2007 Dignitas Humana Award

Rick Ufford-Chase Receives the 2007 Dignitas Humana Award

Abbot John Klassen, Rick Ufford-Chase, Bill Cahoy, Br. Dietrich Reinhart Gloria Allen, Rick Ufford-Chase, George Allen

(L) Abbot John Klassen, OSB, abbot of Saint John's Abbey (far left), Bill Cahoy, dean of the School of Theology·Seminary (second from right), and Br. Dietrich Reinhart, OSB, president of Saint John's University (far right) present the Dignitas Humana Award to Rick Ufford-Chase (second from left).

(R) Rick Ufford-Chase (center) with Gloria and George Allen, who made the award possible.

Photos by Heidi Howard

Media Release

Saint John’s School of Theology∙Seminary presents Rick Ufford-Chase with its ninth Dignitas Humana Award at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007, in Saint John’s Abbey Church on the campus of Saint John’s University.

Following the presentation of the award, Ufford-Chase will give a lecture, “Holy Terror? Faithfulness In a Time of Fear,” in the Abbey Church. The program will conclude with a reception in the Great Hall, adjacent to the Abbey Church.

All are welcome to attend the award presentation, lecture and reception.

Ufford-Chase, executive director of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, is a tireless advocate for peace and the alleviation of human exploitation and suffering. For nearly 20 years, he has been a mission worker on the United States-Mexico border; in 1987, Ufford-Chase helped found BorderLinks, the ecumenical, binational organization he directed from 2002-06. BorderLinks brings together people from both sides of the United States-Mexico border to create relationships, foster solidarity and offer experiential education opportunities on issues of global economics, militarization, immigration and popular resistance to oppression and violence. In addition to his work on the border, Ufford-Chase served as moderator of the 216th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) from 2004-06. Since 2003, he and his wife, Kitty, have been Christian Peacemaker Teams reservists.

On his Web site, www.rickuffordchase.com, Ufford-Chase wrote, “I believe that we are called to live as Jesus lived, to risk as Jesus risked, and to care as deeply as Jesus cared”

Students and faculty will be able to engage in conversation with Ufford-Chase during his time on campus from Oct. 16-17. On Tuesday, Oct. 16, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., he will speak at Saint John’s Preparatory School. On Wednesday, Oct. 17, in Saint John’s School of Theology∙Seminary’s Emmaus Hall, he will present a talk, “Christian Vocation in the Heart of the Empire.”

The annual Dignitas Humana Award recognizes and encourages the efforts of individuals who do exceptional work on behalf of the poor and disenfranchised. It honors those who exemplify the Judeo-Christian values of service, respect, kindness and compassion in their work to advance the dignity of human persons. Recipients of this award support, advocate for, nurture and protect people on the margins of society in the United States and around the world and inspire others to work for human dignity and justice.

Previous recipients of the Dignitas Humana Award include the Community of Sant’Egidio; Rev. Carl Wilkens; the Taizé Community; S. Helen Prejean, CSJ; Rev. Gregory Boyle, SJ; Jean Vanier; Marva Collins; and Jonathan Kozol.

The Dignitas Humana Award is made possible by the generosity of M. George and Gloria Allen.

Events associated with the award are sponsored by the Saint John’s School of Theology∙Seminary, in cooperation with the College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Saint Cloud, and Catholic Charities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.