Event Details
Come enjoy hors d'oeuvres and drinks as the School of Ministry graduate and Catholic Biblical School alumni join in fellowship. Then stick around for the 13th annual Landregran Lecture, where two SOM graduates will be honored with the annual Lumen Gentium and Dei Verbum alumni awards for their exemplary service to the local church. Brother Guy Consolmagno, S.J., Ph.D., will be speaking on the topic, “Why the Vatican Studies Meteorites.” For more information on the lecture, vist the Landregan Lecture website, found here.
 
Please RSVP for the Alumni Reunion by Monday, November 28 to Dani Schumer at  ministryevents@udallas.edu or 972-265-5811.  


About the Distinguished Alumni Awards
The Dei Verbum Award and the Lumen Gentium Award, which are presented annually, acknowledge two graduates of the School of Ministry whose established records of outstanding accomplishment reflect the fruit of "theological education for transformative service." In particular, these awards honor graduates who have given exemplary service to the local church in general, the work of faith formation in particular, and the larger community, especially the poor and needy. The Dei Verbum Award annually honors a graduate of the Catholic Biblical School, while the Lumen Gentium Award is presented each year to an alumnus of the School of Ministry graduate program. Both 2011 winners will be presented their awards at the beginning of the Landregan Lecture, following the SOM Alumni Reunion on December 3, 2011. They are:


2011 Lumen Gentium Award
Sr. Yolanda Cruz, SSMN
 
The 2011 Lumen Gentium Award honoring a distinguished alumnus of the graduate programs at the University of Dallas School of Ministry is presented to Sr. Yolanda Cruz, SSMN.
 
Sr. Cruz graduated from the School of Ministry with a master’s in pastoral ministry in 2005. She currently serves as vice-chancellor of the Diocese of Fort Worth, and prior to that, she served as Director of Children's Catechesis for the diocese. She has worked in catechetical ministry in several parishes in the Fort Worth, Mexico, and her native New Jersey. A Sister of Saint Mary of Namur, she serves on the provincial council and has worked in a variety of leadership positions within the order. She has done extensive work to promote vocations to religious life, not only for her own community, but more broadly in the local church, assisting with "Come and See" weekends and other discernment programs across diocesan borders.
 
 
2011 Dei Verbum Award
William E. O’Connor
 
The 2011 Dei Verbum Award honoring a distinguished alumnus of the Catholic Biblical School at the University of Dallas School of Ministry is presented to William E. O’Connor.
 
Mr. O’Connor graduated from the School of Ministry Catholic Biblical School in 2007. An active member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Azle, TX, Bill currently serves as a lector, Eucharistic minister, RCIA catechist and sponsor, director of the altar servers, and member of the Pastoral council and Liturgy committee. Four years ago, Bill began a weekly bible study at the parish, drawing nearly 25 attendees each week from his parish of only 300 families. A rancher by trade, Bill is also very active in the Azle community. He serves on the board of directors for Green Light in Azle, which provides housing and other services to battered women, and he sponsors the Azle Future Farmers of America, FFA, and Beef Show Team, providing cattle, facilities, training, and transportation to Azle youth who would not otherwise have the opportunity to show cattle.


Read the press release about the winners here.
 



PAST ALUMNI AWARD RECEPIENTS


2010 Distinguised Alumni Award Recipients
On November 6, 2010, at the annual Landregan Lecture, the University of Dallas School of Ministry presented the Dei Verbum and Lumen Gentium Distinguished Alumni Awards. In 2010, the School of Ministry was proud to honor Ms. Tena Allain with the Dei Verbum Award and Deacon Arnold Picon with the Lumen Gentium Award.

Ms. Tena Allain is a longtime member of St. Ann Catholic Church in Coppell, Texas. Her generosity and skill have been applied in multiple areas of ministry to assist the parish in its mission of proclaiming and living the gospel. A partial list of her accomplishments includes service as an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist, finance council member, leader of adult mission trips to Mexico, Sunday School catechist, communications director for youth ministry, LifeTeen Parents for Life leader, coordinator of the parish Sunday School, and chair of the parish Pastoral Council.

Arnold Picon was ordained a deacon for the Diocese of Dallas in 1992. He serves at St. Mark the Evangelist Parish in Plano and throughout the Diocese wherever a Spanish speaking deacon may be needed. He has been Director of Diaconal Ministry and Formation in the Diocese of Dallas since 1997. He coordinates the ministry of deacons in the Diocese and the formation of candidates for diaconal ministry. He also chairs the Deacons' Advisory Council and the Deacons' Personnel Board, serves on the Hispanic Leadership team, and the Landregan Lecture Series Board.

2009 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients

The School of Ministry presented the 2009 Distinguished Alumni Awards preceding the 2009 Landregan Lecture on Saturday, December 5, 2009. Please click here to read the press release abouthe 2009 recipients, who were Ms. Reyna Castelán and Ms. Michele Elchlepp.

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