Sister Rosemary Connelly, R.S.M., former executive director of Misericordia, will receive the 2023 Laetare Medal from the University of Notre Dame. The medal is awarded annually to American Catholics and is the oldest and most prestigious honor of its kind. Sister Connelly, a lifelong advocate for individuals with developmental disabilities, helped expand the Misericordia community to include a 37-acre campus on Chicago’s north side serving more than 600 children and adult residents. Thanks to her vision and leadership, Misericordia offers a wide range of vocational training and educational, social, recreational, medical, and therapy opportunities. Sister Connelly has received numerous awards and honors throughout her career, including nine honorary degrees and the Order of Lincoln Medallion, Illinois’ highest award for lifelong outstanding achievements. The Laetare Medal, named after Laetare Sunday, is awarded to a Catholic “whose genius has ennobled the arts and sciences, illustrated the ideals of the Church, and enriched the heritage of humanity.”
Sister Rosemary Connelly to Receive University of Notre Dame’s 2023 Laetare Medal
Sister Rosemary Connelly, R.S.M., will be awarded the 2023 Laetare Medal by the University of Notre Dame. The Laetare Medal is the oldest and most prestigious honor given to American Catholics, and Sister Rosemary will receive it at Notre Dame’s 178th University Commencement Ceremony on May 21st, 2023.
Sister Rosemary Connelly is a former executive director of Misericordia, a non-profit that provides a home and custodial care for children with disabilities from birth to age 6 on Chicago’s south side. Sister Connelly, who came to Misericordia in 1969, believed that the children in her care were capable of more and deserved a higher quality of life. She began seeking out special education programming for them and, when she found that nothing yet existed, she developed her own.
Thanks to her vision and leadership, the Misericordia community has grown to include a 37-acre campus on Chicago’s north side serving more than 600 children and adult residents, with more than 1,200 staff members and thousands of volunteers. The facility offers a wide range of vocational training and educational, social, recreational, medical, and therapy opportunities.
The University of Notre Dame’s president, Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., praised Sister Connelly’s work, saying, “With her characteristic tenacity, grace, and genius, Sister Rosemary has ensured that the residents of Misericordia – as wonderful children of God – have the quality of life and opportunities they deserve. We are inspired by her vision, her leadership, and her compassion and are honored to bestow the Laetare Medal on her.”
Sister Connelly has always felt that God has been with her, and she credits Him for the success of Misericordia. “I always felt that God was with me, that God really took care of me,” she said. “He even spoiled me by always making sure the right people were in the right place at the right time. And I don’t think that’s accidental. The Lord has been more than gracious to me. So I’m thankful to God that we have a Misericordia. It’s a place where the children are respected and loved, and the staff is very committed to them.”
Sister Rosemary Connelly, R.S.M., to Receive the Laetare Medal from University of Notre Dame
Sister Rosemary Connelly, R.S.M., is to receive the Laetare Medal from the University of Notre Dame on May 21st, 2023. The Laetare Medal is awarded annually to American Catholics and is the oldest and most prestigious honor of its kind. Sister Connelly, a native Chicagoan, is a former executive director of Misericordia and a lifelong advocate for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Early Life and Education
Sister Connelly was born to Irish immigrant parents as one of six children. She joined the Sisters of Mercy at 19 and continued to pursue her own education while teaching in several Chicago archdiocesan schools. Sister Connelly earned a bachelor’s degree in social science from Saint Xavier University in 1959, a master’s in sociology from St. Louis University in 1966, and a master’s in social work from Loyola University Chicago in 1969.
Sister Connelly’s Accomplishments
Sister Connelly has received nine honorary degrees and numerous awards and honors throughout her career, including the Order of Lincoln Medallion, Illinois’ highest award for lifelong outstanding achievements, and the Illinois Entrepreneur of the Year Award from Ernst & Young. In 1997, she received an honorary degree from the University of Notre Dame.
Misericordia Community
In 1969, Sister Connelly became the executive director of Misericordia, a non-profit that provides a home and custodial care for children with disabilities from birth to age 6 on Chicago’s south side. She believed passionately that the children in her care were capable of more and deserved a higher quality of life. Thanks to her vision and leadership, the Misericordia community has grown to include a 37-acre campus on Chicago’s north side serving more than 600 children and adult residents, with more than 1,200 staff members and thousands of volunteers. The facility offers a wide range of vocational training and educational, social, recreational, medical, and therapy opportunities.
Laetare Medal
The Laetare Medal is named after Laetare Sunday, the fourth Sunday in Lent on the Church calendar, and the medal bears the Latin inscription, “Magna est veritas et praevalebit” (“Truth is mighty, and it shall prevail”). Established in 1883, the medal has been awarded annually at Notre Dame to a Catholic “whose genius has ennobled the arts and sciences, illustrated the ideals of the Church and enriched the heritage of humanity.”
Previous recipients of the Laetare Medal include President John F. Kennedy, Catholic Worker founder Dorothy Day, Vice President Joe Biden, Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, and actor Martin Sheen, among others.
Sister Rosemary Connelly’s work with the Misericordia community has enriched the lives of countless individuals with developmental disabilities. The University of Notre Dame’s recognition of Sister Connelly with the Laetare Medal is well-deserved, and her dedication to the Misericordia community is an inspiration to us all.
Don’t miss interesting posts on Famousbio
