Kerry Alys Robinson, the president and chief executive officer of Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA), has been selected to receive the University of Notre Dame’s 2025 Laetare Medal — the oldest and most prestigious honor given to American Catholics — at Notre Dame’s 180th University Commencement Ceremony on May 18.
Founded in 1910, CCUSA is a national membership organization that supports and represents 168 Catholic Charities agencies across the United States. Collectively, the Catholic Charities network each year serves more than 15 million vulnerable people, regardless of their faith or background, through food and nutrition programs, affordable housing, disaster relief and a variety of other humanitarian services.
“Kerry Alys Robinson has dedicated her career to serving the Church, standing in solidarity with those on the margins so that they may experience the abundant love of God,” said Notre Dame President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C. “In awarding her the Laetare Medal, the University celebrates her boundless compassion, visionary leadership and inspiring example of faith-filled service. By her example, Kerry inspires us all to dedicate our lives more fully to answering the Gospel call.”
Established at Notre Dame in 1883, the Laetare Medal was conceived as an American counterpart of the Golden Rose, a papal honor that antedates the 11th century. The medal has been awarded annually at Notre Dame to a Catholic “whose genius has ennobled the arts and sciences, illustrated the ideals of the Church and enriched the heritage of humanity.”
Previous recipients of the Laetare Medal include Civil War Gen. William Rosecrans, Governor of New York Alfred Smith, operatic tenor John McCormack, President John F. Kennedy, Catholic Worker founder Dorothy Day, novelist Walker Percy, Vice President Joe Biden and Speaker of the House John Boehner (awarded jointly), Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, former CCUSA President and CEO Monsignor J. Bryan Hehir, labor activist Monsignor George G. Higgins, jazz composer Dave Brubeck, Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley Executive Director Sister Norma Pimentel M.J., singer Aaron Neville and actor Martin Sheen.
“Once when I was on the beautiful campus of Notre Dame, I found myself marveling at the list of Laetare medalists in the Main Building,” Robinson said. “Many are personally familiar to me, some dear friends, and I am in awe of the vast and varied ways they have contributed to our world and to our Church. I am profoundly humbled to join their ranks. With immense gratitude, I accept this honor in recognition of the 250,000 Catholic Charities staff and volunteers nationwide who are visible signs of hope and mercy in our nation.”
For more information, please read the full announcement from Notre Dame.
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