This year marks my fourth Leading With Faith Awards. On the one hand, this recurrence reminds me how quickly the years go by; on the other, it calls to mind once again what a blessing it is to have so many people in our archdiocese who are intentional about living their Catholic faith even in the public forum.
I hope you will take the time to read about our seven winners. I trust that you will be inspired, as I have been, by their love of our Lord and for the gift of the Eucharist. This animates and motivates them to serve with the selfless love of Jesus, trusting in the providential care of God the father. These men and women give freely of themselves and ask for nothing in return.
Their backgrounds, experiences and expertise are nearly as diverse as this local Church. They serve in business, education, medicine, health care and beyond. They reach out to the young, old, poor, marginalized, underserved, sick, struggling, despairing and dying. Service to God and to their neighbors are at the core of who they are and what they do.
After reading the submissions from those nominating our awardees, as well as their own responses, I’m struck by what they share in common: Besides excelling professionally and having a positive impact on those with whom they come into contact, they are each incredibly honest about their own shortcomings, articulate when it comes to explaining how they have learned from failure and difficult situations, and humbly conscious of their need for God’s love and forgiveness. How beautifully they give credit to our provident God.
While the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis gives the award, I cannot help but think that we are the true recipients benefiting from the fruits of the awardees’ labor and service.
Please join me in a prayer of thanksgiving for this year’s Leading With Faith recipients and for the many men and women who serve so many in so many ways.
