Florida Catholic | St. Jude the Apostle Awards

Awards spotlight workers ‘behind the scenes’

LEE DIEKEMPER | FLORIDA CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

Published: 12.07.07

Recipients of St. Jude the Apostle Medals stand and receive a round of applause after all of the medals were presented to those parishioners from around the diocese who have shown outstanding service to their parishes.
ED FOSTER JR | FC

ST. PETERSBURG | Many awards are given to people of fame and wealth.

But the Diocese of St. Petersburg demonstrated Nov. 25 that its public expressions of honor are not just about how much money someone can donate or how well-known a parishioner is.

Bishop Robert N. Lynch bestowed upon one person from each parish the St. Jude the Apostle Medal, which recognizes people, occasionally of modest means, who work behind the scenes. The medals, commissioned by the diocese in 1999 at the request of Bishop Lynch, were awarded during an afternoon prayer service at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle in St. Petersburg.

Nancy Shannon, at right, poses for a photograph beneath the rotunda of the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle with (l-r) Father Timothy Sherwood, her husband Bob, and Bishop Robert N. Lynch. Mrs. Shannon, a parishioner at St. Joseph Parish in St. Petersburg was the recipient of the St. Jude the Apostle Medal from her parish.

ED FOSTER JR | FC
Nancy Shannon, at right, poses for a photograph beneath the rotunda of the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle with (l-r) Father Timothy Sherwood, her husband Bob, and Bishop Robert N. Lynch. Mrs. Shannon, a parishioner at St. Joseph Parish in St. Petersburg was the recipient of the St. Jude the Apostle Medal from her parish.

The awards are given each year as a way to recognize those showing distinguished and outstanding service to their respective parishes. The medals acknowledge the great gift of the church — its people — exemplified in these individuals who in their generosity and love of their faith have greatly contributed to spreading the Gospel in their parish.

Not coincidentally, most medal recipients were stunned at learning of their award.

“The award is a surprise,” said Tony Coleman of Sacred Heart Parish in Dade City. “I am very honored to accept the award. When my parish priest said, ‘I would like you to represent the parish with the St. Jude award,’ I was floored. Most people never take the time to say ‘thank you.’ But you don’t do (work for the church) for a thank you. So when the parish has a chance to come back and say, ‘Thank you very much,’ it means a lot to me and my wife, Tiffany. And they are a special family for us, the parish. It’s really a special parish.”

Coleman serves Sacred Heart as head of a steering committee and does many computer-related tasks for the parish and its office.

Like Coleman, Victor and Elvia Ortiz of Resurrection Parish in Riverview do whatever they can to assist their parish.

“I work wherever I am needed,” Victor Ortiz said. “I collect for the homeless, I help in the pantry, I direct the choir. … I consider (these tasks) something I have to do. To tell you the truth, there is nothing else I would rather do. I feel blessed. The medal was a surprise. I was taken aback. When I was told I was recommended for the award, I told my pastor that this should be given to someone else. He said, ‘No. This belongs to you.’ What can I say?”

Honoree Pam Brewer of Good Shepherd Parish in Tampa is the parish’s youth minister and also pitches in with other tasks whenever she can.

“I like to tell my youth ministry, ‘This is my way to God. This is where I get my spiritual (enrichment) from,’” Brewer said. “One of my (students) is now 16 and she said she now wants to be (a youth minister). I told her, ‘If this is what you want to do in 10 years I will be ready to retire.’ ”

Patrick Humes of Largo, from St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Clearwater, is using his award as an example for his sons, Patrick and Christopher. Humes is a maintenance employee at the parish and serves in a variety of volunteer positions, including an extraordinary minister of holy Communion.

“I’m at the parish seven days a week,” Humes joked. “I love it there. I help out with almost every group in the church. It’s real rewarding. I tell my two boys that anything is possible with the Lord if you let the Lord into your life. It’s really amazing.”

Bishop Lynch told the honorees during the prayer service that, sometimes, simple tasks bring God closer to others.

“You have inspired me; you have moved me, by your greater example. It’s high time we express our thanks to you,” he said.

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Awards spotlight workers ‘behind the scenes’

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