We celebrated our Social Justice Liturgy this morning and afterward recognized this year’s Judy Stewart and Bro. Collin Dugas Justice Award recipients. We would also like to thank Meet, a Hindu priest, who joined us for our liturgy today as he was invited through our senior World Religions program.

Mr. Ryan Nocito '06 presented this year's Judy Stewart and the Bro. Collin Dugas Justice Awards:

"Seniors, faculty, and staff members can nominate individuals for these awards.  A selection committee that includes the Campus Ministry Team members makes the final decisions.  The recipients of these awards are individuals who demonstrate respect for all people, work for peace and justice, answer the call to serve others, and commit themselves to equality and fairness for all.  They are people who live out the gospel virtue of justice which in its simplest sense is to give to God and others their due.

Our first award, which will be given to two seniors today, is named for Ms. Judy Stewart, who died nine years ago and worked in Brothers’ schools for over 30 years.  As Campus Minister here at Brother Martin, she initiated the retreat and service programs and was a tireless advocate for social justice and the Church’s social teaching. She challenged students, faculty, and staff to see injustice and to respond to it. She always pointed to St. Francis’ saying: “Preach the Gospel always. If necessary, use words.”  

The first recipient of the Judy Stewart Social Justice award promotes solidarity both on and off campus.  He leads by example, helping influence his fellow students to be at their absolute best through his commitment to service.  Always willing to lend a helping hand here at school, he also commits himself to helping others outside of school as well, whether it be through his participation in service projects in his community through his own initiative or through the NJROTC program.  A classmate defined this senior as someone who “respects the dignity of everyone he meets, whether it be a fellow student or an adult.”  His positive attitude throughout any situation helps him to show kindness and compassion to those he meets.  This year’s first recipient of the Judy Stewart social justice award is senior, Lennox Brown '23.    

Our next award recipient carries out the call to justice through his leadership and service in a number of student organizations here at Brother Martin as well as work outside of school.  He is described by his classmates as one of the kindness, most giving individuals in the senior class.  He steps up as a leader in the groups of which he is a part, but he does so in a quiet, humble manner.  Treating everyone with whom he interacts with the utmost respect, this senior always looks for the good in others, recognizing the dignity of each person he encounters.  He constantly serves as an example for his classmates to follow.  One of his teachers described him as a man who “exemplifies all that we wish for our students,” and a classmate said he is “the figurative big brother to the senior class.”  This year’s second recipient of the Judy Stewart Social Justice award is senior, Sam Miltenberger '23.  

The second award given today to one faculty member is named after Brother Collin Dugas, who joined the Brothers of the Sacred Heart when he was 17 years old and remained a faithful servant until he died at the age of 64.  After twenty years as a dynamic teacher of math and English, he felt the call to serve the poor and began to work full-time at Hope House while living in the St. Thomas Project in New Orleans, where he promoted social justice and racial harmony.  He played a prophetic role in the Brothers of the Sacred Heart community by urging them to work for justice.

This year’s recipient of the Bro. Collin Dugas Social Justice award, given to Brother Martin faculty and staff members, strives each and every day to work with the students that sometimes need the most help, answering the call to reach out to those “on the margins.”  This faculty member believes in each student and pushes them to become the best version of themselves, recognizing that every one of them is a child of God.  Her compassion for others does not stop with just our students, for she works tirelessly with fellow faculty members to help with their academic and personal needs as well.  She is committed to following Christ’s example of love.  This year’s Bro. Collin Dugas Social Justice award goes to Mrs. Jill Gomez."

We would like to congratulate and thank Mrs. Gomez, Lennox, and Sam for modeling the virtue of justice for all of the Brother Martin community.