2006 Lumen Christi Award Recipient Sr. Vera Butler, PBVM

Catholic Extension Presents 2006 Lumen Christi

Award To Sister Vera Butler, PBVM

Lumen Christi Award Recipient, Sister Vera Butler, PBVM photo by Peter Finney, Jr.

Sister Vera Butler, offering some fruit at St. Joseph's "Feed Jesus" ministry. photo by Peter Finney, Jr.

Sister Vera Butler checks in on a New Orleans resident and her granddaughter, who have moved back into their flooded home after volunteers helped gut it. Sister Vera arranged for the resident to get a refrigerator and water heater. photo by Peter Finney, Jr.

CHICAGO - One of most powerful and forceful voices for the poor, homeless, and hungry in New Orleans speaks with a soft and sweet Irish accent.

But Presentation Sister Vera Butler, who arrived in the Crescent City in 1990, always knew that action spoke much louder than words. And so into action she went, taking the helm of a daily lunch program at St. Joseph's Church on the outskirts of the city, serving on a co-op that helps put first-time homeowners into their own home, and being the presence of the Church in a city that has always known hard times, even before the mythic hurricanes made landfall.

For her continuing work radiating the "Light of Christ" in her important ministry caring for the homeless, the poor, the hungry, and the elderly, Sister Vera Butler has been named the 2006 recipient of the Catholic Church Extension Society's Lumen Christi Award. The national award (which means "Light of Christ") is presented by Catholic Extension to recognize outstanding missionary work in America.

His Eminence, Francis Cardinal George, OMI, Chancellor of Catholic Extension, will present the Lumen Christi Award to Sister Vera at a special Mass and dinner on September 23 in Chicago. Catholic Extension will further honor Sister Vera with a gift of $10,000, and the Archdiocese of New Orleans will be given $25,000.

"We at Catholic Extension are privileged to recognize and honor missionaries like Sister Vera Butler," said Catholic Extension President Bishop William R. Houck. "She is an inspiration. Such humble and generous service to the least of our brothers and sisters prompts us all to live our Faith and be generous in bringing it to others."

Archbishop of New Orleans Alfred C. Hughes said, "Through her deep and visible faith in God, her undaunted dedication to the mission of the Presentation Sisters 'to do justice in the way of Jesus,' and her boundless energy and creativity, Sister Vera Butler is a catalyst for thousands of Catholics and other Christian men and women of faith through the Archdiocese of New Orleans to make the important connection in their lives between faith and service."

While in high school, Sister Vera experienced the charism and spirit of Nano Nagle, founder of the Presentation Sisters in Ireland, and was drawn by that spirit to join the Presentation Sisters in Clonmel, Ireland. Sister Nagle, who lived from 1718 to 1784, would teach religious education to children in mud cabins, and her night-time ministries to poverty-stricken elderly and sick in her hometown gave her the nickname "The Lady with the Lantern," a story that is not lost on Sister Vera.

Her light shone brightly during the dark days after Hurricane Katrina as she did her typical missionary service. From the inner-city's St. Joseph's Church, Sister Vera trudged through the streets of New Orleans, offering sandwiches and cold drinks to anyone she happened to meet - and she offered them something else, too - hope, reassurance, optimism.

"After Katrina, we found ourselves with no electricity and no plumbing, going from place to place, seeing what we could do to help," said Sister Vera. A natural organizer with a can-do spirit, she sees herself as "part-bridge, part-octopus." She listens to the vastly growing needs among the poor, and reaches out to seek help from those in a position to offer it.

"There was a young person in need of some eyeglasses recently," she said. "I contacted an optometrist, who volunteered his services - and then others stepped forward with the same need, and the doctor agreed to do the same for them. I continue to be impressed by his generosity - and the generosity of so many other people."

Heeding the words of Jesus words to "Feed my Sheep," Sister Vera runs a daily lunch program for the many homeless people on the edge of New Orleans' central business and tourist district. The program is called "Feed Jesus," after the passage in Matthew's Gospel where Jesus reveals that in feeding the hungry, we are in reality feeding Jesus Himself. At first, it was cold sandwiches. Then Sister Vera organized some volunteers and reached out and got some donations in order to provide hot lunches as frequently as possible. To date, no one has ever been turned away from the door.

While serving as director of the outreach ministries at St. Joseph's Church, Sister Vera is also Executive Director of the Tulane/Canal Neighborhood Development Cooperation, a collaborative venture with other churches and local businesses organized to improve the quality of life for people living and working in the area. Not long ago, its first home was sold to a first-time homeowner. Sister Vera helped secure block grants to build six more homes and hopes to build others, though she herself lives in a modest trailer.

Sister Vera also makes frequent visits to the elderly. Holder of a Master's degree in Pastoral Studies and good with strict budgets, she helps them manage their bills.

Sometimes a large, unexpected bill will arise for a parishioner, and Sister will do her best to help out.

Rose Mary McDonald, the housekeeper at St. Joseph's Church, recalls the time when her brother died suddenly. Sister Vera offered her quiet comfort and reassurance - and then went about finding a donor to help with the burial expenses. Just before Katrina made landfall, Sister Vera made sure that Rose would be safe. "She would frequently say to me in her sweet little Irish accent, 'Everything will be okay, love.' "

On occasion, Sister Vera's ministry has been truly life changing. Mary Clemmens, 74, lived in St. Joseph's Parish all her life. During Katrina, she was evacuated to the Superdome for a week and then was displaced to San Antonio, Texas. She came back home in October 2005 to a flooded home that was damaged beyond habitability.

"I felt so discouraged, I was ready to give up," Clemmons said. "Then I met Sister Vera and got such a warm welcome from her that I could feel my spirit lifting. She helped me get a FEMA trailer, she arranged for a group of students to volunteer to work on my home, and she told me to 'Ask Jesus to help.' I became strong because she believed in me, and together, we trusted in Jesus. I found hope because she was faithful to her word.

"When Sister Vera speaks, it's in a very gentle and soft Irish voice," Clemmons said. "But when she says something can be done, you can be sure it will be done."

"I'm truly humbled by this honor, " Sister Vera said. "I receive it in the name of all the people here in New Orleans who have lost everything and yet who still tell me that they are blessed, because they have been able to experience God through the generosity of others. And I thank Catholic Extension for all the wonderful work being done every day to help the home missions, where I know so much help is sorely needed."

This year marks the 29th annual Lumen Christi Award given by Catholic Extension. Nominations are put forward by home mission bishops and then judged by a prestigious panel. This year's panel included television's Bob Newhart, Chicago Bears Board of Directors Secretary Virginia McCaskey, Joanne Velasquez of Azteca Foods, "Our Sunday Visitor" Associate Publisher Monsignor Owen Campion, USCCB President Most Reverend William S. Skylstad, and retired Bishop of Biloxi Most Reverend Joseph L. Howze.

For more than 100 years, the Chicago-based Catholic Church Extension Society has supported Catholic missions in the U.S. by funding church construction, religious education and seminary formation, outreach ministries, evangelization, salaries and operating expenses. Catholic Extension is the leading supporter of Catholic missions in the U.S. and has raised and distributed more than $400 million over its history.