NEW YORK —- Sister Denise Boyle, FMDM, began her role as executive director of Franciscans International on March 1. This announcement was made last month by the FI board of directors.
Sister Denise, an Irish Franciscan religious sister and human rights advocate, brings with her 30 years of experience in education, social justice, and development.
In Zimbabwe, Sr. Denise spent eight years as the National Coordinator of the Women and Children’s Program of the Catholic Commission of Justice and Peace. When the nation was ravaged by drought, she organized an emergency feeding program that brought relief to 11,000 children.
In Australia, where she spent 15 years as an educator, Sr. Denise was passionate about the role of education in promoting social justice.
As the Overseas Project Officer at the Volunteer Missionary Movement (VMM), Sr. Denise developed and implemented the training program for 53 volunteers in Africa and Guatemala. She visited the volunteers in their projects regularly.
Franciscans International, with offices in New York and Geneva, is one of many organizations participating the sixth annual Ecumenical Advocacy Days conference this week. Information about the March 7 – 10 EADs in Washington, D.C., can be found in an article in this issue of HNP Today.