This year's recipients are:

Service in Administration - Thomas Rutkowski has been an enthusiastic member of several committees throughout the years, including the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, of which he was one of the earliest members and a sub-committee chairperson. For over 20 years, he also has served on the Protected Self Insurance Committee, a property and liability workers' compensation advisory group for the archdiocese. Tom is a member of St. Therese Parish in Milwaukee.

Service to the Church - Sister Carmelita De Anda, R.M., a member of the St. Mariana of Jesus religious order of Ecuador, has played a significant role in strengthening Hispanic ministry in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. She introduced the Marianitas order to the archdiocese, founding a convent of sisters in Milwakee. She now works in Sheboygan at St. Clement Parish and with the Catholic Charities’ immigration center, helping to link people to the resources they need to succeed in their new culture.

Service in Communication - Ethel Gintoft, an active member of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist Parish, is a respected pioneer of Catholic journalism. She was the first woman to head the National Catholic Press Association. As the associate publisher/executive editor of the Catholic Herald for 20 years, Ethel introduced significant changes, such as a team approach to management, inviting staff input and enhancing employee benefits.

Service in Ecumenism - Dr. Ralph Del Colle, also a parishioner at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, is a strong advocate for ecumenism. He has written a number of documents on the dogmas of the faith and ecumenism, and he has participated in dialogues between Catholics and classical Pentecostals, Presbyterians and Reformed, Seventh-day Adventists and United Methodists. He is active in the Catholic Theological Society of America, the Society of Pentecostal Studies and the American Academy of Religion.

Service in Education - For 45 years, Sister Melmarie Stoll, S.S.N.D., taught visually impaired and blind children at Holy Assumption School in West Allis, a program that she initiated. She taught her students life skills, such as Braille reading and typing, to prepare them for life in the “sighted” world. She set high standards for her students, helping them gain the independence and confidence to reach their full potential as self-sufficient adults.

Service to Families - Jacob and Tanya Keenan, members of All Saints Parish in Milwaukee, have strengthened children through the Summit Program, a non-profit organization that helps children learn while building self-esteem and positive character. Both are also actively involved in the UMOJA Marriage Preparation and Enrichment Program for African-American and Interracial Couples, by helping to plan, budget and promote the program.

Service in Liturgy - Sister Mary Jane Wagner, S.S.S.F., was director of Music at the Cathedral of St. John for many years. Having been on the staff at Saint Francis Seminary, she continues to serve as adjunct faculty in the Liturgy and Music specialization. She is also the director of Liturgy and Music at St. Mary Parish in Elm Grove. Sister Mary Jane is a highly respected presenter and workshop leader in liturgical matters, both locally and nationally.

Service to Missions - For 24 years, Patricia Fischer has been dedicated to global mission, especially to people suffering from leprosy in Liberia, West Africa. She and her husband Ted made many trips to help with efforts such as building water systems and bandaging people’s wounds. Since Ted’s death in 1998, Pat continues mission work, helping to foster a twinning relationship between her parish, Immaculate Heart of Mary in West Allis, and a parish of the same name in Liberia.

Service in the Priesthood - Father Joseph Strenski has devoted 58 years of his life to the priesthood. In addition to pastoring several parishes around the archdiocese, he taught at Saint Francis Seminary for 22 years. He directed the seminary’s Certificate Program, opening it up to lay people as well as deacons. He also chaired the Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission in the late 1960s when changes resulting from the Vatican II Council were being implemented.

Service in the Priesthood - Monsignor T. George Gajdos, pastor of Christ King Parish in Wauwatosa, is highly respected among other priests and his parishioners. He has been involved with the Ukrainian Catholic Church for many years. Monsignor Gajdos also has served on the Archbishop’s College of Consultors. As the pastor of St. Francis Borgia Parish in Cedarburg before moving to Christ King, Fr. George helped successfully merge the parishes of St. Francis and Divine Word into one faith community.

Service to Society - Gerald Felsecker, a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, has overseen the revival of Milwaukee’s St. Vincent de Paul Society in his 27 years as executive director. The number of parish-based and individual volunteers is currently at an all-time high, and the Society has a strong presence in poverty-stricken neighborhoods. Under Gerry’s leadership, the Society has recruited young people’s involvement and established a number of outreach programs.

Young Adult Service in the Church - Nancy and Hilda Huertas, recent graduates of Waukesha South High School, are active leaders in St. Joseph Parish, Waukesha. They have been involved with “Santa Cruz,” a Hispanic youth group, at the parish. Nancy also serves on the St. Joseph Hispanic Committee and has taught Sunday school to first graders. Hilda teaches Sunday school and volunteers for various other activities at St. Joseph. She is involved in “Juventud 2000,” a Hispanic youth group.

Young Adult Service in Education - Román Alberto Orozco is a committed member of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Burlington. He leads a Hispanic youth group at his parish and participates in a Hispanic prayer group. Román also leads a choir for the Hispanic community and assists in coordinating the youth program at St. Charles. He recently completed the IPA program, a Hispanic pastoral formation institute offered through the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

Young Adult Service to Society - Cindy Freiboth has worked hard to increase awareness at her school, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and in the Whitewater community, of the need for decent, affordable housing for low-income families. After being actively involved in the UW-W chapter of Habitat for Humanity for three years, she served as president in her fourth year of school. Cindy’s efforts helped her chapter raise over $10,000 a year for building houses.

For more information about the criteria for Vatican II Awards and a list of previous recipients, visit this this link.