On June 10, 2015, Edith Avila Olea, 22, was awarded the 2015 Cardinal Bernardin New Leadership Award for her work as the Parish Outreach and Board of Young Professionals Coordinator for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois. The Bernardin Award is sponsored by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), which is a domestic anti-poverty program of the U.S. bishops. The award does the following:
- Recognizes new and future leadership against poverty and injustice
- Promotes young people as leaders in our communities
- Honors outstanding young leaders and their organizations/ parishes
- Strengthens the Catholic community’s participation in CCHD’s anti-poverty mission
The Cardinal Bernardin New Leadership Award is given to young Catholics A between the ages 18-40 for those who exhibit “leadership consistent with the work and philosophy of CCHD to address the basic causes of economic poverty, a commitment to carry out the church’s option for and with the poor through the empowerment of people living in poverty and relationship building between those who are poor and non-poor, and potential for future leadership in these arenas.”
Edith describes her ministry,
“I visit with pastors, religious, and lay people. I educate about our programs,” she says. “The relationship opens a door for education about Catholic Social Teaching – lerning how to create a preferential option for the poor with what is currently available. To address systematic change and future laws, I point people to the Peace and Justice department at the diocese. We should be actively working together.”
Read More about Edith and her ministry.
Edith forms part of the V Encuentro leadership team for Episcopal Region 7 and will serve as one of three New Media Encuentro Representatives for Region 7. Congratulations to Edith Avila Olea.
2015 © ENAHVE. All Rights Reserved.
