Dr. Paul Farmer (r.) receives All Saints, Brookline's Spirituality & Justice Award from Roberta Schoor (l.), junior warden, and the Rev. David Killian (c.), rector.
An overflow crowd greeted internationally acclaimed physician Dr. Paul Farmer on Sunday, April 27 at All Saints Parish in Brookline, where he received the parish’s annual Spirituality and Justice Award. The award was presented to Farmer, who led a breakfast forum and delivered the sermon at the morning worship service, by Roberta Schnoor, junior warden, and the Rev. Dr. David A. Killian, rector at All Saints.
Farmer is a medical anthropologist, physician and founding director of Partners in Health, an international charity organization that provides direct health care services and undertakes research and advocacy activities on behalf of those who are sick and living in poverty. He is also the subject of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Tracy Kidder’s Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World.
The All Saints award cited Farmer for his "internationally recognized work to bring quality health care to people afflicted by poverty and disease" and his research, writings and teaching which "have educated a generation of doctors, nurses and health care workers to use their skills to bring healing and hope to the poorest of the poor."
A gift of over $11,000 from All Saints Parish was presented to Partners in Health in Farmer’s name. The money will support the work of Partners in Health to provide health care services in Haiti, Peru, Russia, Malawi, Lesotho, Mexico, Guatemala, Rwanda and the United States, and to undertake research and advocacy activities on behalf of those who are sick and living in poverty around the world.
The Spirituality and Justice Award is given annually by All Saints Parish to persons whose notable commitment to justice for all of God’s people is grounded in a deep spiritual life. Persons may be nominated from all faith traditions. “[These people] inspire us to renew our commitment to justice as an essential expression of our spirituality and faith,” All Saints rector the Rev. Dr. David A. Killian said.