Madeline Lyon, principal of St. Francis School in Lumberton, NM, certainly has her work cut out. Lumberton is a small town nestled high in the mountains of northern New Mexico, rural and surrounded by Native American reservations. Although the school has been providing quality Catholic education to the remote communities here, every day seems to bring new challenges.
The housing for the teachers is in desperate need of repairs, and finding the resources to keep the doors open to students, many of whom live below the poverty line, is a constant concern. Despite the odds, however, Lyon loves the people and the community she serves. And now, this love and dedication has not gone unnoticed, because Lyon has been nominated for Catholic Extension’s Lumen Christi Award. According to the Extension’s website: “The Lumen Christi Award is presented to an individual or group of people who have demonstrated how the power of faith can transform lives and society.” Nominations and awards also come with a grant to help the nominees continue their work.
Watch the short video below to learn a little more about Lyon’s work, or visit the official voting page.