Pilgrims of Healing and Hope: Lisa Marie Conte Brown

Editors’ Note: Pilgrims of Healing and Hope is a new series launched to commemorate the centennial of the founding of CNEWA in 1926 as a papal initiative of healing and hope.
 
From time to time, this series will profile the men and women whose time, treasure, talent — and faith — have brought to life this unique effort of the Holy See. For generations, their generosity in support of the works of the Eastern churches has empowered each community of faith as they strive to follow the lesson of the Good Samaritan to “go and do likewise,” helping to bind the wounds of a broken world.
 
Lisa Marie Conte Brown took a circuitous path to her involvement with Catholic Near East Welfare Association.
 
Ms. Brown was a docent at a Fort Lauderdale museum when she decided to spend a summer studying art in Florence, Italy. 
 
After returning to the United States, she became involved with Friends of the Uffizi Gallery, which she currently serves as president. Her interest in art led her to befriend Anthony McLaughlin, who was involved with the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums. 
 
“Tony said to me, ‘Look up Msgr. [Peter I.] Vaccari and Catholic Near East Welfare Association,’ ” said Ms. Brown. “So, one night, I find myself at midnight looking up this organization.” 
 
Ms. Brown said she was excited to learn at the time that CNEWA, a pontifical agency approaching its 100th anniversary, showed consistency in its mission.
 
“For a hundred years they’ve been helping people on the periphery,” she said. “There are lots of organizations; this one actually steps up.”
 
Ms. Brown now serves on CNEWA’s Investment Advisory Committee, which she says is an honor.
 
“CNEWA takes care of the people on the periphery,” she continued. “CNEWA takes care of those people who need to eat.” 
 
Although some people will prioritize education as “most important,” she said, as a mother she believes what is most important is ensuring children have food to eat.
 
“My true belief is no one should go hungry,” she said.
 
Ms. Brown noted that CNEWA has offices in places where people are being attacked.
 
“CNEWA touches the places to which people close their eyes and don’t want to face,” she said. “It’s humbling to think that we have so much, and they have so little.”
 
Ms. Brown is a parishioner of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Boca Raton, Florida, where she has hosted awareness-raising events for CNEWA in her home.
 
“Every person should know about CNEWA,” she said. “And the only way to tell them about the mission is by exposing them.”