Honorees from 51 parishes shine at Light of Christ celebrations
The Advancement Foundation of the Diocese of Fort Worth hosted the Light of Christ Awards on June 20, 2024 at St. Mark Parish in Denton. Along with recognizing the exemplary stewards in the Arlington, East Central, North, South, and Northeast deaneries, the Advancement Foundation also presented select parishes with Annual Diocesan Appeal grants. (NTC/Juan Guajardo)
For the third year, the Advancement Foundation for the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth hosted the Light of Christ stewardship awards. Pastors of each parish nominate an individual or couple who exemplify the four pillars of Christian stewardship: prayer, hospitality, formation, and service. A total of 51 pastors made nominations.
However, this year the Advancement Foundation held four ceremonies — in Granbury, Wichita Falls, Argyle, and Mineral Wells — to allow easier transit for families in outlying parishes and their pastors. At the event, individuals or couples were presented with certificates in appreciation of their service and leadership at their parish.
In another new component to the celebration, the Advancement Foundation used the occasion to reveal which parishes will receive operating grants for the coming year. The parish operating grants are funded by the Annual Diocesan Appeal, which also supports deacon and seminarian formation, Catholic education, Catholic Charities Fort Worth, and other ministries.
At the first ceremony, held June 6 at St. Frances Cabrini Parish in Granbury, recipients from the south deanery were honored. Vicar General Father Jonathan Wallis said, “For all of us, one of the things that the Catholic Church teaches us, and how God in His generosity shows us, is the importance of recognizing that all things come from Him.”
Clint Weber, president of the Advancement Foundation, called the evenings, which were held on subsequent Thursday evenings from June 6-27, “celebrations of Catholic stewardship in action across the Diocese of Fort Worth.”
A list of the honorees may be found here: https://www.advancementfoundation.org/2024-light-of-christ-honorees.pdf