Bulletin for March 15, 2020

March 14, 2020

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In honor of St. Katharine Drexel’s feast day (March 3), join us for conversation about her life, mission, and legacy as a pioneer in service to and defense of the rights of Black and Native American children. Sr. Patricia Downs SBS, a vowed member of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (a religious congregation of women founded by Mother Drexel) will be joined by Joyce Hadley, a lay associate leader within the same community.

Sr. Patricia Downs, SBS entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in September 1955. Sr. Pat grew up in Troy, New York in the Albany Diocese, and earned a BA in Sociology/Social Work from Xavier University of New Orleans, LA. Her many years began with service in Religious Education in New Mexico and Louisiana. She then developed the Community Resource Center for the Haitian community in Belle Glade, Florida, and then spent over a decade living and working in Haiti in community empowerment ministry. She returned to the states and served as Director of the Saint Katharine Drexel Mission Center and National Shrine of Saint Katharine Drexel for 14 years. She is now retired and living with other members of her religious community at Paul's Run.

Joyce Hadley is a Lay Associate of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, chairs their Social Justice Committee, and is a member of the Program Committee for Cranaleith Spiritual Center. A board member of the Bucks County Human Relations Council, and a facilitator for the Peace Center in Langhorne, Joyce serves as a Committeewoman in Trevose, and previously served as School Board Director for Bensalem Township. The first African American candidate for Bucks County Commissioner, she is a past officer of the Bucks County NAACP. Joyce grew up in Concord Park, the first intentionally planned integrated community in the U.S. She has a B.A. in Journalism from Temple University, and retired from Verizon Communications in 2012. Recognitions include: the Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Award from Bensalem HS; the Legends in Peace Award from The Peace Center; the Al Krass Peace Award from The Interfaith Community of Bucks County; and the NAACP Community Service Award.

Panel Moderator:

Edward J. Lis

Bulletins

Bulletin for March 15, 2020

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