Posted May 01, 2023
On April 22nd, the Diocesan Social Action Office hosted its 2023 Awards event!
This event consisted of dinner, a raffle, 50/50, a presentation from Rev. Michael G. Woost, and more!
At the gathering, each award recipient was acknowledged before making their own speech to the audience.
The first award given was the Laudato Si Award. This award is inspired by the Encyclical of Pope Francis.
This award highlights people and programs that address the social, economic, and environmental aspects of sustainability and demonstrate the “integral ecology” framework proposed by Pope Francis in his encyclical, which seeks to emphasize how we are all interconnected.
The 2023 Laudato Si Award was given to the Office of Sustainability for the City of Oberlin.
In 2001 the city adopted a sustainability resolution which led to the first Climate Action Plan (CAP) in 2011 and revised twice.
So far, the office has been able to exceed the 80% green electricity goal, received a bronze rating as a bicycle-friendly community, has a “Waste Wizard” webpage on the city’s website to help residents determine smart ways to dispose of unwanted items, and more!
Currently, the Office of Sustainability is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050.
The next award given was the Gert Wirscham Faithful Servant Award.
Gert Wirscham was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Elyria where she was a leader of many church activities. She was also well known for her service to the poor and homeless and was a founding member and served for many years on the Catholic Action Commission of Lorain County.
This award was given to the Peace and Justice Committee at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Oberlin.
The committee campaigns constantly to protect life throughout the diocese and the city of Oberlin.
Not only are they protecting life, but they are also working with their pastor, Father David Trask to establish a “Welcome Circle” to help aid a Ukrainian refugee family in Lorain County.
The last award presented was the Bishop A. James Quinn Award for Justice. This award was given to “The Gentlemen of Grafton” at the Grafton Correctional Institution in Ohio.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the men at the Grafton Correctional Institution wanted to give back to the community while serving their time. They reached out to Catholic Charities to see what they needed assistance with.
At the time, masks for employees and clients for programs all over the diocese were needed, so the men began sewing masks together. These men made thousands of masks and wanted to keep going.
After talking with Catholic Charities again, the men began a garden to grow fresh produce for the hunger shelters. What started as providing fresh goods to one center has now reached all three shelters.
Congratulations to this year’s award recipients! For more information about the Social Action Office visit ccdocle.org/DSAO.
Part of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland
