Alum recognized with Matthew 25 Award

Divine Word College honored Art Roche, retired Dubuque hospital executive, peace and social justice advocate, and long-time member of the DWC Board of Trustees with the 2019 Matthew 25 Award, which was presented at a prayer service and banquet on Wednesday, March, 20.

The award honors those who help the poor and marginalized.

“Art has been influential in many areas in reaching out to the homeless, the abused, immigrants, housing needs and in particular the Peace movement,” said Father Ken Anich, SVD, in his nomination. “When one reads the list of his involvements, it becomes obvious he has seriously integrated the principles of Matthew 25 into every aspect of his life and truly has made a difference.”

A 1970 graduate of Divine Word College, Roche has consistently lived a life of concern for others. He has volunteered his time in support of a long list of non-profit organizations that aid those in need and promote peace and social justice.  He was an active member of the college board of trustees for 15 years. Professionally, beginning as a psychiatric orderly in 1969, he retired from Mercy Medical Center as director of planning in 2016.

The Matthew 25 Award was established at DWC in 2001 to honor those in or connected to the area, who minister in the spirit of the Gospel message put forth in Matthew 25:35-36:

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.”