Law and the Search for Justice

SALT Briefs

Mary Anne Bradish, BVM (Leslie) has been honored with the Sister Mary Baptist Russell Award for 2006 by Mercy Hospital, Bakersfield, Calif. Mary Ann is regional manager of chaplain services for Mercy and Memorial Hospitals.

She was recognized for her commitment to the integration of compassionate care and quality care, innovation in provision of services, and meaningful responses to the needs of others with compassion and stewardship. The award is named for the Mercy Sister who led her community's foundation in San Francisco.

BVMs (St.) Geraldine Moorman and Grace Ann Callen received the Heart of St. Bartholomew Award for their contributions to the Chicago parish and school. Geraldine was honored as a former principal and pastoral associate. Grace Ann was recognized as the initiator of the kindergarten.

BVM Honored for Leadership

Mary Fran McLaughlin, BVM (Virginia) has received the Independent School Chief Executive Leadership Award for 2006 from District V of CASE (Chief Administrators in Secondary Education). She recently retired after serving as president of Carmel High School, Mundelein, Ill., for ten years.

The award is presented to a school's chief executive officer who has articulated a compelling vision for the institution and inspired others to that vision; established a positive image for the institution while leading it to higher levels of success; increased the institution's stature in the community; encouraged innovation and risk-taking among employees; and actively supported all aspects of institutional advancement.

MaryLane Neubauer Blomquist (center) presents Harriet Holles, BVM (l.) and Carol Blitgen, BVM with the award.

BVMs Receive Core Values Award

The first recipients of the BVM Core Values Award at Clarke College are BVMs Carol Blitgen (John Carol) and Harriet Holles (Agneda). Newly established by Clarke alum MaryLane Neubauer Blomquist, the award honors two of her most influential teachers.

It will be presented annually to a current or recent member of the faculty, staff or administration “who strongly exemplifies the BVM Core Values of freedom, education, charity and justice, as well as the quest for self-knowledge and the application of knowledge for a greater good.”

Carol is a long-time drama faculty member; Harriet recently retired from the religious studies and math departments.

Sisters United New (SUN), a consortium of communicators for religious communities of women in the Upper Mississippi Valley —including the BVMs, was among eight recipients of “Top Practices” Awards from the National Communicators Network of Women Religious.

This is the third year SUN has been honored; this year's recognition is for working with leadership in a collaborative project, “A Celebration of Women's Leadership: A Celebration of Sisterhood,” commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious.