Joseph P Kennedy III and Dr John Lahey recognized among top New England Irish honorees

Boston awards ceremony will acknowledge the best and brightest Irish leaders

Mayor Menino has recognized John Joe for his hospitality towards senior citizens. He is a loyal supporter of the Irish Pastoral Center, the Irish International Immigrant Center, The Irish Cultural Center and the Irish Social Club. He is active in community organizations such as Toys for Tots, running golf tournaments for various reasons. He often shares his considerable musical talents with organizations that he supports.

Leader in Bridging Communities

Sr. Lena Deevy, LSA - Irish International Immigrant Center

A native of Crettyard, County Laois, Sr. Lena Deevy, LSA, is the Executive Director of Boston’s Irish International Immigrant Center. Throughout her more than forty-year career in health and human services, Sr. Lena has shown herself to be a passionate advocate on behalf of those on the margins of society.

Before immigrating to Boston in 1989 she worked for two decades as a community organizer in some of the most impoverished areas of Dublin.

In 1990 she became Director of the Irish Immigration Center as it was then known and under her leadership the organization has developed into a nationally and internationally recognized model of multi-service provision. In that time Sr. Lena has earned a reputation as a builder of bridges whether among the many organizations serving the Irish community, among Catholics and Protestants, Irish-born and Irish-American, or among immigrants from diverse backgrounds. Throughout her career she has worked to strengthen the Irish community’s confidence in its own identity believing this to be a necessary prerequisite for true social harmony and cross community cooperation.

A member of the order of the Little Sisters of the Assumption, Sr. Lena has demonstrated a tireless commitment to social justice and progressive community values. She has been the recipient of many awards and accolades over the years including those from the American Bar Association and the Massachusetts Governor’s Office. In 2008 Stonehill College awarded her an honorary Doctorate of Humanities in recognition of her grassroots human rights work. Most recently Sr. Lena was named by the Irish Government as one of ten recipients of the first annual Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad.

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