Mags Gargan
Br De Lellis Sullivan has been made an MBE
Br De Lellis Sullivan (82), a Cork-born Presentation Brother, has been made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE). Br De Lellis received the award for “services to education” at a special investiture ceremony in St Lucia in the West Indies.
Br De Lellis (Finbar) is a native of Glengarriff in Co. Cork. After graduating from UCC in 1954, he left Ireland to teach in the West Indies. He is now the longest-serving Presentation Brother missionary having worked in Barbados, Grenada, Peru, St Lucia and Trinidad.
Governor General of Saint Lucia, Dame Pearlette Louisy, presented the award to Br De Lellis, on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II, at Government House. The Prime Minister of St Lucia, Hon. Dr. Kenny D. Anthony, also attended the ceremony.
In a citation read at the ceremony, Br De Lellis was commended for helping to “restore hope where despair prevailed”. “The Government and people of Saint Lucia are grateful to him,” it added.
Since 1997, Br De Lellis has worked with the Centre for Adolescent Renewal and Education (CARE) which trains disadvantaged young people in St Lucia.
“It’s really very humbling to receive an award like this. I’ve spent my whole life working with young people,” said Br De Lellis. “It’s been beautiful to serve God and serve young people as a Presentation Brother.”
