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Bishop honors laity for social justice work
By Ambria Hammel, The Catholic Sun
October 19, 2006
Social justice teaching calls Catholics to make living out their faith part of their daily routine.
Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted recently honored seven individuals for modeling such behavior at this year’s McCarthy Leadership Awards luncheon Oct. 3.
At the same time, he invited all Catholics to renew their commitment to eliminating injustice.
“The practice of charity is an essential activity of the Church,” Bishop Olmsted said.
Each recipient led efforts to address the root causes of poverty, something advocated by Bishop Edward A. McCarthy, the Phoenix Diocese’s first leader and the award’s namesake.
“Community organizing gives people the courage, the power and the voice… to affect change,” said Tricia Hoyt, director of the Office of Peace and Justice, which sponsored the awards.
The diocese honored Guy Mikkelsen, president of the Foundation for Senior Living, with the lifetime achievement award. He helped start Central Arizona Shelter Services and Protecting Arizona’s Family Coalition.
Barry Sargent, director of Kino Institute, received an award for social justice education.
Bob Ryan, assistant principal for ministry at Brophy College Preparatory, won for excellence in youth formation. Ryan organizes immersion programs for the students including one to help clean up New Orleans.
Bishop Olmsted presented Sr. Anna Bailey, IBVM, with an award for her contribution to the enhancement of human life and dignity. Sr. Anna worked at Andre House for 17 years where she developed a ministry of praying at the burial of the homeless. The work continues today with county jail inmates digging the graves and joining in prayer.
St. Catherine of Siena parishioner Marcie Escobedo won for her community mobilization efforts. In 1990, she led the campaign to establish the first drug-free, crime-free zone around the church, zones that now operate statewide. She also organized citizenship and literacy classes at various churches helping her father and 20 others to become U.S. citizens.
Bishop Olmsted honored Mary Permoda for her work to turn Scottsdale’s St. Bernadette Parish into what Diana Stickney with the Office of Peace and Justice called “a hive of social justice activity.”
Paul Hillebrand, music director at St. Patrick Parish in Scottsdale, accepted the social justice liturgy award on behalf of Fr. Eric Tellez. The pastor’s homilies frequently “hammer home the Gospel call to serve the poor,” said Lawrence Goodwin, regional coordinator for the Office of Peace and Justice.
“The social gospel is alive and well and living in our communities and that sustains me,” Hoyt said.
The event also served as a kickoff for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development’s annual collection drive. The campaign funds community organizing efforts and economic development issues.
Parishes recently received resource packets with ways to promote the campaign and increase awareness of poverty in the diocesan community and how Catholics should respond to it.
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Ambria Hammel/CATHOLIC SUN
Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted recently honored seven individuals for modeling such behavior at this year’s McCarthy Leadership Awards luncheon Oct. 3.
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