PROVIDENCE — Following three successful years in which more than 30 individuals and groups have been honored for their service to the Church, the Diocese of Providence has once again opened the nominations process to pay tribute to those who “toil in the vineyard” in service to the Lord.
The Lumen Gentium Awards Committee is soliciting nominees from across the diocese for consideration of an award in any of 10 specific categories to recognize those who have demonstrated outstanding service to the Church in their parishes, the Diocese of Providence and/or the community-at-large. All nominees will be reviewed by the committee and final recommendations will then be submitted to Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, who established the awards in 2013, for approval.
The process to nominate individuals and groups for an award in any of the 10 categories is available online only at http://www.cvent.com/d/0rqb0l.
Groups, organizations and individuals (laity, clergy and religious) are eligible for consideration for an award, which is being presented in 10 categories: Parish Service, Community Service and Charitable Outreach, Catholic Education, Evangelization, Communications, Administration and Stewardship, Respect Life, Public Service, Distinguished Catholic Youth and Friend of the Diocese.
“While it is expected that nominees come from within the Catholic community, other nominees will also be considered, provided that they and their work are consistent with the teachings and mission of the Catholic Church,” said Msgr. Albert A. Kenney, Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for the Diocese of Providence, who leads the Lumen Gentium Awards Committee.
Categories for Service Awards Parish Service:
Will be given to individuals (*) who have exemplified personal dedication and generous service to their local parish communities.
Community Service and Charitable Outreach:
Will be given to an individual member of the Church who has demonstrated a commitment to parish life or the broader community related to the mission of the Church’s community service and charitable outreach. The individual should exemplify the virtues of justice, peace and solidarity and provide service to the poor, needy or disadvantaged in accord with the principles of Catholic social teaching.
Catholic Education:
Will be given to an individual member of the Church who has demonstrated a commitment to the mission of Catholic education in the broadest sense of the term, including Catholic schools, religious education, youth ministry, and campus ministry, e.g. The individual should promote the Church’s mission of education by word, deed and personal example.
Evangelization:
Will be given to an individual member of the Church who has demonstrated a personal commitment to the “New Evangelization,” a willingness to promote the Catholic faith, and a sincere response to the priority of evangelization in the Diocese of Providence.
Communications:
Will be given to an individual member of the Church who, by personal example and professional accomplishment, has excelled in the field of communications and media, in either the religious or secular sphere, and thus has had a positive impact on the local community.
Administration and Stewardship:
Will be given to an individual member of the Church who has demonstrated professional expertise and a personal commitment to the temporal well-being of the Church in the area of financial administration and stewardship for the diocese, parishes, schools, agencies or organizations. The individual should possess an unquestioned reputation for personal integrity and honesty in organizing and handling the material resources of the Church in a way that supports its spiritual mission.
Respect Life:
Will be given to an individual member of the Church who has demonstrated a sincere commitment to promoting and defending the sanctity of human life by word and deed, by personal example and public witness.
Public Service:
Will be given to an individual member of the Church who has demonstrated personal integrity, courage and leadership in promoting the common good by serving the community in a position of public service, particularly in the field of politics, on a local, state or national level. The individual’s public record must be consistent with the fundamental moral tenets of the Catholic Church.
Distinguished Catholic Youth:
Will be given to a young member of the Church (under the age of 25, e.g.) who, by personal example and apostolic work, has demonstrated an enthusiastic and sincere commitment to promoting Gospel values and the mission of the Church on a parish, school or diocesan level.
Friend of the Diocese:
Will be given to an individual -- not a member of the Catholic Church -- who has, by personal dedication and public example, assisted the Church and furthered its mission and ministry in the community. This individual should not have taken any public positions or be involved in any organizations that are contrary to the teachings of the Church on fundamental moral values.
*Groups or organizations may also be nominated for the various awards.
