Auxiliary Bishop Frank Caggiano, vicar general, and Theodore Musco, director of the Office of Faith Formation, presented Sister Angela Gannon, C.S.J., with the Office of Faith Formation’s inaugural Faith and Service Award at the diocesan Office of Faith Formation’s annual recognition celebration on Thursday, May 23, in the chapel of the Immaculate Conception Pastoral Center, Douglaston.
The award honors an individual or group who best embodies the qualities of faith and service expressed in the statement by Pope Benedict XVI in Porta Fidei: “Through faith, this new life shapes the whole of human existence according to the radical new reality of the resurrection. … ‘Faith working through love’ becomes a new criterion of understanding and action that changes the whole of man’s life.”
Sister Angela was unanimously selected as the first recipient of this new award because of her deep commitment to a life of faith and service. Stepping down as diocesan Secretary for Catholic Education and Formation this year, she will continue to minister within her religious congregation.
Over 400 people gathered for evening prayer, dinner and awards honoring those who are celebrating significant anniversaries of catechetical service, completed major components of the Living and Leading by Faith Catechist Formation Program or will be retiring from active catechetical ministry.
Forty-four parish and school catechists marking significant anniversaries were honored for completing nearly 1,400 years of catechetical service. Fifty-eight parishes and seven schools/academies were represented this year.
Parish Catechists Marking Major Anniversaries
25 Years:
Leonides Perez, Blessed Sacrament, Cypress Hills
Diane Webster, Christ the King, Springfield Gardens
Emily Figueroa, Mary of Nazareth, Fort Greene
Adina Johnson, Mary of Nazareth, Fort Greene
Madeline Perez, Our Lady of the Presentation-Our Lady of Mercy, Brownsville
Jay Castro, St. Andrew Avellino, Flushing
Elaine Bonanni, St. Catharine of Alexandria, Borough Park
Fay Cox, St. Clare, Rosedale
Luz Arroyo, St. Columba, Marine Park
Sylvia Rosenberg, St. Helen, Howard Beach
Grace Olavarria, St. Michael, Sunset Park
Sister Flora Marinelli, C.S.J., St. Patrick, Long Island City
30 Years:
Karen Colletti, Our Lady of Hope, Middle Village
Terence Whiteman, Our Lady of Refuge, Flatbush
Jo Anne Romani, Our Lady of the Snows, N. Floral Park
Barbara Riley, St. Columba, Marine Park
Elaine Bonanni, St. Finbar, Bath Beach
Frances Wos, St. Finbar, Bath Beach
Lou Ann Mannino, St. Francis de Sales, Belle Harbor
Joanne Gentile, St. Francis Xavier, Park Slope
Virginia Gorman, St. Francis Xavier, Park Slope
Regina Joyce, St. Gregory the Great, Bellerose
35 Years:
Margaret Lynch, Immaculate Conception, Astoria
40 Years:
Mary Jolley, Our Lady of Lourdes, Queens Village
Marie DiGenova, St. Finbar, Bath Beach
Lucille Federico, St. Finbar, Bath Beach
Sister Helene Conway, C.S.J., St. Francis Xavier, Park Slope
Sister Dolores F. Crepeau, C.S.J., St. Francis Xavier, Park Slope
Elizabeth Mary Lutas, St. Teresa, Woodside
45 Years:
Patricia Pennea, St. Columba, Marine Park
50 Years:
Rosemarie Prager, Immaculate Conception, Astoria
55 Years:
Ann M. Bentivegna, St. Finbar, Bath Beach