Notre Dame Sister Rita Mary Harwood was presented with the first InnerCity Saints Award at a luncheon Nov. 17 at The City Club in downtown Cleveland.
The award was established this year by Notre Dame College to ?salute an individual who truly reflects the goodness and selflessness of a ?saint? working among us,? said Thomas Kruczek, Notre Dame College president. He said Sister Rita Mary?s life in service to others ?sets a meaningful example of a life that is wholly gospel centered and driven by boundless energy and compassion.?
Kruczek said the award pays tribute to the unsung heroes ?who are dedicated in some way to eliminating despair among the marginalized in our Cleveland communities.?
Sister Rita Mary serves on the executive staff of Cleveland Bishop Richard Lennon, heading the Secretariat for Parish Life and Development. Her responsibilities include overseeing the offices are in service to parishes, as well as the lay organizations and ethnic ministries of the diocese.
Beginning in June 1994, she facilitated the planning and implementation of The Church in the City Initiative, a pastoral statement issued by retired Bishop Anthony Pilla to call attention to the impact of urban sprawl and outmigration of people not only on the future of the Catholic community in the diocese, but on the lives of all people in the region. As spokesperson for the initiative, she has addressed groups on a local, national and international level and met with people from the business and civic communities, as well as facilitated numerous community and parish groups.
After she joined Bishop Pilla?s staff in 1995, Sister Rita Mary initiated several ministries in the diocese, including a ministry to the incarcerated, the Gay and Lesbian Family Ministry, the Asian Ministry and the Africa Ministry, each of which has an extensive volunteer contingent and continues to serve the needs of those communities.
Before joining the bishop?s staff, Sister was a teacher, administrator and supervisor of schools.
She also served nine years as the major superior of her religious congregation.
Jesuit Father Gregory Boyle of Los Angeles, founder and executive director of Homeboy Industries, the largest gang intervention, rehab and re-entry program in the country, was keynote speaker at the luncheon. He also is a best-selling author and has received numerous honorary degrees, awards and recognitions.
