By Michael Gresham
The Texas Catholic

A heavy downpour of rain and unseasonably cool temperatures could not dampen the celebratory spirit on display at the National Shrine Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe as Bishop Edward J. Burns honored parish volunteers from throughout the Diocese of Dallas with the 2024 Bishop’s Award for Service to the Church during the celebration of a Mass on April 20.

“What a privilege it is to have this Mass, this opportunity to acknowledge representatives from the parishes throughout the diocese for the good work that you do,” said Bishop Burns in his homily, prior to recognizing the honorees. “It’s a privilege for me to be in your presence to pray for you and to pray with you.”

In his homily, Bishop Burns referred to John 6:60-69, the day’s Gospel, and how Jesus’ disciples found some of His teachings difficult to follow.

“The human condition can hold us back. In fact, the human condition can make us want to walk away from the Lord,” said Bishop Burns, imploring the faithful as disciples of Jesus Christ to understand the fullness of the word “disciple” and how the faithful must know what is right, what is true, what is moral, and what to follow. “To know that discipline is also to need the grace of God to do it so that He can sanctify us in the good work of the Gospel ministry.”

The bishop reflected on the significance of the sacraments of baptism and confirmation, noting the communal aspect of Catholics’ journeys of faith while highlighting the support of parents, godparents, and the larger community of believers.

“So that we would be baptized, that we would be anointed with the chrism, that we would be a reflection of Christ in this world, and then be confirmed in that faith,” he said. “We could not do it alone. We need the Holy Spirit. And, in choosing the names of saints as our confirmation name, we know that there is a community of believers waiting for us in Heaven and then here on Earth as we approach our confirmation with a sponsor right behind us, knowing that we’re not alone in this journey of faith of ours.”

Bishop Burns praised the volunteers being honored at the Mass, saying that it gave him “great joy,” recognizing what they had done was putting faith into action in their parishes.

“You are living out the lives of discipleship, recognizing that it is together as a community that we build up the Gospel message, the mission of Jesus Christ in the kingdom of God,” Bishop Burns said, adding that their servants’ hearts build up their parishes, the diocese, and the Church. “For all that you do, we celebrate the fact that you serve the Church and, in serving the Church, you serve God’s holy people. Our hearts during this season are filled with paschal joy. Our hearts at this Mass are filled with appreciation for all that you do.”

The bishop closed his homily, offering a prayer for all the volunteers.

“Lord, you have gifted us with a spirit of service that is strong, loving, and wise. Let us trust in that spirit as we work together to care for others and to build a community of faith. Loving God, every day, give us the ability to follow your loving example of service to others. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.”

Those being honored with a Bishop’s Award for Service to the Church included:

Carolyn Bisulca
All Saints, Dallas

Garice Schneider
All Saints, Dallas

Monica G. Cordero
Blessed Sacrament, Dallas

Gustavo Vazquez
Blessed Sacrament, Dallas

George Gaiser III
Chapel of the Annunciation, SMU Dallas

Amy Love
Christ the King, Dallas

George Stanley Moussa
Christ the King, Dallas

Gina Raab
Church of the Incarnation, Irving

Klemens Raab
Church of the Incarnation, Irving

Luis Coronado
Corpus Christi, Ferris

Jose H. Quilo
Corpus Christi, Ferris

Joel Dominguez
Divine Mercy of Our Lord, Mesquite

Sonia Dominguez
Divine Mercy of Our Lord, Mesquite

Olivia Salazar
Epiphany Quasi, Italy

Sergio Salazar
Epiphany Quasi, Italy

Angelica Ferrel
Good Shepherd, Garland

Robert Yeatts
Good Shepherd, Garland

Tommy K. Benjamin
Holy Cross, Dallas

Sandra P. Soto
Holy Cross, Dallas

Elizabeth Arebiyi
Holy Family of Nazareth, Irving

Robert Trevino Jr.
Holy Family of Nazareth, Irving

Ruban Ortiz
Holy Spirit, Duncanville

Juanita Ramsden
Holy Spirit, Duncanville

Betty Suellentrop
Holy Trinity, Dallas

Steve Suellentrop
Holy Trinity, Dallas

Carey Ford
Immaculate Conception, Corsicana

Graciela D. Goulet
Immaculate Conception, Corsicana

Charles Edwin Hunt
Immaculate Conception, Grand Prairie

Glen J. O’Gorman
Immaculate Conception, Grand Prairie

Ben Boeshans
Mary Immaculate, Farmers Branch

Heather McIntyre
Mary Immaculate, Farmers Branch

Abel Montes de Oca
Mater Dei, Irving

Christine Montes de Oca
Mater Dei, Irving

Jason Chinh Nguyen
Mother of Perpetual Help, Garland

Trong Nguyen
Mother of Perpetual Help, Garland

Rogelio Acuna
National Shrine Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dallas

Jaqueline Covarrubias
National Shrine Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dallas

David Ley
Nuestra Senora del Pilar, Dallas

Jonah Mae Enriquez
Our Lady of Angels, Plano

John Mouser
Our Lady of Angels, Plano

Amanda Patti
Our Lady of Fatima, Quinlan

Robert Aguirre
Our Lady of Lourdes, Dallas

Cirenia Jaramillo
Our Lady of Lourdes, Dallas

Jose Luis Ramirez-Ruiz
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Dallas

Umberto Valtierra
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Dallas

Alicia Rivera
Our Lady of San Juan/Sta. Teresita, Dallas

Benito Rivera
Our Lady of San Juan/Sta. Teresita, Dallas

Denis R. Beaudoin
Our Lady of the Lake, Rockwall

Tanya Dang
Our Lady of the Lake, Rockwall

Annette Nevins
Prince of Peace, Plano

Janet Thoele
Prince of Peace, Plano

Maria de Jesus Ramirez
Sacred Heart, Rowlett

Judith Ann Hooker
Sacred Heart, Rowlett

George Chang
Sacred Heart of Jesus Chinese, Plano

Li-Yu Chen
Sacred Heart of Jesus Chinese, Plano

Cecilia Nguyen
Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ Vietnamese, Carrollton

Maryanne Nguyen
Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ Vietnamese, Carrollton

Esperanza Gonzalez
San Juan Diego, Dallas

Julian Gonzalez
San Juan Diego, Dallas

Raul Compian
Santa Clara of Assisi, Dallas

Maria de la Luz Lopez
Santa Clara of Assisi, Dallas

Jaemin Han
St. Andrew Kim, Irving

Lisa Skelton
St. Andrew Kim, Irving

Kristen Combo
St. Ann, Coppell

Suling Laposa
St. Ann, Coppell

Josefina Macias
St. Ann, Kaufman

Rosalia Sanchez
St. Ann, Kaufman

Mary Beran
St. Anthony, Wylie

Steven Beran
St. Anthony, Wylie

Wanda Evans
St. Anthony, Dallas

Alicia Ramos
St. Augustine, Dallas

Maria Elena Rangel
St. Augustine, Dallas

Reynalda Garcia
St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Dallas

Katherine Listi
St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Dallas

Clifford Breeding Jr.
St. Cecilia, Dallas

Claudia Perez
St. Cecilia, Dallas

Everardo “Lalo” Chavez
St. Edward, Dallas

Alejandra Franco
St. Edward, Dallas

Maria Ventura Benitez
St. Elizabeth, Bonham

Judith McMakin
St. Elizabeth, Bonham

Kelly R. DeVille
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Plano

Joseph Drobycki
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Plano

Alberta Marroquin
St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Dallas

Michael Rangel
St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Dallas

Sofia Hiten
St. Francis of Assisi, Frisco

Sara Whisler
St. Francis of Assisi, Frisco

Peter B. Odebunmi
St. Francis of Assisi, Lancaster

Rowland Adim Uzu
St. Francis of Assisi, Lancaster

Juana Breidenstein
St. Francis of Assisi, Whitesboro

Bill Burke
St. Gabriel the Archangel, McKinney

Mary Lee Fritts
St. Gabriel the Archangel, McKinney

Guadalupe R. Hernandez
St. James, Dallas

Maria Guadalupe Lopez
St. James, Dallas

Anita K. Kubin
St. John Nepomucene, Ennis

Leon John Kubin
St. John Nepomucene, Ennis

Maria E. Segura
St. John the Apostle, Terrell

Carmen Nevares Sifuentes
St. John the Apostle, Terrell

Nancy Giorgio
St. Joseph, Richardson

Larry Monaco
St. Joseph, Richardson

Luis Carlos Gonzalez
St. Joseph, Waxahachie

Harold A. Jerpi Jr.
St. Joseph, Waxahachie

Cynthia Patel
St. Joseph, Commerce

Randall Helmberger
St. Joseph, Commerce

Khanh Van Ha
St. Joseph Vietnamese, Grand Prairie

Kiet Tuan Hoang
St. Joseph Vietnamese, Grand Prairie

Judi Edstrom
St. Jude, Allen

Ronnie L. Cechan
St. Jude, Allen

Cynthia McDonald
St. Jude Chapel, Dallas

Raymond C. Ornelaz
St. Jude Chapel, Dallas

Jo Anne Dreyer
St. Luke the Evangelist, Irving

Ana Patricia Ramos
St. Luke the Evangelist, Irving

Jose Antonio Dominguez
St. Mark the Evangelist, Plano

Jovita Roque Soria
St. Mark the Evangelist, Plano

Lidia Meneo
St. Martin of Tours, Forney

Judy Trevino
St. Martin of Tours, Forney

Scott Jasper
St. Mary, Sherman

Romero Sanchez
St. Mary, Sherman

Evanjelina Godfredson
St. Mary of Carmel, Dallas

Steve Godfredson
St. Mary of Carmel, Dallas

John Lopez
St. Michael the Archangel, Garland

Blanca Sanchez
St. Michael the Archangel, Garland

Rudolph Pereyda
St. Michael the Archangel, Grand Prairie

Maria Vega
St. Michael the Archangel, Grand Prairie

Jose Ivan Duarte
St. Michael the Archangel, McKinney

Virginia Macias
St. Michael the Archangel, McKinney

Maria Nelda Galvan Hernandez
St. Monica, Dallas

Deacon Larry Lucido
St. Monica, Dallas

Diane Bedenkop
St. Patrick, Dallas

Rosalba Navarro
St. Patrick, Dallas

Robert Steele
St. Patrick, Denison

Paul Tully
St. Patrick, Denison

Maria Balcazar
St. Paul the Apostle, Richardson

Marilyn Carruthers
St. Paul the Apostle, Richardson

Winona Smith
St. Peter the Apostle, Dallas

Teresa Vo
St. Peter Vietnamese, Dallas

Dan Tran
St. Peter Vietnamese, Dallas

Brenda Podrouzek
St. Philip the Apostle, Dallas

Barbara Vaillancourt
St. Philip the Apostle, Dallas

Patricia Peavy
St. Pius X, Dallas

Bill Dowd
St. Rita, Dallas

Theresa Miller
St. Rita, Dallas

Benny Barret
St. Thomas Aquinas, Dallas

Noni Barrett
St. Thomas Aquinas, Dallas

Cole Holleman
St. William, Greenville

Mhairi Holleman
St. William, Greenville