Sr. Mary Courtney, a member of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters for Africa (FMSA), was recently honoured with the President's Insignia for Meritorious Achievement by President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia. This prestigious award recognizes Sr. Mary's decades of dedicated missionary work in Livingstone, Zambia, where she has made a significant impact on the lives of the poor and vulnerable in the community. The Franciscan Missionary Sisters for Africa are a member organisation of Misean Cara, which provides funding and practical support to Irish missionary groups overseas.
Sr. Mary Courtney is known for her pioneering efforts to improve health outcomes for marginalised people in Livingstone, by establishing health centres, counselling services, palliative and home-based care, and behaviour change programs in response to HIV and AIDS. She has also established programmes that empower patients and their families to become self-reliant through sustainable farming and by participating in community savings and loans groups.
Presented at the annual Investiture Ceremony at the State House in Lusaka on May 24th, Sr. Mary humbly accepted the award on behalf of the FMSA, acknowledging the hard work of her staff and volunteers. Sr. Loice Kashangura, Assistant Regional with the FMSA in Zambia, who accompanied Sr. Mary to the ceremony, remarked; "We are proud of Sr. Mary and we emulate her good example as we continue to serve many vulnerable people in Zambia and other countries, wherever FMSA minister."
