Saint Luke Awards 2025

To be a pastor is a great gift and a great responsibility. The Lord calls a priest to step into shepherding a parish with the understanding that the flock entrusted to his care is, first and foremost, HIS flock. It's the same call - the same kind of gift - that He entrusted to Saint Joseph. It's a humbling life.
But no pastor can carry the entire work of evangelization and of service for a community all alone. The Church recognizes that the co-responsibility of changing the hearts of the world and moving them toward Jesus is also given to the laity, because they, too, have been given a baptismal invitation to spread the message of salvation and of God's unfathomable love within and beyond the parish walls:

"As sharers in the role of Christ as priest, prophet, and king, the laity have their work cut out for them in the life and activity of the Church. Their activity is so necessary within the Church communities that without it the apostolate of the pastors is often unable to achieve its full effectiveness. In the manner of the men and women who helped Paul in spreading the Gospel the laity with the right apostolic attitude supply what is lacking to their brethren and refresh the spirit of pastors and of the rest of the faithful. Strengthened by active participation in the liturgical life of their community, they are eager to do their share of the apostolic works of that community. They bring to the Church people who perhaps are far removed from it, earnestly cooperate in presenting the word of God especially by means of catechetical instruction, and offer their special skills to make the care of souls and the administration of the temporalities of the Church more efficient and effective" [Apostolicam Actuositatem (The Apostolate of the Laity)].

The recipients of the Saint Luke Award and the Order of Saint Louis IX Medal reflect the beautiful love of the people of Saint Luke parish for the Lord and for our community. They are men and women who selflessly, and may I say often silently, give of their time, their talent, and the fruit of their tireless effort to grow the Kingdom of God and the virtues Jesus has tenderly provided for our parish family and the community, as a whole.

Saint Luke was a physician, an artist, a man of letters - and a lay man who embraced Christ's calling to put his many gifts to work on behalf of what Jesus had done and continues to do in and through the Church and on behalf of the world. He helped Saint Paul to evangelize the world. And just like our patron saint, the recipients of the Saint Luke Award and the Order of Saint Louis speak to the world not simply with words: they testify to God's goodness through the "art" of their generous love of the Lord and love of their neighbor in a thousand acts that benefit and empower others to seek out Christ more closely: through the support of our worship, through studied catechesis, through support of those pursuing a sacramental life, and in the countless ways they care and minister to those who need to know the tenderness of Christ's love now. They represent the constant STRIVING toward virtue, toward holiness while still remembering their own humble need to find solace and comfort in the Church. I couldn't be more proud of a our parish family that produces these amazing people.

Archbishop Hannan’s idea back in 1965 to honor members of the laity who have made outstanding contributions of their time and talent to the church, and it’s become one of the most cherished awards presented in the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Archbishop Hannan felt it was very important to recognize the significant contributions of lay people and to highlight what they have done to make the church more alive, and particularly the parish community. There was an important document from the Second Vatican Council, “Ad Gentes,” that lifted up the role of the laity in the life of the church. One of its important messages is that the church is not yet fully alive, nor is it a perfect sign of Christ among the people, unless there are laity working along with the clergy. The Gospel cannot be deeply grounded in the abilities, life and work of any people without the active presence of laity.

Therefore, even at the very founding of a church, great attention is to be paid to establishing a mature, Christian laity. The people of God are called to share in the work of the parish or the diocese and other Catholic ministries.

Every year as the ceremony draws closer and I go to various parishes, people will identify themselves as recipients. It’s also very edifying to go to parishes for various events, including confirmations, and see people wearing their medal. It’s an opportunity for them to say, in a very humble way, that they have been given this honor, and they are glad to be of service to the church.

I do get letters, phone calls and comments all the time asking, “Are you sure you got the right person?” And I always tell them, “Yes, we are more than sure.” Every person who receives the medal obviously has been recommended by their pastor and by others in the parish or diocesan community who have seen their very significant contribution to parish and diocesan life. These are women and men of faith who have shown incredible generosity and incredible leadership. For the prayer service, we proclaim the words of St. Paul in his Letter to the Ephesians: “We have heard of your faith in Jesus Christ, and we have heard of your love for others.” That is true of all the recipients.

He is the patron saint of our archdiocese. He lived from 1214-1270 and succeeded to the throne at the age of 12, with his mother as regent. He and his wife Margaret had 11 children, and he reigned for 45 years. Even in his lifetime, he was regarded as an ideal ruler and model father, and he was noted for his prayerfulness and charity. Louis was canonized in 1297, and his feast day is observed on Aug. 25. He did his best to bring together his faith with both his family life and his kingly rule. That’s exactly what we see in the recipients of the St. Louis Medallion – they bring together their personal faith and their family with their parish or ministry. It’s inspiring to me that people take their faith so seriously and are willing to give of their time and their talent to serve God and others.