinator when the Caldwell
Community hosted “Dominicans for Peace” at
Caldwell College in 1982. Dominican Sisters, Friars, and
Laity from all across the USA arrived on campus - their “home
base” - and then joined 750,000 marchers in New York City
for the special UN session on disarmament.
- As Councilor on the Sisters’ Leadership Team, Sister
chaired the Church and World Committee for four years and remained
an active member after her term of Community Leadership ended.
- In 1999, Sister deMontfort responded to the call of her Community
to become Chairperson of the Commission on Global Issues – a
position she still holds at this present time.
- Since 2002, Sister deMontfort has accepted the added responsibility
of serving as the Caldwell Justice Promoter for the Northeast
Dominicans.
Sister Peggy Ryan, OP, a member of the Caldwell Global Issues
Commission, stated, “Sister deMontfort is a leader in the
very best sense of the word. She not only studies and acts
personally in areas that demand a response for justice, but she
invites, encourages, and supports many persons who work alongside
her in this ministry of Truth.”
All of the Commission
members affirmed that “It is because of Sister deMontfort’s
leadership, vision and passion for justice that the Commission
on Global Issues is continually energized to continue our efforts
to live our Congregational Vision Statement: ‘We will
hold the promotion of Justice as top priority in every area of
our Congregation.’ It is with her guidance and direction
that this Commission is empowered to provide information and raise
awareness of individual and systemic injustices that demand a response
from local, national and international community groups.”
For
more information, log on to www.caldwellop.org |
