In recognition of the gift of shared responsibility, outlined in our Mission Statement, the Saint Katharine Drexel National Justice Award was conceived as a call for all to share the Gospel message and challenge deeply rooted injustices in the world.
The recipient(s) must be:
• Living a religious life infused with deep religious and moral values
• Supportive of cultural and social equality among all peoples
• Concerned for the poor, the unchurched, and the alienated
• Appreciative of the variety and values in racial and cultural heritages
• Willing to do whatever is possible to bring about a better world of peace and justice for all
Former Award Recipients
2006 – Bishop J. Terry Steib, STV, DD
2007 – Regina Benjamin, MD, MBA & Wendell Young III
2008 – Tom McCarthy & Very Rev. Larry C. Dunham, OFM
2009 – Dr. Norman Francis
2010 – Sr. Kateri Mitchell, SSS
2011 – Sr. Sandra Smithson, OSF
2012 – Sr. Mary Scullion, RSM
2013 – Lou Baldwin
2014 – Franciscan Volunteer Ministry
2015 – Carmen Bermudez
2016 – Rev. Wayne Passe
2017 – Anne Hoppenot
2018 – Sr. Patricia Daly, OP
2019 – The Connelly Foundation
2021 – Kathleen Bowman
2022 – St. Joseph’s Society of the Sacred Heart (Josephites)
2023 – Valerie D. Lewis-Mosley, RN
2024 – Sr. Marie-Therese “Tess” Browne, SCN
The SBS Social Justice Committee is pleased to announce Sr. Marie-Therese Browne, SCN as the recipient of the 2024 St. Katharine Drexel National Justice Award. This Award was presented at the SBS Gala on Sunday April 28th, at the Buck Hotel, 1200 Buck Road, Feasterville, PA.
Sr. Marie Therese “Tess” Browne, is a Sister of Charity of Nazareth. A native of Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Sister is a U.S. citizen. As an active parishioner of St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Boston, Massachusetts, she is the co-chair of the parish Social Justice Committee. Sister is also a teacher, community organizer and social justice advocate. Sister lives out charity rooted in justice, care for the earth, and in solidarity with oppressed and marginalized persons, especially women and children. While holding several degrees (including a Masters from UMass Boston College of Community and Public Services) Sister Tess is also a Merrill Fellow of Harvard Divinity School. She has a long history with the United Farm Workers and is a member of the National Black Sisters Conference. Sister’s life gives witness to a total dedication and involvement with social justice concerns.
Sister Tess embraces the reality:
“God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good.”
