Sister Donna Ciangio to be honored with SOAR award for her life of service
At its 35th Annual New York Awards Gala, SOAR! — Support Our Aging Religious — will honor Sister Donna L. Ciangio, O.P., D.Min, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Newark, on Sept. 15. Sister Donna, a Dominican Sister of Caldwell, N.J., will receive the Father Victor Yanitelli, S.J. Award in honor of her life of service.
Bishop John J. O’Hara, auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese New York, and The Mara Family (of The New York Giants) will be honored with the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton awards at the event.
Sister Donna holds a doctorate with distinction from Drew University. She has served as director of Church Leadership Consultation, working internationally and nationally to promote parish vitality and pastoral direction, congregational and leadership development, faith formation, Small Christian Communities, planning with parishes and dioceses, and many other areas. She also served as the International Coordinator for RENEW International, the Director of Pastoral Services of the National Pastoral Life Center, and as parish consultant for the Jesuit Conference USA.
Sister Donna has served as the Director of Adult Faith Formation in the parish setting, including RCIA and Baptism. She is an adjunct professor in Drew University’s Doctor of Ministry program and a consultant for RCL Benziger Publishing Company. Sister Donna also serves on the Board of Trustees of Caldwell University, the North American Forum for Small Christian Communities, and the Center for Ministry Development.
Her articles have appeared in Today’s Parish, Ligourian, CHURCH Magazine, and in publications from Crossroad, Paulist Press, St. Anthony Messenger Press, and Catechetical Leader. Her most recent publications are small group faith-sharing books from RENEW International: Waiting with Joy for Advent and Open Our Hearts for Lent.
Support Our Aging Religious (SOAR !) awards grants to ensure the safety and dignity of aging Catholic religious and helps them remain with their communities and continue their ministry. This year alone, SOAR! provided more than $1.7 million in grants to religious communities across the United States. Proceeds from the gala will provide grants to sisters, brothers, and priests who need it most.
The 35th Annual New York Awards Gala, a virtual event, begins at 7 p.m. on Sept. 15, 2021. Registration is free. For more information or to register for the September 15th, SOAR! New York Awards Gala, please contact the SOAR! office at 202-529-7627 or events@soar-usa.org, or visit www.soar-usa.org/events.
