The Foundation for the Diocese of El Paso is honored to announce the top four finalists of the 2020 Steward of the Year Contest COVID-19 edition. We’re excited to help celebrate a few of the inspiring stories of Stewardship throughout our diocese.
Since 2018, the Foundation has extended an invitation to churches in the Diocese of El Paso to nominate a parishioner who demonstrates an exemplary life of prayer, service and giving. This year the Foundation asked pastors and parish administrators to nominate someone who has continued to help the parish even in the midst of the pandemic.
The 2020 Steward of the Year will receive special recognition at the 14th Annual Foundation of Faith Event: Come and See with Bishop Robert Barron and Catholic singer songwriter Matt Maher on September 17, 2020, they’ll be featured in a story on Foundation media, and they will be gifted dinner for two at a local restaurant. In addition, the winning parish will receive a cash prize of $1,000.
Let’s meet the heroes and heroines who are bringing Christ’s hope and peace to people in times of fear and uncertainty.
Nora Trujillo **
Nora is a person of great faith, spiritual life and service. During the pandemic, she has participated by contributing her regular donation and helping in private celebrations of the liturgy at **San Lorenzo Parish in Clint as a Lector and Eucharistic Minister, disinfecting the parish before and after the celebrations of the Mass in English, and preparing the church for the eight people who attend Mass. — Fray Faustino Ortiz-Suárez.
Olga Church
Olga is a widow in her early 80’s (with the energy and desire-to-serve of a 27-year-old). She has been teaching Confirmation classes, she is the lead member for the Spanish choir, she also volunteers her time and energy to clean the church and serves as a lector. In times of pandemic, this 80ish-year-old woman took it upon herself to raise money to support St. Mary’s Catholic Church for anything necessary to see the parish through with its ongoing bills and expenses. She and her choir were able to raise $700. Keep in mind, Ms. Olga is in an age group that is said to be most vulnerable to the virus, yet her energies and time for the parish continued even in this time of social distancing and pandemic. — Fr. John Paul Madanu
Ernesto Padilla
Ernie has been a committed parishioner at San Antonio de Padua Parish for many years. A leader in the St. Vincent de Paul ministry, he coordinated with El Pasoans Fighting Hunger to provide a food pantry at the parish. Thanks to his initiative, San Antonio de Padua has had a “parking lot” food pantry since April. The pantry is now available on a weekly basis with close to 400 families are receiving the necessary food. A variety of parishioners, from members of our youth group to members of our liturgical ministries, are able to participate and they feel united to the parish, and its mission, at this time. An acknowledgement for Ernie is an acknowledgement for so many who cooperate with him in several ways and an example of how the Church can work concretely with civil organizations for the common good.” — Fr. Mariano H. López
Tony and Adriana Posada
Tony and Adriana are very committed to the St. Mark Parish ministry for the poor. They have organized parish breakfasts to raise funds to help the poor, successfully organized a parish partnership with a parish community in Choluteca, Honduras doing mission work in that parish every summer. They organize the Wednesday morning food bank distribution for over 750 families each week. They have been involved in our social justice formation programs to get parishioners involved in justice issues and very strong advocates for the immigrant community. Tony and Adriana are always very generous with their time and in service to any needs in our community. They see their service from a spiritual perspective of working to build the kingdom of God among us. — Rev. Msgr. Arturo Bañuelas