Sister Claudia Burke, SFP is honored at Second Session of the 110th Congress for her Devotion to the Poor After many years of committed service to the community of Flint, Michigan, Sr. Claudia Burke, SFP, who is now residing in the Mercy Franciscan Terrace, Cincinnati, OH. The community of Flint was very grateful for her presence among them. She was recently honored during the second session of the 110th Congress by Michigan Congressman, the Honorable Dale E. Kildee, with a framed congressional certificate of recognition, inscribed as follows: Congressional Record House of Representatives Wednesday, December 10, 2008 Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in honoring Sister M. Claudia Burke as she moves to the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor Motherhouse in Cincinnati. She has been a cornerstone of social services in my hometown of Flint, Michigan since 1960. Sister M. Claudia Burke entered the convent on January 6, 1944. She attended Our Lady of Cincinnati College, graduating in 1953, and worked at Catholic Charities of Cincinnati. She was transferred to Catholic Social Services in Steubenville, Ohio and continued there providing family and child welfare counseling. In 1958 she was responsible for the foster care and supervision of 10 Hungarian refugee teenage boys.
In 1960 Sister Claudia was transferred to Flint, Michigan to work at Catholic Social Services. Since that time she has left Flint twice, once to obtain her Master’s in Social Work degree from St. Louis University and a one year assignment in Cincinnati. She returned to Flint and continued her service to the people of Genesee County. Through her work at Holy Angels Convent and Catholic Social Services, Sister Claudia recognized the need to help families facing difficult economic circumstances. Known for her tenacity, Sister Claudia provided the unique leadership to organize Catholic Outreach to respond to the need in the community. Countless individuals have directly benefited from her hard work and devotion to the poor. Supported through a variety of channels, Catholic Outreach assists about 12,000 people a year and the number is growing. Though her responsibilities as an administrator and fundraiser consumed most of her time in recent years, Sister Claudia preferred to spend her time working directly with clients. She has said, “You can’t look at the face of poverty and not feel for people.” In addition to founding Catholic Outreach, Sister Claudia was also instrumental in creating the North End Soup Kitchen and the Displaced Workers Center. Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring Sister M. Claudia Burke. The Flint area is losing one of its truly great humanitarians. Sister Claudia has spent her life acknowledging the needs of others and responding with selfless, caring love. Recognizing the divine in all humans she lives the teaching contained in Matthew 25:40, “Whatsoever you do to the least of my people, that you do unto me.” Through the years Sister Claudia has been an inspiring, thought provoking, tireless laborer in the vineyard of Our Lord Jesus Christ. She has put her love into action and set an example for the lives of those following in her footsteps. I know I am a better person for having known her and will miss her wisdom, and compassion. I pray she will find a much deserved relaxation and peace in this next phase of her life. Dale E. Kildee© Franciscan Sisters of the Poor |
