Catherine of Siena Distinguished Lay Person Award

The ’09 National Conference Committee is seeking nominations for this year’s Catherine of Siena Distinguished Lay Person Award. This award was established by the 2005 VOTF Convocation Steering Committee and approved by the Board of Trustees at that time.

VOTF established this award because Catherine of Siena encountered corruption and crisis in the Church and took noble and effective action to end it. Grieved by scandal and undeterred by rank, she was spurred on to reform the Lord’s Church. Catherine of Siena went directly to Pope Gregory XI and through determined and courageous efforts became the catalyst for ending the crisis of the Avignon captivity of the papacy.

Catherine of Siena’s deep faith propelled her to care for those labeled as least in her society. Neither, hardship nor schism, war or persecution detained her from being about the Lord’s work. She was an innovator led by the spirit and an agent of change in a tumultuous time. The Church ultimately recognized her contribution by proclaiming her both a saint and a Doctor of the Church.

Judge Ann Burke, the head of the National Review Board at that time, was the first recipient of this award. Carolyn Disco, recognized as a champion of survivors who worked tirelessly to right what is wrong was received this award at the 2007 Convention.

Models of exemplary lay leadership are needed as torchbearers of light in our Church. The laity has many gifts that are willingly used for the church’s service. VOTF seeks to light the lamps of recognition of the laity and call forth the talents of all members of the Body of Christ.

All members of VOTF are encouraged to submit the name of a lay person who has exhibited the faith, courage, aptitude for unprecedented action, and the outspokenness of Catherine in his/her own arena in the past few years.

When submitting a name please include the following:

Name of nominee

Name of nominator (or affiliate)

Role of nominee (theologian, lay minister, parishioner)

Reason for nomination (main reasons why this person exemplifies the virtues of Catherine of Siena)

Supporting evidence (Testimonies, newspaper articles)

Likelihood of nominee to attend conference (High, medium, low)