The University of Notre Dame’s de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture announced on October 4, 2026, that the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne will receive the 2027 Evangelium Vitae Medal. The honor recognizes more than a century of service by the religious community to impoverished and dying individuals.

Mother Superior Marie Edward, O.P., will accept the award on behalf of the congregation during a special Mass and dinner at the university on April 24, 2027. This marks the 16th annual presentation of the medal by the ethics center.

A Legacy of Charity

The Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne were founded in 1900 by Mother Mary Alphonsa, born Rose Hawthorne. She was the daughter of the renowned American novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne. The congregation, headquartered in Hawthorne, New York, has long been devoted to caring for men and women dying from cancer who lack financial resources.

Mother Mary Alphonsa died in 1926 and is buried at Rosary Hill Home. In 2024, Pope Francis declared her venerable, recognizing her heroic virtues.

Recognition of Mercy

The Evangelium Vitae Medal is named after the 1995 encyclical by Pope St. John Paul II on the value and inviolability of human life. The award is presented annually on Respect Life Sunday.

Notre Dame President Father Robert Dowd praised the sisters for their enduring commitment to the vulnerable. He stated that they “radiate the very mercy of God.”

Jennifer Newsome Martin, director of the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture, highlighted the practical impact of the sisters’ ministry. She described them as “a shining example of Christian charity in action.”