2012 World Care Benefit and Celebration

Friday, March 9, 2012 | St. Francis Hall, Washington DC

In honor of their lifelong service, Ambassador Thomas P. Melady and his wife Dr. Margaret Badum Melady received the seventh annual Anselm Moons, OFM Award. The Meladys were recognized for their work for peace and justice in the North American church and society, as well as for building bridges of peace and reconciliation between cultures, races and governments, particularly through their ambassadorial service to Burundi, Uganda and the Holy See.

Guests of honor included Archbishop of Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl, who gave the invocation, and Archbishop Emeritus of Washington Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who gave the keynote, “The Mission of St. Francis is Still the Road to Peace.” As an affiliated member of the Holy Name Province friars since 2006, McCarrick attended in his Franciscan habit.

Returned missioner Kristen Zielinski-Nalen (Class XXIV, Bolivia 2006-2009) was invited to share with the guests how her training and mission experience continue to impact her life and work today as justice, peace and integrity of creation (JPIC) director of St. Anthony of Padua parish in Camden, New Jersey. She is able to connect with the large population Spanish-speaking and immigrant parishioners, as well as build bridges of understanding between them and the rest of the community.

The branches of the Franciscan family tree were represented by the Conventuals, Capuchins and Order of Friars Minors; at least five different orders of Franciscan sisters; the Friars of the Atonement, a Third Order Regular organization; secular Franciscans from various fraternities; and members of other organizations such as Franciscan Action Network.