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The Light of Christ award is presented annually to lay individuals throughout the Diocese of Fort Worth who exemplify the light of Christ through lives of Christian Stewardship. Each parish recognizes one lay person or couple who live out their baptismal call in an extraordinary way through stewardship and leadership.

Congratulations to all Light of Christ parish stewardship award honorees! 

 Stewardship Award Honorees 2024 list.

You are the light of the world… your light must shine in the sight of all, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.

(Matthew 5:14-16)

Criteria

Honorees live out the four pillars of stewardship – prayer, hospitality, formation and service – and are examples to others. This may include service in a parish ministry but can also include Christian service to the greater community. Honorees are practicing Catholics, in good standing, who use their gifts to deepen the life of the church in their parish or have served in an extraordinary way the ministry of the parish.

Only one individual (or one married couple) should be nominated per parish each year. Nominees should not be a priest, deacon, religious or a paid staff member. Married couples must be in a valid Catholic marriage and live a life of active faith in the Catholic Church. The nominee should be Virtus-certified, if their ministry requires it.

Nomination Process

Each pastor is asked to select one individual/couple each year. Each pastor may determine the nominating process within his parish, for example, he could make the selection, ask the pastoral council for suggestions, etc. Nominations are submitted through the online form below by April 15 of each year, with award presentations in June.

Nomination form
The nomination form should be filled out only by the Pastor or his representative.

Award Presentations

Honorees will be recognized during award ceremonies in various locations of the diocese in June. Each honoree will receive a memento in appreciation of their lives of stewardship and a photo from the event taken with their pastor. Pastors, or their representatives, and family and friends of honorees are all invited to these ceremonies (dates and locations to be announced in early 2025). The North Texas Catholic will provide news coverage of the awards ceremonies. Parishes are encouraged to provide additional recognition for their honoree(s) at a parish liturgy or event.

North Texas Catholic Coverage

• Light of Christ awards highlight stewardship in action in local parishes (NTC, 2023)
• Diocesan Light of Christ recipients John and Patty Hinojosa of St. Mary of the Assumption, Fort Worth, are steadfast stewards (NTC, 2022)

 

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Contact:

Rachel Martinez, CFRE
Director of Annual Giving and Grants
817-382-4939

Renée Underwood, CFRE
Chief Development Officer of the Advancement Foundation
817-533-7242

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