National Catholic Rural Life Conference to receive labor award
from Archdiocese of Washington, DC

The National Catholic Rural Life Conference will receive the second annual Monsignor George C. Higgins Award for leadership and advocacy on behalf of low-wage and exploited immigrant laborers. The award will be presented at the 51st Annual Labor Mass of the Archdiocese of Washington, DC, on Sunday, September 7, 2003 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

The patron saints of Catholic Rural Life are Saint Isidore, a Spanish farm laborer, and his wife Maria who were canonized in the twelfth century. The National Catholic Rural Life Conference (NCRLC) was founded in 1923 by the late Bishop Edwin Vincent O'Hara. During its 80 years, NCRLC has been a strong supporter of family farmers, rural communities and farm workers. In the 1950s, NCRLC was given major credit for defeating the then unjust bracero program. In the 1960s, NCRLC worked closely with Cesar Chavez and the United Farmworkers movement. See www.ncrlc.com/history.html.

Over the past three decades, NCRLC has worked for social justice not only for farmworkers, but workers in poultry, meat and food processing. Over the past year, NCRLC has been working in the Diocese of Yakima (WA) to educate teenagers and female farmworkers on pesticide safety education. NCRLC’s Board of Directors includes farmworker advocate Jorge Lobos, from Washington State.

Monsignor George C. Higgins, known as "the labor movement’s priest" died in May, 2002 at the age of 86, after more than 50 years as a leading voice for worker justice. He served on committees and boards of several groups, including the United Auto Workers and the Bishops’ Committee for Catholic-Jewish Relations.

"All of us at NCRLC are honored to be receiving this award, which pays tribute to a great man who spent his life supporting and defending low-wage, at-risk immigrant workers," said Bishop David L. Ricken, of the Diocese of Cheyenne, WY and President of NCRLC's Board of Directors.

Brother David Andrews, CSC, NCRLC Executive Director said Monsignor Higgins has left a wonderful legacy for the Church. "NCRLC’s dedication to working for the rights of workers is part of our contribution to the Church’s commitment to social and economic justice. We share this award with our many friends who work tirelessly for farmworkers and food processing workers, many of whom face daily difficult challenges."

The National Catholic Rural Life Conference has a history of being a leading voice for 80 years in the Catholic Church in the United States on agricultural issues, on social and environmental justice, family farmers, farmworkers, and rural communities.


Event: Mass for the Blessing of Human Labor
Date: September 7, 2003
Time: Noon
Location: Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Address: 400 Michigan Ave NE
Sponsor: Archdiocese of Washington, DC
Speaker: Theodore Cardinal McCarrick


"Recommitting to Justice for Farm Workers" <-- webpage link