Chicagoland

Annual service awards conferred on lay leaders

By Chicago Catholic
Thursday, October 11, 2018

Archbishop Cupich presents awards at Holy Name Cathedral in this 2016 file photo. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

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. The Bishop Quarter and Christifideles awards were conferred Oct. 7 at Holy Name Cathedral. Recipients were:

The Bishop Quarter Award, named for Bishop William Quarter, the first bishop of Chicago, is given each year to a 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: School Sister of St. Francis Catherine Ryan, executive director of Maryville Academy

Since being appointed executive director of Maryville Academy in 2004, Sister Catherine has started Maryville’s crisis nursery, which provides a safe shelter for preschool children while their parents are addressing emergencies, such as domestic violence or medical needs; its children’s health care center, which provides care for medically fragile and/or technology-dependent children, from birth through 21 years; the Maryville Jen School, a therapeutic day school for young people who need a clinical and non-traditional learning environment in order to succeed; and the St. Monica Program, a recovery home for mothers needing substance abuse treatment so that they can live with their children up to age 10. During her tenure, Maryville also has expanded the Catholic Youth Organization to serve children in the Austin and West Garfield communities.

Prior to leading Maryville, Sister Catherine worked almost 20 years in the Juvenile Division of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office, where she established a Child Abuse Unit. In later years, with State’s Attorney Richard A. Devine, Sister Catherine helped write legislation for a restorative justice approach in juvenile court.

Vicariate II: Geriann Gentile, Our Lady of Hope Parish, Rosemont

Gentile has served as business manager of Our Lady of Hope Parish for more than 20 years. For the past 13 years, she has also managed the Father Thomas Schwab Endowment Fund. The fund was set up in 1979 to serve the needs of parishes in the vicariate for various ministries. Through the years, about  $400,000 has been distributed for ministerial initiatives in Vicariate II.

Vicariate III: Roberta Fair, Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica

Fair has been active in ministering to the poor on the West Side for many years, both at the former Presentation Parish and for the last 13 years at Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica. Among her various ministries, she has provided an ongoing outreach to more than 200 homeless and area residents who attend the bimonthly Dignity Breakfast at Our Lady of Sorrows. For the last 11 years, she has collected clothing and toiletries for those who attend. 

She also has played a key role in the Our Lady of Sorrow’s annual gala fundraiser and coordinates the annual holiday bazaar, featuring vendors from the African-American community. She involves youth from the parish and sharing parishes to assist. She is a member of the OLS Women’s Club and supports Zacchaeus House, a not-for-profit, non-treatment home for men in transition, in need of healing and God’s grace and mercy.

Vicariate IV: Vicente Del Real, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Melrose Park

During the past 10 years, Del Real has responded directly and profoundly to an urgent need for ministry to first- and second-generation Latino immigrant youth and young adults. Del Real and other young adults have formed a new canonical community known as Iskali. This lay association of the faithful, composed of 21 promised members as a core community, extends to many more community leaders and participants.

Vicariate V: Marge Garbacz, St. Symphorosa

Garbacz has been involved at St. Symphorosa as director of religious education and pastoral associate, and she volunteers as a lector and cantor, and with the RCIA program. She has contributed to the formation of catechists in Vicariate V through her presentations about liturgy and the four pillars of formation. She now serves as chaplain for Franciscan Village in Lemont, ministering to the spiritual needs of senior citizens.

Vicariate VI: Larry Campbell, Sts. Peter and Paul

Campbell has been an active volunteer in various parish and archdiocesan projects for 35 years. Before joining Sts. Peter and Paul, Campbell volunteered at St. Joseph, Homewood, where he and his wife, Gayle, attended and his four children grew up. 

For the last eight years, Campbell has volunteered at Sts. Peter and Paul, as well in various archdiocesan efforts and in several community organizations. He is the parish council president, a member of the liturgy and events and safety committees, and serves as liaison to the finance committee. He is a lector and leads the Bible study group which he founded, the Sts. Peter and Paul 100th Anniversary party, the West Pullman Christmas Tree lighting and the archdiocesan To Teach Who Christ Is campaign. 

Campbell was certified as a lay minister in 2015 through the lay leadership program at Saint Xavier University and Mundelein Seminary.
Finally, Campbell is a strong believer in nonviolence. Three years ago, he co-founded and is the treasurer of Nonviolence Works, an organization that teaches the history, philosophy and steps to nonviolence using Jesus Christ as the focus. Nonviolence Works has conducted multiple trainings on the South and West sides of the city and suburbs, and works closely with the archdiocesan Office for Violence Prevention.

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 parishes are in Chicago unless otherwise noted:

Vicariate I: Frank and Mary Tornabene, St. Colette, Rolling Meadows; Jose Osuna, St. Colette, Rolling Meadows; Tom and Desiree Plonowski, St. Dismas, Waukegan; Ela Stoklosa, St. Edna, Arlington Heights; Mary Ann Kwasek, St. Francis De Sales, Lake Zurich; Barbara Chmieleski, St. Francis De Sales, Lake Zurich; Garry Grzelak, Holy Cross, Deerfield; Arlene Swanson, St. James, Arlington Heights; Joann Trotti, St. James, Highwood; Richard and Rose Capinpin, St. John the Evangelist, Streamwood; Jennifer Gedville, St. Mary of Vernon, Indian Creek; Cristina Reyes, Mision San Juan Diego, Arlington Heights; Salvador and Maria Martinez, Most Blessed Trinity, Waukegan; Walter and Patricia Falkowski, St. Patrick, Lake Forest; Al and Sara Hancock, St. Patrick, Wadsworth; Randy Lentz, St. Peter Damian, Bartlett; Charles E. McFarlin, Prince of Peace, Lake Villa; Robert and Elizabeth Forster, Sr., St. Raphael the Archangel, Old Mill Creek; Charles and Pauline Meyer, St. Raymond De Penafort, Mount Prospect; Kathleen A. Mietus, St. Stephen Protomartyr, Des Plaines; William Paul, St. Theresa, Palatine; Elizabeth Mika, St. Thomas Becket, Mount Prospect; Jim and Mary Ann Fijalkiewicz, Transfiguration, Wauconda.


Vicariate II: Monica Herron, St. Alphonsus; Alan and Denise Sutherland, Assumption; Kathleen Minneci, St. Benedict; Sharon Sullivan, St. Bonaventure Oratory; Florence Mary Merkl-Deutsch, St. Clement; Catherine J. Minnick, St. Cornelius; Catherine Burgeson, St. Francis Xavier, Wilmette; Gail Smith, St. Gertrude; Mary Ann Harrington, St. Gregory the Great; Cat Van and Mai Thi Nguyen, St. Henry; Daniel and Arlene Bracken, St. Hilary; Rita Zambon, Immaculate Conception; Alexandra Justine Salamone, Immaculate Conception and St. Joseph; Patrick Grant, St. Isaac Jogues, Niles; Michael and Roseanna Magada, St. Ita; Griselda Dominguez, St. Jerome; Alejandra Silva, St. Jerome; Richard and Meg Cagney, St. Joan of Arc, Evanston; Arthur Greenwood, St. John Brebeuf, Niles; Kelly Smith, St. Josaphat; Gene and Kirsten Solmos, St. Joseph, Wilmette; David Plier, St. Juliana; Catherine Pauley, St. Martha, Morton Grove; Frank and Caroline Carlton, St. Mary, Evanston; Anne Toohey, St. Mary of the Woods; Peter Dean Kapetan, Mary, Seat of Wisdom, Park Ridge; Sue Chan, St. Matthias; Damian Barta, St. Nicholas, Evanston; Jim Seeberg, St. Norbert and Our Lady of the Brook, Northbrook; Catherine Morrison, Our Lady of Hope, Rosemont; Ignacio and Teodora Garcia, Our Lady of Lourdes; Ramonitade Jesús, Our Lady of Mercy; Dennis and Janine Minichello, Our Lady of Mount Carmel; Stephen Dolan, Our Lady of Ransom, Niles; Richard and Maria Portis, St. Philip the Apostle Church of Divine Mercy Parish, Northfield; Eileen Neis and Joseph Onofrio, Queen of All Saints Basilica; Martha Lacunza, Queen of Angels; Ines Trani, Queen of Angels; Hector and Angelica Campos-Oken, Resurrection; Kristin Lolli, Sacred Heart Church of Divine Mercy Parish, Winnetka; Joris and Christa Soeding, St. Tarcissus; Jeff Malarski, St. Thecla; Salvacion Cuenca Martinez, Transfiguration of Our Lord.


Vicariate III: Elvira Garcia, St. Agnes of Bohemia; Kathleen A. Petitti, St. Aloysius; Andrés and Yolanda Grajeda, Assumption BVM; Angeleo B. and Hazel N. Alonzo, Jr., St. Barbara; Jeanne Kett, St. Gabriel; Jerrilyn Young, Holy Family; Dan and Kathleen Wetstein, St. John Berchmans; Lijia Evariz, St. Joseph; Francis and Linda Sarfo, St. Malachy-Precious Blood; Abdon and Gerarda Loera, Santa Maria Addolorata; Antonio Flores, St. Mark; Jesse James, St. Martin De Porres; Aimee Markelz Tracy, Old St. Mary’s; Maria Luz Medina, St. Michael the Archangel; Arnietta Townsend, Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica; George Lee, St. Therese Chinese Catholic Church.

Vicariate IV: Kathleen Marifjeren, Ascension, Oak Park; Wayne Stanley Bernacki, St. Beatrice, Schiller Park; Carol Good, St. Bernardine, Forest Park; Grace Bishop, St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy, Oak Park; Juan Vicente Urbina, St. Charles Borromeo, Melrose Park; Henry and Katherine Morlock, St. Cletus, La Grange; Zofia and Jozef Czarny, St. Constance; Loretta Josefowski, St. Constance; Frank and Colleen Lizak, Divine Savior, Norridge; Ronald and Carol McFalls, St. Domitilla, Hillside; John and Kathleen Barrett, St. Edmund, Oak Park; Thomas Bucaro, St. Ferdinand; Jaime and Rosie Curiel, St. Frances of Rome, Cicero; Ernest and Clarita Froemel, St. Francis Xavier, La Grange; Christine Rocco, St. Genevieve; Claudia Hoening, St. Hugh, Lyons; Jane Gentiluomo, St. Hugh, Lyons; Brian and Kathleen King, St. John of the Cross, Western Springs; Mike and Jeannie Francis, St. John of the Cross, Western Springs; Rosa Sandoval, St. John Vianney, Northlake; Edward Czupryna, St. Ladislaus; Lucia Carrera, St. Leonard, Berwyn; Marcy Fishback, St. Louise De Marillac, La Grange Park; Kathy and Douglas Kurtenbach, St. Luke, River Forest; Thomas and Nicoline Shields, St. Mary, Riverside; Gabriel Chaidez, St. Mary of Celle, Berwyn; Judy Novak, Mater Christi, North Riverside; Angel and Oliva Pereda, St. Odilo, Berwyn; Mario Monrroy, Our Lady of Charity, Cicero; Jose Antonio Rodriguez, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Melrose Park; Eileen Bond, Our Lady of Victory; Donald and Tomasina Perry, Our Lady, Mother of the Church; Piotr Junik, St. Pascal; Nancy Pajeau, St. Pius X, Stickney; James A. Miketta, St. Priscilla; Maria Pajak, St. Rosalie, Harwood Heights; Susan Golding, Sacred Heart, Melrose Park; Mario Dato, St. Vincent Ferrer, River Forest; Mary Keating, St. William; Wieslawa Puchacz, St. William. 

Vicariate V: Janina Galica, St. Albert the Great, Burbank; Eric Stroner and Amy Pannaralla, St. Alexander, Palos Heights; Diane Kaye, St. Alphonsus, Lemont; Elizabeth O’Connell, St. Bernadette, Evergreen Park; Kathy Terborg, St. Catherine of Alexandria, Oak Lawn; Kitty L. Shannon, Sts. Cyril and Methodius, Lemont; Barbara Lakomiak, St. Damian, Oak Forest; Deborah Hartigan, St. Damian, Oak Forest; Rita Leary, St. Denis; Harold and Carol Davis, St. Elizabeth Seton, Orland Hills; Paula Kroll, St. Fabian, Bridgeview; James Walsh, St. Francis of Assisi, Orland Park; Charles and Mary L. Keiner, St. Gerald, Oak Lawn; Frances La Bella, St. Germaine, Oak Lawn; Ken Zaragoza, St. Jane De Chantal; Stan Dron, St. Joseph, Summit; Joanne Tuzik, St. Julie Billiart, Tinley Park; Cecilia M. Beyer, St. Louis De Montfort, Oak Lawn; Amparo Gutierres, St. Michael, Orland Park; Marianne Gillfillan, Our Lady of the Ridge, Chicago Ridge; Carmen Nelson, Our Lady of the Snows; Stephen and Kristina Kahn, Our Lady of the Woods, Orland Park; Anita Kieca, St. Patricia, Hickory Hills; Richard and Linda Rybski, St. Patrick, Lemont; Mary Loffredo, Sacred Heart, Palos Hills; Thomas and Margaret DeRose, St. Symphorosa.

Vicariate VI: Rita M. Rohn, St. Agnes, Chicago Heights; Karen Rogers, St. Ambrose; Stanley and Judith Wohadlo, St. Ann, Lansing; Eva Wilson Pitts, St. Anne, Hazel Crest; Karen Lenart, St. Columba; Ronald Segvich, St. Columba; Donald and Judith Korte, St. Irenaeus, Park Forest; Paul and Christine Lynch, St. Joseph, Homewood; Joan Elliott, St. Jude the Apostle, South Holland; Joan Hair, St. Kieran, Chicago Heights; Leola Jones, St. Philip Neri; Carol Babich, Sacred Heart Croatian; Candace Scheidt, St. Thomas the Apostle.

Topics:

  • bishop quarter award
  • christi fidelis award

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