Sister Mary Lisa Renfer, RSM, nominated for Lumen Christi Award

Sister Mary Lisa Renfer, RSM, DO, has been nominated for Catholic Extension’s Lumen Christi Award for her work extending the healing ministry of Jesus to the poor as medical director of the St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic.

The Lumen Christi Award, presented by Catholic Extension, is given to people who radiate and reveal the light of Christ present in the communities where they serve. 

The 40-foot-long mobile medical clinic provides a traveling doctor’s office, complete with on board computers, treatment room, health assessment station and a lab. The clinic travels to several communities throughout East Tennessee every month, providing free medical care to those without insurance. 

With over 1,300 patient visits in 2022, Sister Mary Lisa and the clinic treated patients in rural counties where 18 to 23 percent of the residents live in poverty. Many patients live in extreme poverty and suffer the afflictions of the poor – diabetes, high blood pressure, liver disease, opioid addiction, and lung disease.
The vast majority of patients are not Catholic. In fact, their first exposure to the Catholic Church is the habited Sister of Mercy and doctor, Sister Mary Lisa. She, her staff of two, and a team of over 80 active volunteers work to bring healing, hope, and the hands of Christ to others.

Pope Francis said, “Even when healing is not possible, care can always be given.” Sister Mary Lisa exemplifies this by walking with each patient, in each of their unique circumstances. She never separates the healing of the body from the ministry to the soul.

She says, “Jesus comes to meet you in each person. Sometimes I can’t fix them, but I have to walk with them. And the more you walk with them, the more you know how to help.” 

Catholic Extension is a national fundraising organization that supports and strengthens mission dioceses across the United States, including the Diocese of Knoxville. The organization provides funding and resources to dioceses and parishes through programs and services investing in people, infrastructure and ministries. Support is given based on need, passion, and commitment to the growth of the Catholic faith.