2006 WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE AWARD RECIPIENTS
Agnes G. Doody, Ph.D. | Carolyn Petreccia | O. Rogeriee Thompson
Wheelworks Women's Cycling Team | Rev. Katherine Miranda Soares | Robin

RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY

Rev. Katherine Miranda Soares
Health Promotion Specialist/Contract Manager, RI Department of Health and Pastor/Founder, Disciples of Christ Tabernacle Mission Church

Rev. Katherine Miranda Soares is a woman who has stopped at nothing to achieve her goals of becoming a minister and helping others despite the obstacles she had to overcome to do so. In order to follow her call to the ministry Rev. Soares had to obtain an undergraduate degree. At the age of 36 as a divorced mother of two sons, Rev. Soares enrolled in Johnson & Wales University and went to school full-time during the evenings, worked a full-time day job and traveled to Springfield, MA one Saturday a month for her ministerial training. Through the grace of God and her own perseverance, Rev. Soares was able to answer her call from God.

In 1992, Rev. Soares founded the Disciples of Christ Tabernacle Mission Church, a ministry that began at the ACI Maximum Security Prison. The ministry has moved outside the prison walls and continues to administer to the needs of underserved populations.

In addition to her ministry work, Rev. Soares has been in the forefront of the education and awareness efforts surrounding the issues of HIV and AIDS in the state of Rhode Island. She has also volunteered her time for a number of organizations and various causes including Times2 Children's Academy, Hope High School, New Life Community Food Bank, National Black Leadership Initiative on Cancer, and the HIV/AIDS Task Force. (back to top)