Peace Award for Sr Elizabeth O'Donohoe

On Sunday 14 October, Sr Elizabeth O'Donohoe was one of three people to receive the Gordon Wilson/Sidney Hinkes Peace Award, both men were former Chairs of the World Week of Prayer for World Peace and the is sponsored by the Anglican Pacifist Fellowhip.

Elizabeth is a member of the Catholic congregation of Sisters of the Holy Cross. After teaching for some years, a spell in Chile, and then serving as a university chaplain, she re-trained as a psychotherapist in 1995, and that has been her work ever since. In 1994 she became involved with Westminster Diocesan Interfaith Commission, and joined the team as the North London representative.

The most distinctive activity of this group has been an annual Multi-Faith Pilgrimage for Peace which attracts about two hundred people for a day visiting places of worship in a particular neighbourhood of London.

Elizabeth is a member of her parish justice and peace group at St Mellitus Church, Tollington Park, London N4. Her special contribution has been her interfaith contacts, carefully nurtured by her regular attendance at the Islington Interfaith Forum, getting to know leaders at the Finsbury Park Mosque and Muslim Welfare House, and the grassroots building-up of community, good will, and friendship. For 20 years she has been part of the Finsbury Park Christian and Muslim Leaders group which meets monthly to discuss faith, life, and current concerns. Elizabeth is a member of Pax Christi, and supports the annual Hiroshima and Nagasaki Day vigils, Ash Wednesday liturgy outside the Ministry of Defence, and similar public events.

The others receiving the Award were John Morris and Issa Souf (shown in photograph and Elsie Hinkes, widow of Sidney Hinks with Sr Elizabeth)

The Award was established by the Week of Prayer for World Peace (WPWP) to recognise significant contributions by individuals, organisations or projects in furthering peace, justice and reconciliation. The Award seeks to focus on grassroots initiatives. It enables otherwise untold stories to be told and honoured and to inspire others to work for peace.

LINKS

www.weekofprayerforworldpeace.com/events.html