As one of eight children, Sister Irene O’Neill, class of 1972, grew up steeped in Catholic community. All of her siblings graduated from either Cretin or Derham Hall, where she was inspired to live a life of service to others. 

Irene enrolled at the University of Minnesota, where she took advantage of opportunities to explore the wider world. She worked or volunteered in Ireland, Scotland, and Mexico during those years, as well as spending a summer backing Europe. Back in Minneapolis, she enrolled in a creative drama class, which was taught by a Sister of St. Joseph.

That connection blossomed into an opportunity to help teach drama courses, and then to volunteer alongside the Sisters for several years. Those were the years when Hope House, Incarnation House, the Free Store and more were taking root in St. Paul. Irene was inspired by the work of the Sisters and committed her life to their work, taking her final vows in 1985. 

She was the Executive Director of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet Ministries Foundation for twenty years. That work took her around the world to meet with Sisters doing the hard work on the ground. Everywhere she went, she found that Sisters understood exactly what was harming their communities, and had a clear idea of to solve it. 

Irene saw an opportunity to connect those nuns — not just the Sisters of St. Joseph, but nuns from every order — to each other, and make their work visible. She has spent the past six years as President of Sisters Rising Worldwide, an organization that helps Sisters to share their projects and request assistance and funding. Irene hopes to uplift the work of all 700,000 of these women, and help them make a difference on the ground in the communities where they live. 

“Irene is serious about the mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph,” said her friend and fellow Sister Karen Hilgers. “Her personal mission is to bring resources to people and places in need around her and now, all over the world. Every fiber of her being exudes hope. She is a ceaseless problem-solver, sometimes solving problems you haven't noticed yet. She asks how, rather than why; and the answer to how is YES!”

This award is presented annually to a person who is reflective of the charisms of the Sisters of St. Joseph and Derham Hall. Individuals who receive this award have exemplified Derham Hall's ideals of Christian love and a commitment to service.