Chicago, IL (October 21, 2008) – Nearly two-hundred area Catholics recently received the 2008 Bishop Quarter and Christifideles Awards from Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Archbishop of Chicago at the annual Archdiocesan Award Ceremony held at Holy Name Cathedral.
The Bishop Quarter awards are named in honor of Rt. Rev. William Quarter who was Chicago’s first Bishop from 1844 to 1848. This is the sixth year the awards have been presented to individual practicing Catholics who demonstrate an understanding of the Catholic Church’s teaching and exercise their faith in service to their church and community.
The Archdiocese, which encompasses all of Cook and Lake counties, is geographically divided into six Vicariates that are represented by Auxiliary Bishops who participated in the nominating process along with pastors and parish councils.
The 2008 Bishop Quarter honorees, listed by Vicariate are:
Vicariate I, (Most Rev. George Rassas, Auxiliary Bishop)
Susan Geegan of Holy Family Parish in northwest suburban Inverness, is the Ministry Commission Representative for the Vicariate’s three Cook County deaneries. Geegan’s solid organizational and leadership skills play instrumental roles in the event planning and formation and training programs she coordinates for the Vicariate’s southern region.
Susan Matousek of St. Mary of the Annunciation Parishin north suburban Mundelein, is the Ministry Commission Representative for the Vicariate’s three Lake County deaneries, where she administers the formation and training programs for the northern half of the Vicariate. Matousek's generosity, patience and professionalism foster the inter-parish communication and collaboration required to make these programs effective.
Vicariate II, (Most Rev. Francis Kane, Auxiliary Bishop)
Betsy Bohlen of St. Clement Parish in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood,has made significant contributions to the Archdiocese through her facilitation of a new pilot procedure for the Pastor Placement Process. Bohlen also helps parishes benchmark against each other to assess their vitality and future potential for liturgical enhancement.
Vicariate III, (Most Rev. John Manz, Auxiliary Bishop)
Esperanza Godinez of St. Procopius Parishin Chicago, has served as a lector, catechist and Eucharistic minister at eight Pilsen-area parishes since 1975. During these years, Godinez has also: coordinated the neighborhood's annual Via Crucis Passion; taught religious education classes and led pre-Baptismal talks; helped found the Resurrection Project; and ministered to Cook County Jail inmates through Kolbe House.
Vicariate IV, (Most Rev. Thomas Paprocki, Auxiliary Bishop)
Elizabeth Ceisel-Mikowska of Divine Providence Parishin west-suburban Westchester, serves as an Administrative Assistant in the Vicariate IV office for Bishop Paprocki. Previously, she was very active with the catechetical program at St. James Parish on the city's northwest side. She also helped produce the Polish Catholic newspaper, Niedziela.
Vicariate V, (Most Rev. Gustavo Garcia-Siller, Auxiliary Bishop)
Debi Ross of St. Francis of Assisi Parishin south suburban Orland Park, has shown great commitment to works of charity in the parish’s Helping Hands Committee, Human Concerns Commission, Pastoral Council, and the Art and Environment Committee. Ross also oversees a local Catholic Charities operation where she works with donors and volunteers.
Vicariate VI, (Most Rev. Joseph Perry, Auxiliary Bishop)
Lester and Nancy McKeever of St. Ambrose Parish in Chicago’s Kenwood neighborhood, have long been advocates and supporters of numerous Archdiocesan ministries, including the Big Shoulders Fund and Catholic Charities.
During the ceremony, Cardinal George also conferred 139 Christifideles Awards on 189 Archdiocesan Catholics who have demonstrated a personal, ministerial renewal and responsibility for the Church’s life at the parish level. These awards are named after Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Exhortation, Christifideles Laici, on the role of the laity in the Church’s mission to the world.
A complete listing of the 2008 Christifideles Award winners and their parish follows:
Vicariate I
Antioch
St. Raphael the Archangel Parish
David Retseck, Gurnee
Arlington Heights
St. Edna Parish
George and Bernadette Oslovich, Buffalo Grove
St. James Parish
Peter Chaput, Arlington Heights
Barrington
St. Anne Parish
Georgene Farman, Barrington
Bartlett
St. Peter Damian Parish
Charles and Rita Riha, Bartlett
Buffalo Grove
St. Mary Parish
Lorraine Lalowski, Wheeling
Des Plaines
Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Efrain and Lidia Camacho, Evanston
St. Zachary Parish
Bob and Lori Uselding, Des Plaines
Elk Grove Village
St. Julian Eymard Parish
Josephine Anzelone, Elk Grove Village
Queen of the Rosary Parish
Tony and Charlene Chakeen, Elk Grove Village
Grayslake
St. Gilbert Parish
Lois Brondy, Grayslake
Hoffman Estates
St. Hubert Parish
Roger and Dzidra Malinski, Schaumburg
Indian Creek
St. Mary of Vernon Parish
Teri Feurer, Wauconda
Ingleside
St. Bede Parish
Donald Schmit, Fox Lake
Inverness
Holy Family Parish
Elizabeth Pawlowski, Barrington
Lake Forest
St. Mary Parish
Liane Klingler, Lake Forest
Lake Villa
Prince of Peace Parish
George and Martha Orbank, Lake Villa
Lake Zurich
St. Francis De Sales Parish
Mary Manson, North Barrington
Libertyville
St. Joseph Parish
William Butrym, Libertyville
Mundelein
St. Mary of the Annunciation Parish
Rita Gunther, Mundelein
Santa Maria Del Popolo Parish
Jesus and Betty Garcia, Mundelein
Mt. Prospect
St. Cecilia Parish
Gil Sommer, Arlington Heights
St. Emily Parish
Bill and Donna Mulderink, Des Plaines
Tom and Betsy Shelven, Des Plaines
St. Raymond De Penafort Parish
Darlene and Dwayne Stewart, Mt. Prospect
St. Thomas Becket Parish
Jo Rene and John Anderson, Mt. Prospect
Palatine
St. Theresa Parish
Leo Miklius, Palatine
St. Thomas of Villanova Parish
(The late) Robert Chernesky, Palatine
Prospect Heights
St. Alphonsus Liguori Parish
Joe and Bonnie Romanowski, Arlington Heights
Rolling Meadows
St. Colette Parish
Michael Koehler, Rolling Meadows
Round Lake
St. Joseph Parish
Christine Mendralla, Round Lake
Schaumburg
Church of the Holy Spirit
Thomas Griffin, Elgin
St. Marcelline Parish
Theresa and Alois Kolbeck, Schaumburg
St. Matthew Parish
Cecilia and Froilan Concepcion, Inverness
Streamwood
St. John the Evangelist Parish
Nancy Licht, Streamwood
Volo
St. Peter Parish
Therese Tonyan, Lakemoor
Wadsworth
St. Patrick Parish
Marie and Tony Bruno, Gurnee
Wauconda
Transfiguration Parish
Andres Ortiz, McHenry
Waukegan
St. Anastasia Parish
Judith and (the late) Patrick Clyne, Beach Park
Holy Family Parish
Mario Pena, Waukegan
Wheeling
St. Joseph the Worker Parish
Dave and Becky Vogel, Wheeling
Zion
Our Lady of Humility Parish
Richard McFarlin, Zion
Vicariate II
Chicago
St. Alphonsus Parish
Rose Gavin, Niles
Assumption Parish
Molly Scilabra, Chicago
St. Bonaventure Oratory
James and Linda Masini, Chicago
St. Clement Parish
Monique Fouant, Chicago
St. Eugene Parish
Angie Cisek, Norridge
St. Gertrude Parish
Claire Conley, Chicago
Holy Name Cathedral
Donna Ciszewski, Chicago
Immaculate Conception Parish
Edward and Mary Niewinski, Chicago
St. Margaret Mary Parish
Nancy Sweeney, Chicago
St. Mary of the Woods Parish
Dolores Coughlin, Chicago
St. Michael Parish
Michael Widera, Chicago
St. Monica Parish
Herb and Sharon Bass, Harwood Heights
Our Lady of Mercy Parish
Mary Foley, Chicago
St. Tarcissus Parish
James Madura, Chicago
St. Thecla Parish
Mary Wargo, Chicago
Northbrook
St. Norbert Parish
Betty Parkinson, Northbrook
Our Lady of the Brook Parish
Susan Eimerman, Northbrook
Northfield
St. Philip the Apostle Parish
Cathy and Tom Stegich, Northfield
Park Ridge
Mary, Seat of Wisdom Parish
Catherine Halpin, Park Ridge
Rosemont
Our Lady of Hope Parish
Guy and Rosemary Porcaro, Park Ridge
Skokie
St. Peter Parish
Eugene Griffin, Skokie
Wilmette
St. Joseph Parish
Peter and Eileen Frank, Wilmette
St. Francis Xavier Parish
Mary Ann Heinzen, Wilmette
Vicariate III
Chicago
St. Agnes of Bohemia Parish
Luis and Rosalina Diaz, Berwyn
St. Francis of Assisi Parish
Maria Reynoso, Chicago
St. Francis of Assisi/Our Lady of the Angels Parish
Jose Cano, Chicago
St. Martin De Porres Parish
Bobbie Hicks, Chicago
Notre Dame De Chicago Parish
Bill and Teri Lowry, Chicago
St. Philomena Parish
Carmen Rivera Kurban, Chicago
Providence of God Parish
Lorenzo and Vicenta Casas, Chicago
Santa Maria Addolorata Parish
Martha Juanita Ramirez, Chicago
St. Wenceslaus Parish
Thaddeus and Louise Karecki, Chicago
Vicariate IV
Chicago
Shrine of the Sacred Heart
Jolanta Pawlikowski, Arlington Heights
St. Bartholomew Parish
John and Sheila McNulty, Chicago
St. Pascal Parish
Norman and Christine Hege, Chicago
St. William Parish
Daniel and Louise Steppan, Chicago
Cicero
St. Frances of Rome Parish
Ramon and Lorena Lopez, Berwyn
Elmwood Park
St. Celestine Parish
Colette Bodenbender, Chicago
Forest Park
St. Bernardine Parish
James Murray, Forest Park
Harwood Heights
St. Rosalie Parish
John and Marie Scalet, Harwood Heights
La Grange Park
St. Louise De Marillac Parish
Stanley Wulkowicz, Elgin
Maywood
St. Eulalia Parish
John Cain, Berwyn
Jody Robinson, Broadview
North Riverside
Mater Christi Parish
Joanne and Gene Koszala, North Riverside
Oak Park
St. Giles Parish
Gerald Fitzpatrick, Oak Park
River Forest
St. Luke Parish
Frederick and Kathleen Heiss, River Forest
Riverside
St. Mary Parish
Mary Anne Walke, Riverside
Schiller Park
St. Maria Goretti Parish
Stanley and Bernadine Cwan, Schiller Park
Stickney
St. Pius X Parish
Patrick and Rose Mary Koren, Stickney
Western Springs
St. John of the Cross Parish
John and Joan Kravcik, Western Springs
Vicariate V
Chicago
St. Adrian Parish
Ken Wilkosz, Chicago
St. Barbara Parish
Gladys Kaminski, Chicago
St. Cajetan Parish
Shirley Twickler, Chicago
St. Camillus Parish
Carol Trzebiatowski, Chicago
Christ the King Parish
Mark and Nancy Quinn, Chicago
St. Christina Parish
Suzanne Carter, Chicago
St. Clare of Montefalco Parish
Felix and Lorena Patino, Chicago
St. Denis Parish
Michael Haas, Oak Lawn
St. John Fisher Parish
Norine Sullivan, Chicago
St. Mary of Perpetual Help Parish
Janet Barker Evans, Chicago
St. Michael the Archangel Parish
Juan and Elena De La Mora, Oak Lawn
Nativity of Our Lord Parish
Jim McCormick, Chicago
St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish
Jerome and Adrienne Welenc, Chicago
Our Lady of Fatima Parish
Raul and Rosa Rodriguez, Chicago
Our Lady of the Snows Parish
Geri Yarka, Chicago
Queen of the Universe Parish
Sandra Iruegas, Chicago
Santa Lucia-Maria Incoronata Parish
Kristin Ramirez, Chicago
St. Simon the Apostle Parish
Steve Vatch, Chicago
St. Symphorosa Parish
Frances Muscato, Chicago
St. Therese Chinese Mission
Henry, Jennifer and Naomi Chan, Chicago
St. Thomas More Parish
Terry and Ellen Hodges, Palos Park
St. Walter Parish
Mike and Kathy Swift, Chicago
Chicago Ridge
Our Lady of the Ridge Parish
Barbara Halm, Worth
Evergreen Park
Queen of Martyrs Parish
Jane Dunne, Evergreen Park
Hickory Hills
St. Patricia Parish
Ann Filipiak, Palos Hills
Hometown
Our Lady of Loretto Parish
Florence Bordoshuk, Hometown
Lemont
St. James Parish
Michael Dillenberg, Lemont
Midlothian
St. Christopher Parish
Patricia Spreadbury, Oak Forest
Oak Lawn
St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish
Therese Landstrom, Oak Lawn
St. Linus Parish
June Gallagher, Oak Lawn
Oak Forest
St. Damian Parish
Mike Bartkowski, Oak Forest
Orland Hills
St. Elizabeth Seton Parish
Patrice Leeson, Tinley Park
Orland Park
St. Francis of Assisi Parish
Joseph and Teri Sankey, Orland Park
Our Lady of the Woods Parish
Armida Galvan, Palos Park
Palos Heights
Incarnation Parish
Robert Fuesel, Palos Heights
PALOS HILLS
Sacred Heart Parish
Charles Busch, Palos Hills
Summit
St. Blase Parish
Wladyslaw Kois, Chicago
Tinley Park
St. Julie Billiart Parish
Frank, Merilee and Emily Andreason, Worth
St. Stephen, Deacon & Martyr Parish
Donald and Bernadette Daley, Tinley Park
Vicariate VI
Blue Island
St. Isidore the Farmer Parish
Janice Marx, Blue Island
Calumet City
St. Andrew the Apostle Parish
Rose Saunders, Calumet City
Chicago
St. Benedict the African-East Parish
Freddie Williams, Chicago
St. John De La Salle Parish
Moses and Gloria Green, Chicago
Sacred Heart Croatian Parish
Vincent Imbierowicz, Chicago
St. Thomas the Apostle Parish
Elise Torczynski, Chicago
Lansing
St. Ann Parish
Ted Cap, Lansing
Matteson
St. Lawrence O'Toole Parish
Joan Abbott, Matteson
