HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - PROCLAMATION - 07/20/2021 - PROCLAMATION DECLARING AUGUST 7, 2021 AS SISTER MA
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, Mary Alice Murphy was born to Clement and Julia Murphy in Moncton, New Brunswick
Canada, one of five children on August 7, 1931. Her path brought her to the United States at age 17 settling into the
Victory Noll Community in Huntington, Indiana; and
WHEREAS, Sister Mary Alice dedicated her life to serving others, seeing her family only occasionally,
her assignments took her to California, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Texas; and
WHEREAS, Sister Mary Alice earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Work at Siena Heights College in
Michigan, she landed in Colorado where she was awarded a master’s degree in social work from the University of
Denver and spent 10 years working for Catholic Charities; and
WHEREAS, Catholic Charities Services in Northern Colorado hired Sister Mary Alice as Director in 1983
when the City was approximately 80,000 residents and an undercurrent of concern that some citizens were facing
poverty in the “Choice City” was beginning; and
WHEREAS, Sister Mary Alice is a master convener and advocate for those facing poverty and
homelessness, her work began with a soup kitchen and shelter at Catholic Charities and continued with outreach
programs including CARE Housing, the Hand -up Cooperative, the Dedicated Navigator Program, Homeless
Prevention Initiative, and Homeward 2020. In 2009, the Sister Mary Alice Murphy Center for Hope was dedicated,
now managed by Homeward Alliance; and
WHEREAS, Sister Mary Alice Murphy was rumored to have been retiring a decade ago, she remains a
positive force in our community.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Jeni Arndt, Mayor of the City of Fort Collins, do hereby proclaim August 7,
2021, as
SISTER MARY ALICE MURPHY DAY
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the City of Fort Collins this 20th
day of July, A.D. 2021.
__________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
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City Clerk