Sr. Theresa Kane, RSM, has been named the recipient of this year’s Outstanding Leadership Award, presented on August 22 by the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), at their annual assembly in Fort Worth , Texas . Sr. Theresa is only the second person so honored.

After two terms as provincial of the New York Province , Sr. Theresa served as president of the Sisters of Mercy of the Union from 1977 to 1984, and she was LCWR president in 1979. She teaches at Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, NY, where she is an associate professor of behavioral science.

In her acceptance remarks, Sr. Theresa called to mind the causes of social justice sacred to LCWR and its members. She said, “This evening I stand as one woman with and among you. I stand also in solidarity with women across the globe, who comprise 53% of our world population. Massive numbers of us are uneducated, live in fear, in poverty, in desperation. Many spend much of our days carrying water to and from our homes for our families. Women worldwide anguish and beg to be reverenced and not raped, women worldwide long to be agents and not objects, women worldwide desire in the depths of our being to be called and known as dignified, innate fully human creations of a loving, compassionate God. As I accept this award, I do so with a continuing, passionate concern for the plight of women.”

Sr. Suzanne Elliott, RSM, president of the New York Regional Community, called the event “an experience of love and admiration.” She said, “Every Sister of Mercy present was particularly touched by the presentation and by Theresa herself!”