Each year, at the annual Evening of Sharing and Caring, Mary Immaculate Health/Care Services presents the St. Marguerite d’Youville Pilgrimage of Love Award to honor a person who leads the way in the journey of love and service and gives far more to the community than he or she receives. The award is named for the founder of the Grey Nuns, Marguerite d’Youville.
This year’s presentation will take place on Thursday, October 17 from 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm at DiBurro’s Function Facility in Ward Hill, MA. At this year’s gala, H. Bridget Shaheen, Executive Director of Lazarus House Ministries, will be honored in recognition of her exceptional community leadership and service.
In her role at Lazarus House, Ms. Shaheen has helped hundreds living in poverty regain their dignity and become self-sufficient members of our community by offering emergency shelter, food and clothing to people in crisis. Under her leadership, Lazarus House goes one step further than traditional shelters, by also providing transitional housing, advocacy, health services, education and work preparation to permanently break the cycle of poverty.
In addition to her work at Lazarus House, Ms. Shaheen is also active in the greater Merrimack Valley having served on the Board of Directors of Mary Immaculate Health/Care Services and the German Home of Lawrence. She is also a member of numerous committees and task forces, and is a former Trustee of Lawrence General Hospital. Her other volunteer work includes Prison Ministry (20 years), Cursillo Community (30 Years) and she traveled to Gulfport, Mississippi to help out in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Ms. Shaheen is a graduate of Merrimack College where she also holds an Honorary Doctorate in Humanities. She has also been awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from St. Anselm’s College.
The Evening of Sharing and Caring is made possible through the generous support of members of the community. For information about sponsorship opportunities, tickets or more details about the Evening of Sharing and Caring, please contact Karen Sullivan by calling 978-620- 1477.
