The Our Lady Queen of Hope Award:

Honoring Dedicated Women in Our Diocese

This coming Spring, during the 2022 Virtual Women’s Conference,  the Norwich Diocesan Women’s Conference Committee will vote on and name the recipient of the second annual Our Lady Queen of Hope Award.   The Our Lady Queen of Hope award was created to honor a woman in the diocese for her vision and leadership in the Catholic Church.  Candidates display strong faith, are committed to living out Catholic values, display leadership, display love, and service, have been a part of successful initiatives that benefit the Church, and have helped to move their parish communities forward.

The 2021 recipient, Elizabeth Percy of Our Lady Queen of Peace parish in Coventry, was nominated for her deep faith and love of her parish.  Elizabeth serves as a eucharistic minister, was the young children’s CCD teacher, frequently serves hospitality after mass, is a pro-life representative, and is a certified spiritual director as well as being instrumental in ACTS retreats.

Mrs. Percy says her desire has always been to serve the Lord with great love and love for his beloved ones.  She finds her strength in the Lord and was honored and humbled to receive the Our Lady Queen of Hope award.  She cites that she has had the privilege to work beside and learn from many women in our diocese that have helped inspire her. “These women have taught me that in ministry and service we partner with the Lord.  He can do anything without us, but He chooses to have us cooperate with Him.  That’s amazing and awesome.  Our Lady, too,  is our inspiration and our guide.  She accompanies us in all we do.”

Elizabeth has found that the Our Lady Queen of Hope award is a wonderful way to recognize the gifts of the Holy Spirit. “It is a way to honor Our Lady who inspires and intercedes for those who bring hope and God’s love to those who are struggling or challenged by life’s situations.  She is the companion for all who are dedicated to serving the community.

“I would certainly encourage all women to reach out a helping hand, invest in their faith, and become involved in their parish”, says Elizabeth.  “There is nothing too small or insignificant.  The Lord sees and is pleased.  His grace abounds to those who say yes in whatever capacity they are able.  The rewards of service are filled with blessings from the Lord.  Anything done in love for Christ and His Church warms the heart, blesses the soul, and inspires others to do the same.  God desires our cooperation with Him to bring hope into our world today.  The gifts of the Holy Spirit are many. Together we are the body of Christ.  As St. Teresa of Avila said, ‘Christ has no body now on earth but yours. ‘ “

The deadline to nominate candidates for the
2022 Our Lady Queen of Hope award is January 7, 2022. 
Download Nomination form below.
For questions, please contact the
Office of Faith Events at 860-848-2237, ext. 304.

By Marianne Nicholas