ABOVE: Bishop Douglas J. Lucia bestowed Immaculata awards on 122 people during the recent liturgy at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
122 parishioners receive Immaculata awards
By Elizabeth Landry
Staff writer
The second Sunday of Advent carries special significance in the Diocese of Syracuse. It is on this day each year that the Immaculata Awards have been celebrated since 2011, when they were established by Bishop Emeritus Robert J. Cunningham. The awards honor the many lay volunteers who serve their parishes in various capacities within the diocese. Held at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse, the conferral of the Immaculata Awards this year honored 122 volunteers from 91 parishes, each nominated by their pastors or administrators.
In his homily during the conferral ceremony, Bishop Douglas J. Lucia made a connection between Mary’s “yes” to God that we encounter on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the “yes” of the many faithful who answer God’s call to serve their parish communities. Of those being honored he said, “To these women and men we offer our congratulations in expression of our gratitude for their witness. They are concrete examples of how God is active in our lives and of the discipleship first modeled for us by Mary, Mother of the Savior, Mother of the Church.”
Each award recipient’s story is inspirational; they devote their time and talent to support their parishes in different ways. The humble and gracious nature of those we spoke to who were distinguished by their faith communities is also inspiring. For many of the recipients, volunteer work appears to be second nature.
John and Diana Torta, parishioners at St. John the Evangelist in Bainbridge, expressed feeling amazed and overwhelmed at being awarded for their service. Diana, who helps take care of statues and flowers at the parish, said, “We just volunteer, you know, [we] just do it. Our parish is very, very small … A lot of people pitch in to do what they can.”
Several of those being honored this year have spent decades serving their faith communities. Joan Clark of St. Stephen parish in Phoenix worked for 28 years as assistant to the director of religious education. Speaking about the nature of her service, she said, “Church is our second home now.”
Richard Harding, of Our Lady of Sorrows in Vestal, helps with daily Mass and assisted every day when the new church in Vestal was being built. He was honored along with his wife, Carol. Both humble and humorous, he said, “I don’t feel like it’s deserving but I didn’t want to question the Master’s good judgment,” and then added more seriously, “I appreciate it. It’s an honor.”
2024 Immaculata winners
- Gary & Susan Anderson • St. Joseph, Oriskany Falls
- Sarah Baker • St. Mary of the Assumption, Baldwinsville
- John & Maggie Bardsley • St. Mary, Cortland
- Valentine & Bernadette Barzac • Christ Our Light, Pulaski
- Michael & Kristen Beckett • St. Rose of Lima, North Syracuse
- Marie Behr • St. Francis of Assisi, Bridgeport
- Michele Braco • St. Thomas Aquinas, Binghamton
- John & Nancy Bruetsch • St. Mary, Kirkwood
- Carol Bunn • Divine Mercy, Central Square
- Joan Clark • St. Stephen, Phoenix
- Cherie Cogan • All Saints, Syracuse
- Ed & Kay Corcoran • St. Francis of Assisi, Binghamton
- Vince & Joan Cutrie • Blessed Sacrament, Syracuse
- Nancy Danchick • Epiphany Parish, Liverpool
- Nancy DaRin • Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Syracuse
- Joanne Delaney • Most Holy Rosary, Syracuse
- David & Anne Delles • Christ the Good Shepherd, Oswego
- Robert & Patricia Demm • St. Mary of the Assumption Shrine, Oswego
- Edward & Joanne Drimak • Church of the Holy Trinity, Binghamton
- Craig Dudczak • St. Ann, Manlius
- Linda Faduski • Spirit of Hope, Oneida
- Robert Falk • St. Joseph, Lee Center
- Linda Flynn • Sacred Heart, Cicero
- Helen Foley • St. Paul, Binghamton
- Grace Garro • St. Anthony & St. Agnes, Utica
- Robert & Marie Gomulka • St. James, Johnson City
- Kevin Gorga • Church of the Holy Family, Endwell
- Eugene Gorman • Most Holy Rosary, Maine
- Ann Gorton • St. Vincent de Paul, Syracuse
- Robert & Mary Ann Gotie • St. Patrick, Truxton
- Richard & Louise Gregg • St. Joseph, Oxford
- Richard & Carol Harding • Our Lady of Sorrows, Vestal
- Patricia Higgins • St. Joan of Arc, Morrisville
- Daniel Hurley • Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Syracuse
- Thomas Kanaley • St. Joseph, Camillus
- Bernadette Kapps • Transfiguration, Rome
- Elizabeth Gilroy Kearns • Mary, Mother of Our Savior, Utica
- Nancy Kneller • St. John the Evangelist, New Hartford
- Kathleen Kotz • Holy Cross, DeWitt
- Helen Kozina • St. Joseph, Sanitaria Springs
- Alfred & Joanne Kumpon • Saints John & Andrew, Binghamton
- Joseph & Louise Kurutz • St. Vincent de Paul/Blessed Sacrament, Vestal
- Mary Ann Lantiegne • Church of the Nativity at St. Leo, Tully
- Leonard & Constance Lawton • St. Anne, Mother of Mary, Mexico
- Susan Lehmann • St. Mary, Hamilton
- Patrick & Lisa Lynch • Christ the King, Liverpool
- Steve Mahar • St. Theresa, New Berlin
- Ronald Malachowski • Holy Trinity, Utica
- Brian & Margie Manthey • Church of the Nativity at St. Patrick, Otisco
- Vincenza Marchese • Transfiguration, Syracuse
- Timothy & Maryann Marr • St. Lawrence, DeRuyter
- Marilyn Morrison • St. Leo/St. Ann, Holland Patent
- Patrick Morrissey, Sr. • St. Mary of Mt. Carmel/Blessed Sacrament, Utica
- Dale & Cathy Nagel • Church of the Nativity at St. Joseph, Lafayette
- Sandy Nagy • St. Bernard, Waterville
- Richard M. Nappi • Ss. Cyril & Methodius Church, Binghamton
- Michael & Jacquelyn O’Hearn • St. Mary of the Assumption, Binghamton
- Joseph & Raphael Palumbo • St. Agnes, Afton
- Marc Parrillo • Our Lady of Pompei-St Peter, Syracuse
- Carol Partigianoni • St. Anthony, Cortland
- Lee Perrin • St. Malachy, Sherburne
- Peter Picciano • (posthumously) Our Lady of Lourdes, Windsor
- Rosa Pipher • Our Lady of Good Counsel, Endicott
- Mary Jo Post • St. Paul, Rome
- Frank & Sharon Puma • St. John the Baptist, Rome
- Ella Quinn • Historic Old St. John, Utica
- Linda Ryan • Immaculate Conception, Fayetteville
- John Ryan • St. Matthew, East Syracuse
- Marcia Ryan • Holy Family, Syracuse
- Laura Ryder • Pope John XXIII, Liverpool
- Carol Schloop • St. Patrick-St. Anthony, Chadwicks
- Kurt & Cathy Schotthefer • St. John the Baptist-Holy Trinity, Syracuse
- James Schreck • Holy Trinity, Fulton
- Mary Shepherd • Church of the Annunciation, Clinton
- Mark & Colleen Sheridan • St. Patrick, Jordan
- Barbara Sigona • St. Joseph – St. Patrick, Utica
- Ann Marie Simpson • Immaculate Conception, Greene
- Michael Skrocki • St. Margaret, Mattydale
- Susan M. Smith • St. Margaret, Homer
- John (Jack) & Suzanne Sokolowski • Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Syracuse
- Mary Spencer • St. Joseph, Deposit
- Lisa Spina • St. Mark, Utica
- John & Diana Torta • St. John the Evangelist, Bainbridge
- Lewell Troast • St. Mary of the Assumption, Minoa
- Carol Turner • St. Augustine, Baldwinville
- Mary Ellen Utter • St. Mary-St. Peter, Rome
- Tim & Mary Virgil • Church of the Nativity at Immaculate Conception, Pompey
- Edward & Jeanette Weber • St. Marianne Cope, Solvay
- Mary Ann Wentzel • St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Baldwinsville
- James & Judith Wolf • St. Patrick, Binghamton
- Las Catequistas de San Antonio • St. Anthony of Padua, Syracuse
