Arlington Bishop Michael F. Burbidge honored members of the diocese for their volunteer service at an awards dinner at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on Tuesday, Dec. 13. Marymount University’s Sr. Patricia Helene Earl, IHM, received the Ex Corde Campus Ministry Award for her exemplary service. Student Sarah Hall received a Volunteer of the Year award.
Sister Patricia is the director of Marymount’s Catholic School Leadership Program. Prior to coming to Marymount, she taught in elementary and secondary Catholic schools, served as principal of Marymount Junior School, and was assistant superintendent of schools for the Arlington Diocese for 13 years.
Hall, a senior education major from Mechanicsville, serves on Marymount’s Campus Ministry team. She has been on three alternative spring break trips, volunteering in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. She also volunteers at Missionaries of Charity and Susan’s Place, where she makes meals for the homeless.
“Going into the evening I just thought I was attending the dinner like everyone else until my mom showed up,” said Hall. “At that point, I knew something special was going to be happening, and I was overcome with a pure sense of joy. I always feel so loved and appreciated by my Campus Ministry family, but that moment made it all the more real.”
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A full contingent from Marymount University turned out for the diocese volunteer service awards dinner. Front row: Sr. Patricia Helene Earl, IHM; Sr. Jaqueline Murphy, RSHM; Dr. Linda McMahon, professor emerita of history and politics; Fr. Thomas Yehl, director of campus ministry. Second row: Ashton Mallon, associate director of campus ministry; student Nicole Ferree; Sarah Hall and Teresa Hall. Back row: Marymount President Matthew D. Shank; Christa McMahon, assistant director of campus ministry; students Erin Williams, Jeff Rhodes, Bernadette Wunderly, Abbie Wolf, Kathy Martin and Jimmy Carroll; Fr. Jack Peterson, assistant chaplain.
