Chamber honors sisters’ work in 2009

January 11, 2010 by

Sister Marcia Allen accepts the 2009 Volunteer of the Year Award on behalf of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia.

Sister Marcia Allen accepts the 2009 Volunteer of the Year Award on behalf of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia.


Citing projects from the Concordia Year of Peace and Civility Pledge to the community garden and the new Neighbor to Neighbor center, the Concordia Chamber of Commerce has named the Sisters of St. Joseph as 2009 volunteer of the year.


Sister Marcia Allen accepted the honor on behalf of the congregation at the chamber’s 83rd Annual Awards Dinner Saturday evening (Jan. 9). Sister Marcia, president of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia, thanked the chamber for the award and the community for the opportunities to work together on a wide variety of projects.


“Every time we are able to help, we are blessed in return,” Sister Marcia told the crowd in the dining room of the Concordia American Legion Golf Course. “This has been our home for 126 years, and we are privileged to help you care for it.”

Barbara Shunn reads the nomination for the sisters award.

Barbara Shunn reads the nomination for the sisters' award.

The honor — officially, “The 2009 Leon Gennette Award for Community Service, Volunteer of the Year,” named for the late Concordian who served as executive director of the chamber and was widely known for his community volunteer activities — recognizes a number of projects that sisters have been involved in, both as individuals and as a congregation:


• The new Neighbor to Neighbor center, which will be housed in a building now being renovated in downtown Concordia, to serve women and women with children.

• The community forums that have been held throughout 2009, to help Concordia residents come together to identify problems and find solutions.

• The Concordia Year of Peace, which began in September as a 16-month effort to focus on nonviolence and cooperation through a range of workshops, speakers and other activities.

• The Civility Pledge, which has grown out of the Year of Peace as a way to encourage civil public discourse.

• Partnerships during the Kansas Sampler Festival and other events to open the historic Nazareth Motherhouse for tours.

• The community organic garden now being planned for a 100-by-200-foot plot on the northeast corner of the Motherhouse property.

In addition to all the other projects during the year, explained Barbara Shunn as she read the sisters’ nomination, “Now they’re going to allow us to plow up part of their front yard for a community garden.”

Comments

6 Responses to “Chamber honors sisters’ work in 2009”

  1. Jeanette Wasinger on January 14th, 2010 7:00 pm

    What a wonderful tribute! I have heard from many people that this was a stellar event and that people spontaneously rose to their feet to give a standing ovation. I’m sure the award was humbly accepted in the name of the whole community. Alleluia!

  2. Jean on January 14th, 2010 4:32 pm

    Congratulations to all of us CSJ’s….for what is happening in Concordia, is micro to what is happening where each of us are!It was great to be a part of the evening’s event! Wonderful people in Concordia!

  3. Carm Thibault on January 12th, 2010 7:43 pm

    What a great privilege and honor! Thanks, Marcia, for accepting it in the name of the community…

  4. Helen Mick on January 12th, 2010 9:28 am

    What a lovely tribute. Much gratitude to all.

  5. Loretta Jasper, csj on January 11th, 2010 4:05 pm

    This award provided to the CSJ’s of Concordia must be particularly pleasing to Leon Gennette, a long-time residant of Conordia who dedicated his life to the well-being of Concordia.
    Thanks to Concordia and to we CSJ’s for continuing his life with honor and integrity.

  6. Jodi Creten on January 11th, 2010 12:18 pm

    A nice recognition for work well done and together with the Concordia community. Kudos to all!

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