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Awards honor saint-like work of parish leaders
By Ambria Hammel, ahammel@catholicsun.org
May 15, 2008
The Department of Family Catechesis recognized saint-like qualities in parish leaders May 7 during its annual Celebration of Gratitude and Hope luncheon at the Diocesan Pastoral Center.
It presented seven parish leaders in catechesis, pastoral care and family life ministries with icons of saints whose lives they imitate daily.
This marked the first year that Catholic leaders serving in pastoral care, respect life and marriage ministries were honored.
Isabella Rice, director of the Office of Evangelization with Persons with Disabilities and Pastoral Care, presented Sr. Teresa Marie McIntier, SJC, with the first Our Lady of Lourdes Award.
Sr. Teresa brings the Eucharist to homebound St. Jerome parishioners and works in grief counseling at Catholic Charities. Rice said Sr. Teresa welcomes the opportunity to train other parish leaders in grief ministry and often mentors graduate students.
The National Catholic Ministry for the Bereaved has also recognized Sr. Teresa for her work.
Kathy Gabrielson, respect life coordinator at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Scottsdale — a volunteer position — received the diocese’s first St. Gianna Molla Award.
She leads 12 others in hosting respect life education sessions for parishioners quarterly. Up to 300 parishioners show up to learn the latest threats to the sanctity of life and what people can do to make a difference.
Mike Phelan, director of the Office of Marriage and Respect Life, presented Jean Estes-Gonzales with the Sts. Joachim and Anne Award for her work as marriage preparation coordinator at St. Anne Parish in Gilbert.
The mother of seven knows how to be of service to others, a co-worker said, and her benefactors are grateful.
“Jean’s work area is like a neatly designed art museum with pictures and thank you notes from many couples she has helped,” Jim Colasanti said.
Eric Westby, director of the Department of Family Catechesis, honored Barb Lishko with the St. Thérèse of Lisieux Award for making small sacrifices that impact the whole parish.
“She is committed to helping parents grow in their vocation as primary educators of their children. She knows that, even in the midst of a culture that pits teens against their parents, the most important relationship for teenagers is with their parents,” Westby said.
Lishko heads junior high and high school faith formation and sacrament preparation at St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Chandler, but has also launched family catechesis efforts.
“Barb goes above and beyond the call of duty for all duties. She wears many hats and does not skimp on any of them,” parishioner Mary Huffman said on Lishko’s nomination form.
She started the parish’s young adult program and worked with other leaders in the South Deanery to bring Theology on Tap to the area.
Bill Marcotte, director of Youth and Young Adult Evangelization for the diocese, presented Ennie Hickman with the St. John Bosco Award and Jocelyn Givens with the St. Paul the Apostle Award.
Hickman, who leads youth ministry at St. Timothy Parish in Mesa, was recognized for his service to teens worldwide through his work in the Life Teen program.
“Ennie has the unique gift of relating his heart to young people and humbly sharing his struggles and triumphs in walking with Jesus,” a peer wrote on his nomination form.
Givens was honored for her work leading faith formation for young adults at St. Timothy and bringing Adore ministries, an evangelistic outreach, to the diocese’s college-age young adults.
Marcotte said Givens is working with other leaders in her deanery to coordinate summer activities for young adults.
Leota Roesch honored Sally Schauble, religious education coordinator at San Francisco de Asís Parish in Flagstaff, for her catechetical leadership. Like St. Teresa of Avila, Schauble is a reformer.
She not only evangelizes all ages at her parish, but Schauble extends her work beyond the parish level by mentoring new catechetical leaders in the North Deanery. Roesch said she also speaks at citywide forums on the direct effect laws have on the poor and immigrants.
The annual celebration for catechetical leaders and evangelizers also honored 40 others for their years of service and almost as many for continuing their own faith formation.
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