Criteria:
The Lumen Gentium Award is bestowed upon Catholic lay people from each parish who have demonstrated participation in the Catholic Church’s mission to bring Christ’s light to all. The individuals are practicing Catholics, in good standing, who manifest an understanding of the teachings of the church and have been graced with a life formed in the Catholic spiritual tradition. These individuals have used their talents to deepen the life of the church in the parish or have served in an extraordinary way the ministry of the parish.
Only one individual [or one married couple] should be nominated per parish, and they must be a layperson in good standing. If married, the nominee, whether nominated individually or as a couple, must be in a valid Catholic marriage and live a life of active faith in the Catholic Church.
Nominations Process:
Each pastor is given the opportunity to select one individual each year. It is left to the discretion of the pastor to determine the process within his parish: i.e., he could make the selection, ask the pastoral council for suggestions, etc. The Pastor will send the nominee’s name to the bishop’s office so that an individualized memento can be prepared.
Awards Ceremony:
Honorees will be recognized by the Archbishop. Honorees receive a memento and a photo with the bishop and are recognized in the Catholic Spirit. Parishes are encouraged to provide additional recognition at a parish liturgy or event.
Church of the Holy Spirit Lumen Gentium Award Honorees:
2024 Anne Wilkins
2023 Mary Ann Olivier
2022 John Dieterle
2021 Russell & +Emily March
2020 +Mary Weinstrom
2019 Letty Spain
2018 +Frank Wade
2017 Juan & Dolores Serna
2016 Thomas Ozgo
2015 Patricia Maguire
2014 +Helen Pollok
2013 +Robert Schanhaar
2012 Virginia Weber
“In this beautiful document, Lumen Gentium, we are reminded by the Church that it is you, the People of God, who form the strength of the faith! It is here that we are reminded of the universal call to holiness as a result of our baptism! It is here that we are reminded that not only our words but most especially our deeds, as disciples and missionaries of Jesus Christ, are the means by which the light of God’s love is made known in the world!”
~ Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller.