Annual Mission Award Winner Announced
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
The 2011 Frederic Ozanam Mission Award was presented to
Sister Fredrica Dunn, a Daughter of Charity, a nurse and a member
of the spiritual care team at Lourdes Hospice.
Sr. Fredrica has been an integral part
of the Hospice staff since 1997, serving for 10 years as a
professional nurse in the homes of those preparing for their final
journey into eternity. Her deep compassion and caring for
those who were dying, and their families, has endeared her to
families throughout the Southern Tier, long after their loved ones
have died. For the past two years, Sr. Fredrica has focused
her ministry, full time, on the spiritual needs of this vulnerable
population. Armed with her deep faith, her valuable linkages
with clergy of all denominations, her keyboard and her wonderful
singing voice, she has committed herself to be all that she can be
for her patients and families. When a patient dies, she is
there with her condolences and prayerful support of the family; on
many occasions, she is called upon to prepare graveside and
memorial services for bereaved families.
In the challenging and sometimes painful work of Hospice,
Sr. Fredrica is also supportive of her co-workers who share a
ministry that can often produce an emotional strain as families and
staff repeatedly bid farewell to those they have come to know and
love. She prepares monthly bereavement services for the staff,
which honor the lives of those Hospice patients who died in the
previous month. Her creativity in utilizing music and
colorful symbols, bring joy and peace to the staff in ways that
bring strength and consolation. Her creativity also
extends to writing which can be seen in the beautifully illustrated
booklet entitled the "Hospice Way of the Cross", a publication
widely used by patients and families who find it a means of deep
consolation and strengthened faith.
As Fredrick Ozanam sought to be mentored in his service of
the poor and vulnerable of Paris, through his association with a
Daughter of Charity, I am sure he would be grateful to find an
outstanding mentor for ministering to the dying in the person of
our 2011 Ozanam awardee, Sr. Fredrica Dunn.
Congratulations Sr. Fredrica on being named the Frederic
Ozanam winner for 2011.
The Frederic Ozanam Mission Award is a peer
nominated award. The recipient is chosen based on their consistent
demonstration of qualities they possess that reflect the Lourdes
Values: Service of the Poor, Reverence, Integrity, Wisdom,
Creativity and Dedication. The winner is announced at the Annual
Associate Recognition Dinner.
