ROCHESTER, NY (09/19/2016)(readMedia)-- World renowned Sister Norma S. Pimental of the Missionaries of Jesus will be hosting the first Shannon Lecture of the school year, The Human Face of Migration: Learning Mercy at the Border, on Thursday, September 22, at 7:00p.m. in the Forum of the Otto A. Shults Community Center. Pimental will host another presentation the following day, Friday, September 23, at 1:30p.m. in the Linehan Chapel (located in Golisano Academic Center) titled Nurturing a Culture of Caring. Both lectures are free and open to the public. Nazareth College is located at 4245 East Avenue, Rochester, N.Y., 14618. For further information, please contact Christine M. Bochen at cbochen4@naz.edu.
Pimental has served as the executive director of the Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley for more than a decade, overseeing a host of ministries and social services and leading efforts to provide relief in times of disaster and crises such as setting up the Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen, Texas, in response to the surge of Central Americans seeking asylum in the United States. Pimental's work has given her global recognition. She has testified before the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights on the "State of Civil Rights in Immigration Detention Facilities" and addressed the members of the United Nations.
Her dedication has also earned her several honors including: The Martin Luther King Jr. "Keep the Dream Alive" award, from Catholic Charities U.S.A., 2015 Rio Grand Valley Citizen of the Year as well as nomination for Texan of the Year. Pope Francis has personally thanked Sister Pimental and saluted her for her work. She is an ideal presenter for the 2016-17 Shannon Lecture Series which is centered around "A Revolution of Tenderness."
The Shannon Lecture Series honors William H. Shannon, former professor of religious at Nazareth College. Father Shannon advanced the educational mission of Nazareth College and contributed significantly to Catholic intellectual life, both nationally and internationally.