Sister Mary Schwarz SSS Bursary

Sister Mary Schwarz, SSS, (1890-1982), was a founding member of the Sisters of Social Service in Canada. Among a variety of other kinds of social service, she played a founding role in assessing needs for services that she firmly believed ethnic parishes could respond to for the benefit of newcomers to Canada. As a follow-up, she organized communities and, by working with the laity concerned and with church authorities to address these needs, she helped to establish and to sustain Hungarian ethnic parishes in the dioceses of Montreal, Toronto, Hamilton and London. Although this work was most characteristic of Sister Mary herself, the vision of the Sisters of Social Service of which she is a foundress is not limited to parish ministry. It encompasses ministry in many other more mainstream fields as well. This bursary has been set up to pay tribute to Sister Mary’s lifelong commitment to the social mission of the Catholic Church.

This year five bursaries of $1,000.00 each will be awarded to women.

Selection Criteria

• Applicants must include the social teachings of the church and/or related topics in their course of studies.
• Applicants must be Roman Catholic women.
• Applicants must be competent students at a college or university.
• Applicants are asked to submit a typewritten letter explaining why they are interested in this topic and why they desire to receive this bursary.
• Applicants are asked to submit at least two letters of reference, one from their parish priest, chaplain or spiritual director and another from their current professor or instructor supporting their application for the bursary.
• The deadline for submissions is OCTOBER 24, 2010. Bursaries will be awarded by December 1, 2010
• All correspondence is to be addressed to:

The Sister Mary Schwarz SSS Bursary Committee
500 Huron Street
Toronto, ON
M5R 2R3

The particular focus of the Selection Committee is on:

• Academic ability.
• Strength of character and availability for service.
• Applicant’s plans for on-going study in this and related fields.

Click here to download the application form.