November 26, 2010
St. Catherine of Siena award
Carol Anne Gaddis, Holy Rosary’s DRE, receives state honor
Carol Ann Gaddis holds the St. Catherine of Siena award she received at the recent Indiana Conference for Catechetical Leaders. She is the DRE at Holy Rosary Church in Evansville. She is joined by her son, Adam, her husband, Terry, and members of the parish staff, Joseph Holtz, parish administrator, Kristel Riffert, director of youth and young adult ministry, and Providence Sister Mary Mundy, pastoral associate. Click for a larger version.
By MARY ANN HUGHES (Message staff writer)
Carol Ann Gaddis, DRE at Holy Rosary Church in Evansville, received the St. Catherine of Siena Award at the November meeting of the Indiana Conference of Catechetical Leaders in Mooresville.
“I am completely honored and humbled by receiving this award,” she said. “I try to surround myself with great people — like my family and friends, my Holy Rosary families and staff, and the dedicated CRE’s and DRE’s in the diocese — who inspire and challenge me, and who make me love this ministry.
“I just hope I do the same for others.”
She said she has been telling people that her new challenge — as the state award winner is “to be the person that people think I am.”
Mary Jo Thomas Day, director of Faith Formation at St. Monica’s Church in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, also received the award which is given to outstanding Directors or Coordinatora of Religious Education in the state of Indiana.
“Family and many colleagues were there to surprise and celebrate with Carol Ann” at the November conference, said Donna Gish, acting director of the diocesan Office of Catechesis.
“We are very privileged in the Diocese of Evansville to have such a faithful and dedicated catechetical leader.”
On the parish Web site at Holy Rosary, Father Bernie Etienne, pastor, wrote, “It is with great joy that I announce a significant recognition of our own Carol Ann Gaddis.
“Carol Ann, our DRE, is a member of the Indiana Conference of Catechetical Leaders. Annually, this group recognizes a member of their conference that manifests outstanding skills of parish ministry.
“Carol Ann was not only nominated for the St. Catherine of Siena Award, she learned at the annual meeting of the ICCL this past week that she was this year’s recipient.”
He added, “Congratulations for this recognition of your efforts in forming the faith lives of the people of our parish and diocese. This award speaks of the blessing you are to our community.”
Connie Schnapf, DRE program director at St. John the Baptist Church in Newburgh, said the criteria for the award include the following
- model of life-long faith formation;
- pioneer in the field of parish ministry and/or substantial creative programming;
- works for the greater good of faith formation and ministry;
- mentor of colleagues in faith formation/ministry.
The ICCL conference was attended by 120 participants from all five dioceses in Indiana. The theme of the Conference was “Inspire the Desire: the Spirit within, the Spirit without.”
The keynote speaker was Steve Angrisano, who inspired participants with music, songs and storytelling.
Carol Ann and Mickie Paulin, DRE at St. Ferdinand Church, Ferdinand, are now on the ICCL Board; they represent the Diocese of Evansville.