In Remembrance of Stephen R. Hay

Stephen R. Hay
February 24, 1938 — February 6, 2023

Stephen R. Hay and his wife Palmira Perea-Hay have been associates of Victory Noll for 30 years and it was through the Victory Noll community that we were privileged to come to know them. Victory Noll was one of the collaborating institutes that helped to found the Congar Institute and several of their members volunteered to serve as Resource Persons, including Steve and Palmira.

Originally from Indiana, Steve earned two master’s degrees from Catholic University of America in Washington DC. He then joined St. James Father's of Boston, MA and spent several years ministering in Bolivia. When he earned his degree in Social Work, he spent a majority of his work in Catholic Charities Agencies with Palmira.

In 1982 Palmira and Steve worked as Volunteers for Educational and Social Services (VESS) in Lubbock, Texas. VESS is a program of the Catholic bishops of Texas that matches qualified men and women for full-time community service with organizations dedicated to community service and change. Steve was the director of the agency for 18 years. In 2000, Steve and Palmira moved to Albuquerque, NM and worked for 8 years for the Archdiocese of Santa Fe in the office of Pastoral Outreach, serving people with disabilities, providing prison and jail ministries, and services for seniors. Steve especially loved serving the Spanish speakers and served in English and Sign Language as well.

For the last few years before fully retiring, the couple especially enjoyed serving the Congar Institute by sharing Catholic Social Teaching with lay ministers in formation. Steve was kind, compassionate, funny, joy-filled, and smart. He was a man of faith who loved serving Christ in the poor. It was a privilege to know him.