Black Ministry Office Honors Five With Pierre Toussaint Medallions

By MARY ANN POUST

An impressive lineup of Pierre Toussaint Scholarship recipients, all attending prestigious colleges and universities, greeted guests at the Office of Black Ministry's annual dinnerÑa main source of funding for the student grants.

The seven young people included a budding filmmaker who attends Columbia, an aspiring graphic design specialist who goes to Fashion Institute of Technology, and a Holy Cross student who said he is still not sure about his major but he is sure of this: "I want to be a teacher."

Cardinal Egan, in his remarks at the dinner, noted that the scholarships offer young people "the opportunity to fulfill their hopes and brightest dreams."

"There's no greater gift that I know of here in the Archdiocese of New York or anywhere else in the world," the cardinal said.

Brother Tyrone A. Davis, C.F.C., executive director of the Black Ministry Office, said in a report to the fund supporters that there are currently 21 Pierre Toussaint scholars studying at 16 different colleges and universities around the country.

He said 150 students also attend College Pierre Toussaint, a three—year—old secondary school in Sassier, Haiti, funded primarily by the archdiocese through the Black Ministry Office.

This year, for the first time, the Pierre Toussaint Scholarship Fund is funding one college student in Rwanda, Brother Tyrone said.

The Oct. 1 dinner and awards presentation held at the New York Marriott Marquis also honored five people with the Black Ministry Office's prestigious Pierre Toussaint Medallion.

With its theme of "25 Years of Sharing the Gift of Education," the dinner marked the silver anniversary of the Pierre Toussaint Scholarships, named for the Haitian—born former slave who became a society hairdresser in 19th century New York and was known for his charitable works and his piety.

His cause for sainthood has been introduced in the archdiocese, and his remains are interred in the crypt of St. Patrick's Cathedral.

At the Manhattan dinner, Auxiliary Bishop Guy Sansaricq of the Diocese of Brooklyn said in an invocation that Pierre Toussaint dedicated his life to "service for all," and in that way "exemplifies the teaching of the Gospel."

The Pierre Toussaint Medallions were presented by dinner chairman Ronald R. Lawson, senior director of business affairs of the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, and Cardinal Egan.

Among those honored was Dr. Benjamin S. Carson, director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore, who led the surgical team of the first separation of conjoined twins joined at the head. The recipient of numerous awards in his lifetime, he received the Ford's Theatre Lincoln Medal, presented by President Bush at the White House in February; in June he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the country.

Also honored was Immaculee Ilibagiza, who survived the Rwandan genocide in 1994 by hiding in silence with seven other women for 91 days in the cramped bathroom of a local pastor's house. The author of a best—selling book about the experience, she credits her safe—keeping to prayer and to a set of rosary beads given to her by her father.

Thomas J. Moran, board chairman and chief executive officer of Mutual of America Life Insurance Company, who also chairs and is actively involved in the international humanitarian agency Concern Worldwide (U.S.), was an honoree whom Cardinal Egan characterized as "an exemplary Catholic businessman," as was Michael D. Weekes, the sacristan of St. Patrick's Cathedral who was cited for "faithful service and long—time commitment to the Church of the Archdiocese of New York."

Bishop J. Terry Steib of the Diocese of Memphis, Tenn., also was honored. Appointed to head the Memphis Diocese in 1993, he is known for a program that led to the reopening of nine Catholic schools in needy areas of the diocese in a four—year period, including some that had been closed for more than 30 years.

He said in his remarks at the dinner that the schools were reclaimed largely through scholarship programs.

He began his campaign to reopen schools he said, because he was disturbed to find a situation where some schools were "financially feasible but not needed," while others were "needed but not financially feasible."

He said he told the people of the diocese, "That's not who we are as CatholicsÉ We're not there simply to maintain who we are, but to proclaim who we are."

"We're not there because they're Catholic," he said of the reopened schools. "We're there because we're Catholic."

Bishop Steib said, "Catholic education is one of the best things we do as a Church."

Master of ceremonies at the dinner was Sandra Bookman of WABC—TV Eyewitness News; there were musical performances by the choral group, Tribe of Levi, appearing courtesy of the College of New Rochelle and under the direction of M. Roger Holland.

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