△ Donor Deok-hyung Lee

On the 17th, the “11th BWL Catholic Humanism Award Ceremony and the 2024 BWL Scholarship Award Ceremony” took place in Hall 1855 of the Sophie Barat Hall. On this day, the BWL Catholic Humanism Award (adult category) was granted to the Marianne and Margaret Association. Additionally, the scholarship award ceremony for the 2024 BWL Scholarship awardees took place. 

This event has been organized for 13 years, beginning in 2011, to celebrate Bernard Wonkil Lee’s humanistic life, during which he exercised kindness for his neighbors and showed an example of the Catholic spirit. Individuals or organizations that have exercised Catholic humanism in their lives and contributed to society are selected as the “BWL Catholic Humanism Award” recipient. The “BWL Scholarship” initiative, which began this year, seeks to identify and support students who exercise Bernard Wonkil Lee's Catholic humanism. 

The event was held in the following order: ▲Opening prayer and remarks, ▲President Jong-chul Won's welcoming remarks, ▲Screening of the late Bernard Wonkil Lee's life, ▲Chairman Deok-hyung Lee’s remarks, ▲BWL Catholic Humanism Award presentation and speeches by recipients, ▲Reading of thank-you letters from BWL Scholarship recipients, and ▲Commemorative photos of BWL Catholic Humanism Award recipients and scholarship recipients.

President Jong-chul Won underlined in his congratulatory speech, “It is difficult to share what you have joyfully. Let's emulate Bernard Wonkil Lee's lifelong dedication to love of neighbors.” He added “I hope that Bernard Wonkil Lee's Catholic humanistic life will be widely spread through today's event.”

During his remarks, Chairman Deok-hyung Lee said, “My father was a true Christian who joyfully shared what he had with neighbors throughout his life,” while adding, “I am grateful to Catholic University of Korea officials who provided an occasion to honor my father's humanistic life and to all of the recipients today.”

△The 11th Adult (Group) Category Winner, “Marianne and Margaret Association”

Director Soon-im Jeong of Marianne and Margaret Association, which received the BWL Catholic Humanism Award on this day, said, “This award gives great consolation and courage to our organization, and it is also like encouragement not to forget the spirit of our founding,” and added, “We will work harder to share and serve the marginalized and poor neighbors.” 

So-hee Kim (Department of Psychology major), who read a thank-you letter on behalf of the BWL Scholarship recipients, said, “Receiving the BWL Scholarship has become an opportunity for my values and life direction to become clear.” She also expressed gratitude, saying, “I will remember the path I've walked and look back.” 

● Article/Photo: External Affairs Team, CUK Friends Min-je Kwon