Member of Faculty Receives National Canon Law Award

Each year, the Canon Law Society of America (CLSA) presents the distinguished Role of Law Award to a member esteemed in the field of canon law at their annual convention. This year’s recipient was Sister Victoria Vondenberger, RSM, JCL.

“This prestigious award is perhaps the highest honor that can be bestowed on anyone: to be chosen by one’s peers in a field as superior among them. The by-laws of the Society direct the Board of Governors to select a person who demonstrates in his or her life and ministry the following specific characteristics: embodiment of a pastoral attitude, commitment to research and study, participation in the development of law, response to needs and practical assistance, facilitation of dialogue and the interchange of ideas within the Society and with other groups,” explained Father Bruce Miller, CLSA president, at the convention banquet.

Sister Vondenberger teaches two courses at The Athenaeum of Ohio / Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West: Tribunal Training for students in the Lay Pastoral Ministry Program and Marriage in Canon Law for seminarians.

“In the prayer space in my bedroom stands a small statue of Moses which I found in a thrift store.  This ‘old’ high school teacher, of course, still has sticky tack and magic markers which I used to craft his missing hand,” said Sister Vondenberger during her acceptance speech. 

“Now Moses not only guards the law with one hand but his new hand holds a walking staff to move into the future.  The tablets of the law held by Moses’ perfect hand are solid and form a tradition we canonists treasure. Add flames and you have the logo of CLSA.  Today especially, we need that new staff to lead into the future, particularly when we see much of our world moving away from structure and institutions like the Church.  We need to lead God’s people to the promised future of hope (Jer. 29: 19).  Do I have clear answers about how we will do this?  No.  But I trust us to discern together how to move forward within the law and lead God’s people in right directions.” 

Father Benedict O’Cinnsealaigh, president and rector said, “It’s a great privilege for our students to have Sister Victoria as their teacher and for the faculty to have her as a peer and friend. Sister definitely has a love for the Church’s law which she makes accessible and relevant for her students. She is an outstanding teacher for us and a tremendous canonist for the Church.”

Congratulations Sister Vondenberger!

Click the following link to see a photo gallery from the Canon Law Society of America award ceremony http://www.mtsm.org/PhotoGalleries/PhotoGallery68.aspx

Read more from The Catholic Telegraph at http://www.thecatholictelegraph.com/tribunal-office-director-receives-national-award/45940

Text Credit: Father Bruce Miller, Introduction for the Role of Law Award 2017 and Sister Victoria Vondenberger, Role of Law Response.

Photo Credit: Photos provided by Sister Victoria Vondenberger.