Three women receive Sisters of St. Benedict’s Angels of Grace awards
By Natalie Hoefer
Throughout the Bible, three archangels are listed by name: Gabriel, messenger of good news to Mary and Zechariah; Michael, defender of heaven who cast the devil into hell; and Raphael, the traveling companion of Tobias.
The Sisters of St. Benedict of Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Beech Grove have annually identified three women who have heroically served in the roles of messenger, defender and companion, and recognized their service with an “Angels of Grace” award.
The 2022 winners are: Seeds of Hope Indy executive director Marvetta Grimes for the “companion” Angel Raphael Award; Face-to-Face Fine Art Commemorative Expressions Inc. founder and artist D. Anne Jones for the “messenger” Angel Gabriel Award; and One Net Coalition founder Linda Hirsch for the “defender” Angel Michael Award.
The recipients will receive their awards at the Angels of Grace Awards Luncheon at Primo Banquet Hall in Indianapolis on Sept. 24.
Following is background on the 2022 messenger, defender and companion as listed at benedictinn.org/angels-of-grace.
Marvetta Grimes, Angel Raphael Award
Marvetta Grimes will receive the Angel Raphael Award for being a companion to those in need of help and assistance.
She is a graduate and now executive director of Seeds of Hope Indy, a transitional housing facility for women who are recovering from drug or alcohol addiction. A non-profit organization, Seeds of Hope was founded in 1999 with the purpose of providing a structured, loving environment to enable its residents to successfully work through an individualized program of recovery, and to be able to begin a new way of life free from addiction.
Grimes began her journey with Seeds of Hope as a resident of their recovery program. As a graduate of this program, she began working as an overnight supervisor and house manager. In 2005, she was promoted to executive director.
She says she is honored to help other women through her experience, inspiring them with her strength and hope.
To read a Sept. 10, 2021, Criterion article on Seeds of Hope Indy, go to cutt.ly/SeedsOfHope.
For more information on the organization, go to www.seedsofhopeindy.org.
D. Anne Jones, Angel Gabriel Award
D. Anne Jones will receive the Angel Gabriel Award as a messenger of hope and cheer.
She is the artist behind Face-to-Face Fine Art Commemorative Expressions Inc. According to the non-profit organization’s website, its mission is to “provide free hand-painted portraits for families or individuals who have lost a loved one to a sudden, unexpected, or tragic death,” with the hope of helping to “aid in the [recipient’s] grieving process and to commemorate and honor the deceased by creating a lasting memory of their life.”
Jones was inspired to create Face-to-Face after losing her sister, mother and husband, all within a 60-day period. Since she has founded Face-to-Face, she has also lost her daughter.
Jones has been practicing portraiture for more than
40 years. She attended John Herron School of Art at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, and also studied under internationally known Viennese artist Alice Schlessinger.
To honor the memories of her husband, sister, mother and daughter, Jones reaches out to others suffering a sudden, unexpected or tragic loss. Having a memorial portrait can help offer relief in the grieving process and keeps the memory of the deceased loved one alive.
Jones works with survivors to choose a photo that will help her capture the likeness and spirit of each individual subject and is especially interested in making each portrait a unique statement of the individual person.
She is a member of St. Alphonsus Liguori Parish in Zionsville, Ind., in the Lafayette Diocese.
To read a Jan. 14 Criterion article about Jones and Face-to-Face, go to cutt.ly/Face-to-Face.
For more information on the organization, go to facetofacefineart.org.
Linda Hirsch, Angel Michael Award
Linda Hirsch will receive the Angel Michael Award as a defender of the dignity and goodness of others.
When she first walked into the Indiana Women’s Prison in Indianapolis as a prison ministry faith-sharing group volunteer in 1993, Hirsch soon came to love the women, its dedicated staff and other volunteers. She developed lasting relationships and a commitment to helping the women there with re-entry into society. All are woven into the fabric of the prison.
In 2016, Linda called together a group of volunteers and founded One Net Coalition, a non-profit organization whose mission is to walk with women as they create a new path home.
The organization’s 20-week program, served entirely by volunteers, prepares women to overcome obstacles to re-entry and establish a new beginning.
Hirsch says it is easy to see the face of Christ in these women and how God walks through every open door. Every graduate of the program has maintained her freedom.
Today, their program is expanding beyond prison to women who have been released but are still struggling.
Hirsch is a member of St. Pius X Parish in Indianapolis.
For more information on One Net Coalition, go to www.onenetcoalition.org.
(The Angels of Grace Luncheon will be held at Primo Banquet Hall, 2615 National Ave., in Indianapolis, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sept. 24. Tickets are $40 per person or $320 for a table of eight. Proceeds benefit women’s programming at Benedict Inn Retreat and Conference Center in Beech Grove. For more information or to register, go to www.benedictinn.org/angels-of-grace, call 317-788-7581 or e-mail benedictinn@benedictinn.org.) †