Chicagoland

Cardinal confers annual lay service awards

By Catholic New World
Sunday, November 10, 2013

Cardinal confers annual lay service

Each year, the Archdiocese of Chicago grants two kinds of awards to lay men and women for their dedication to the church and its ministries. They are the Bishop Quarter and Christifideles awards and were given by Cardinal George Nov. 3, 2013 at Holy Name Cathedral.
Cardinal George blesses the Bishop Quarter and Christifidelis awards at Holy Name Cathedral on Nov. 3. (Julie Jaidinger / Catholic New World)
Caroline and John Kelbowski of St. Linus Parish in Oak Lawn pray during the awards service. (Julie Jaidinger / Catholic New World)
Irma Diaz of St. Aloysius Parish accepts her award from Auxiliary Bishop Alberto Rojas. (Julie Jaidinger / Catholic New World)

Each year, the Archdiocese of Chicago grants two kinds of awards to lay men and women for their dedication to the church and its ministries. They are the Bishop Quarter and Christifideles awards and were given by Cardinal George Nov. 3 at Holy Name Cathedral. This year’s recipients are:

Bishop Quarter Awards

Bishop Quarter

William J. Quarter,
Chicago's first bishop

The Bishop Quarter awards are named after the man who was the first to lead the Catholic Church in Chicago.

  • Born in Kings County (Offaly), Ireland on Jan. 24, 1806
  • Emigrated to the United States in 1822 w Ordained for the Diocese of New York on Sept. 19, 1829
  • Appointed first bishop of Chicago in February 1844
  • Consecrated on March 10, 1844
  • Died on April 10, 1848

Source: "The Archdiocese of Chicago: Journey of Faith"

The Bishop Quarter Award, named for Bishop William Quarter, the first bishop of Chicago, is given each year to one layperson or married couple in each vicariate who demonstrates consistent service to the ministries of the archdiocese’s vicariates. Episcopal vicars nominate recipients.

Vicariate I: Peter Gennuso, Queen of the Rosary Parish, Elk Grove Village. Peter Gennuso, who attended Queen of the Rosary School and is still a member there, started the Respect Life Committee at the parish in 2009. The next year, he assumed the role of Respect Life coordinator for Vicariate I, a position he held until February. At that time, he stepped down to devote his efforts to a new not-for-profit, Pro Life Champions, which educates people about Catholic moral teaching with respect to the dignity of human life from conception until natural death, as well as the need of traditional family values. Gennuso serves as president of the organization’s board.

Bonnie Quirke, St. Joseph Parish, Libertyville. Bonnie Quirke was co-founder of Lake County Right to Life in 1974 and has served for many years on the Illinois Federation for Right to Life Board. She was one of the founding leaders of the international Anti-Euthanasia Task Force, now known as the Patients’ Rights Council, in Steubenville, Ohio, and she is a member of the Defense of Marriage Coalition.

Vicariate II: James Eder, St. Thomas of Canterbury Parish. James Eder has been the volunteer director of the soup kitchen at St. Thomas of Canterbury in Uptown for more than 35 years. He has devoted much of his life to serving the poor of Uptown and the surrounding communities in Vicariate II. He has mentioned that every person who walks through the doors of the soup kitchen is “Jesus” to him.

Vicariate III: Paulina Guzman, St. Ann Parish, 1820 S. Leavitt. Paulina Guzman, a longtime resident of Pilsen and involved member of St. Ann Parish, has been a tireless advocate for immigration reform and justice for undocumented families and individuals. She became one of the core members in the formation of the Santo Toribio Romo Society, and she served as the society’s first coordinator and was a key liaison with the archdiocese.

Vicariate IV: Sister Anna Strycharz, MChr., St. Ferdinand Parish. Sister Anna Strycharz, a Missionary Sister of Christ the King for Polonia, is director of religious education for St. Ferdinand Parish, and she directs St. Ferdinand Polish School. She coordinates all the sacramental programs for both the Polish and English communities and the RCIA program at St. Ferdinand. Sister Anna has authored a bilingual (Polish and English) text for confirmation preparation, teaches religion at Notre Dame High School for Girls, leads a parish Bible group and lends her voice in praise in supervision of her Polish children’s choir, Kropeczki. Sister Anna is a voice for those who otherwise might not be heard in our vicariate regarding the rights of immigrants with her work in the “immigrantto- immigrant” archdiocesan initiative.

Vicariate V: Mercy Sister Nancy Swanson, St. Germaine Parish, Oak Lawn. Mercy Sister Nancy Swanson has been director of the Courage Program, based at St. Germaine Parish, since 2006. The program was started in 1980 by Maureen Shields as a parish outreach to assist unwed mothers as an alternative to abortion. It provides assistance for those who choose to place their children for adoption as well as those who choose to keep their babies. The program currently serves 290 mothers from an area stretching from Joliet and Mokena to 22nd Street, and from LaGrange Road to Hyde Park. Through the years, more than 8,000 women and children have been helped.

Vicariate VI: Arthur Reliford, Holy Angels Parish. Arthur Reliford has long occupied posts in education, most recently as dean of students at Christ the King Jesuit College Prep. Before that, he was an educational consultant for the Office for Catholic Schools of the archdiocese, principal of Hales Franciscan High School and science instructor at St. Ignatius College Prep and North Lawndale College Prep. Reliford is a member of Holy Angels Parish, where he serves on the parish council.

Christifidelis Awards

The Christifideles Award is given to Catholic laypeople who have, by participating in parish life, demonstrated the personal and ministerial renewal called for by the papal exhortation Christifideles Laici, calling the laity to the “vocation of responsibility for the church’s life springing from the gift and mission of their baptism.” This year’s recipients are listed below. Listings are alphabetical by parish. The churches are in Chicago unless otherwise noted:

Vicariate 1: Joanne Twomey, St. Alphonsus Liguori, Prospect Heights; Richard T. Roberts, St. Anastasia, Waukegan; Tina Lutzke, St. Bede, Ingleside; Thomas A. and Judith Hamill Jaconetty, Chicago Airports Catholic Chaplaincy; Tom Swier, St. Cecilia, Mount Prospect; Robert and Cynthia Falk, St. Edna, Arlington Heights; Stewart Tanakatsubo, St. Francis de Sales, Lake Zurich; Raul Venzon, St. Gilbert, Grayslake; Maryann Shutan, Holy Cross, Deerfield; Janice Wood, Holy Family, Inverness; Francis Koopman, St. James, Highwood; Barbara Ziesk; St. John the Evangelist, Streamwood; Gerardo and Maria Jaimes, St. Joseph, Round Lake; Crescencio and Emma Lagunas, Mision San Juan Diego, Arlington Heights; Madeleine Slingerland, St. Mary, Lake Forest; Bill and Barbara Campbell, St. Mary of Vernon, Indian Creek; Joan Kieffer, St. Matthew, Schaumburg; Sabas and Celia Ortiz, Shrine of Our Lady Guadalupe, Des Plaines; Linda Bugos-Noble, Our Lady of Humility, Beach Park; Brian and Jeanne Hamilton, St. Patrick, Wadsworth; Arlene Joyce Sokulski, St. Peter, Antioch; Archangel Mastrangelo, St. Peter Damian, Bartlett; Michael and Mary Jane Clausen and Tom and Carol Uhlarik, Queen of the Rosary, Elk Grove Village; Randal and Ramona Bernhardt, St. Raphael the Archangel, Old Mill Creek; John and Carol Semerau, St. Raymond de Penafort, Mount Prospect; Glenn Wiorek, St. Stephen Protomartyr, Des Plaines; Bob and Gloria Konkey, St. Thomas Becket, Mount Prospect; Jesus and Marina Ortiz, Transfiguration, Wauconda;David Zerkel, St. Zachary, Des Plaines

Vicariate II: Paul Foster, Assumption; Andrea Sorensen, St. Athanasius, Evanston; Edward Kestler, St. Benedict, Irving Park Road; Jody Krembs, St. Bonaventure Oratory; Casey Bowles, St. Clement; Richard and Arlene Muench, St. Cornelius; Florence Panfil, St. Eugene; Ross and Jean Richards, St. Francis Xavier, Wilmette; Richard and Mary Ann Goode, St. Gertrude, Glenwood Ave.; Jim and Diane Muss, St. Gregory the Great; John Bradshaw, Holy Name Cathedral; William and Susan Berg, St. Ignatius; Greg and Dawn LaVeau, Immaculate Conception, Talcott Ave.; Dolores Stanton, St. Isaac Jogues, Niles; Charles Edobor, St. Ita; Camerina Cano, St. Jerome; Donald and Jeanette Wirkus, St. John Brebeuf, Niles; Todd and Christine Frech, St. Josaphat; Curt and Sally Robey, St. Joseph, Wilmette; Dan Rzany, St. Juliana; Marina Volante, St. Margaret Mary; Carol Di Simone, Sharon Strohe, Roseann Strohe and Mary Pabst, St. Martha, Morton Grove; Gordon and Mary DuCharme; St. Mary, Evanston; William and Patricia Isett, St. Mary of the Woods; Ron and Julie Stepp, Mary, Seat of Wisdom, Park Ridge; Joseph and Karen Ronchi, St. Monica; Michael Voitik and Patrick Voitik, St. Nicholas, Evanston; Ramona Lukas, St. Norbert, Northbrook;August and Elaine Sansone, Our Lady of Hope, Rosemont; Darwin and Veronica Sampedro, Our Lady of Lourdes; Alice Kraus, Our Lady of Mercy; Edward Krupa, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Glenview; Salvatore and Mary Beth Manso, Our Lady of the Brook, Northbrook; Margaret Lenhart, St. Philip the Apostle, Northfield; James, Patricia and Timothy M. Noble, Queen of All Saints Basilica; Josephine Holzner, Queen of Angels; Vilma Aquino, St. Tarcissus

Vicariate III: Sister Patricia Kerz BVM, St. Agatha; Arlene Zriny, St. Agnes of Bohemia; Irma Diaz, St. Aloysius; William and Barbara Webb, St. Barbara; Jose Luis Padilla, St. Francis of Assisi, Kostner Ave.; John Gronkowski, St. Gabriel; Mark Dombrowski; St. John Berchmans; James Clancy, St. Malachy-Precious Blood; Michael and Angela Wilson; St. Martin De Porres; Ramona DiFoggio, St. Mary of Perpetual Help; Agustin and Analilia Martinez, St. Michael the Archangel, Damen Ave.; Michael Deuerling, Nativity of Our Lord; Victor and Elsa Fernandez, Notre Dame de Chicago; Joseph Amos, Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica; Manuel and Julia Tavarez, St. Philomena; Silvia Juarez, St. Procopius; Elba Gonzalez, St. Simon the Apostle; Isaul Gutierrez, St. Sylvester; Lily May, St. Therese Chinese Mission

Vicariate IV: Evelyn Olender, St. Beatrice, Schiller Park; James R. and Alice Marshall, St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy, Oak Park; Joseph Witek, St. Celestine, Elmwood Park; Lucille Antonik, St. Constance; Catherine Hilgart, St. Cyprian, River Grove; Joseph Koron, Divine Providence, Westchester; John J. Rein, Divine Savior, Norridge; Frances Sabatino, St. Domitilla, Hillside; Mary Lynn Dietsche, St. Edmund, Oak Park; Carroll Bourrillion, St. Edward; Peter Holod, St. Ferdinand; Santa Barbara Dimarco, St. Frances of Rome, Cicero; Mary McGeean, St. Francis Borgia; Maureen Hunter, St. Giles, Oak Park; Elizabeth Shermack, St. Hugh, Lyons; Terry and Mary Stadler, St. John of the Cross, Western Springs; Donald and Nancy Juday, Bill and Debbie Piper, St. Luke, River Forest; Sallie Boge, St. Mary, Riverside; Virginia Kott, Mater Christi, North Riverside; Dolores Jakubczak, Our Lady of Charity, Cicero; Steve and Jeanne Karabin, Our Lady, Mother of the Church; Kathy Grego, St. Pius X, Stickney; William and Elaine Balog, St. Priscilla;Mitch Drozd, St. Rosalie, Harwood Heights; Joseph and Anna Marie Militello, Sacred Heart, Melrose Park; Elizabeth Faraci, St. Viator; Mary Sklenar, St. Vincent Ferrer, River Forest; Gregory Fidanzia, St. William

Vicariate V: Alice Porfirio, St. Albert the Great, Burbank; Gene Bozych and Jack Counter, St. Alphonsus, Lemont; Maribeth Rodela, St. Bernadette, Evergreen Park; Leonor Baez, St. Blase, Argo; Edmund Czuma, St. Bruno; Barbara McSweeney, St. Cajetan; Chris and Donna Marie Ivers, St.Catherine of Alexandria, Oak Lawn; Loretta Crotty, Christ the King; Cathleen Brindl, St. Christopher, Midlothian; Maria Puente, St. Clare of Montefalco; Mary Beth Rudis, Sts. Cyril & Methodius, Lemont; Richard and Arlene Muench, St. Damian, Oak Forest; Marian Wagner; St. Denis; William and Elizabeth Wisnasky, St. Elizabeth Seton, Orland Hills; John and Virginia Zbos, St. Francis of Assisi, Orland Park; Bernard F. Fadden, St. Gerald, Oak Lawn; Thomas Hamilton, St. Germaine, Oak Lawn; Thomas and Phyllis O’Connell, Incarnation, Palos Heights; Nancy Fitzpatrick, St. Jane de Chantal; Janet Joyce, St. John Fisher; Daniel Green, St. Joseph, Summit; Paul and Lynda Laspesa, St. Julie Billiart, Tinley Park; John and Caroline Kelbowski; St. Linus, Oak Lawn; Steve and Barbara Lascola, Most Holy Redeemer, Evergreen Park; Michael Banky, Nativity B.V.M.; Carol Ann Kurth, St. Nicholas of Tolentine; Angela M. Mottl, Our Lady of Loretto, Hometown; Ron Koziel, Our Lady of the Snows; Gary and Eleanor Olson, Our Lady of the Woods, Orland Park; Hank and Holly Oszakiewski, St. Patricia, Hickory Hills; Bruno Risatti and Mark Link, St. Patrick, Lemont; Jeff Kenny, Queen of Martyrs, Evergreen Park; Maria Luisa Ceniceros, St. Rita of Cascia; John and Jean Cikowski, Sacred Heart, Palos Hills; Barbara Black, St. Stephen, Deacon & Martyr, Tinley Park; Richard Wilus, St. Symphorosa

Vicariate VI: Susan Yant, St. Agnes, Chicago Heights; Theresa Jessie, St. Ambrose; Ed and Chris Zdanowski, St. Andrew the Apostle, Calumet City; Jerry and Judy Mitchell, St. Ann, Lansing; Mary Stojak, St. Anne, Hazel Crest; Avis Coleman, St. Basil/Visitation; Lincoln Seabrooks, St. Benedict the African-East; Bonnie Mocha and Dorothy Nowakowski, St. Columba; Dolores Pidgeon, Corpus Christi; Peg Gadus, St. Florian; Zaida Davidson, Holy Name of Mary; Georgiana Delehanty, St. Irenaeus, Park Forest; Susan Byrne, St. Isidore the Farmer, Blue Island; Donald Gater, St. John de la Salle;Joseph Sopron, St. Kieran, Chicago Heights; Susie M. Harris, St. Kilian; George and Mary Louise Gingras, St. Lawrence O’Toole, Matteson; Robert and Ann Hilsen, St. Mary Queen of Apostles, Riverdale; Connie Quinn, Our Lady of Peace; Debra Nowocin, St. Paul, Chicago Heights; Cynthia Roberts, St. Philip Neri; Felton and Irene Brown, Sacred Heart Croatian

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