Fall Fellowship Mass & Awards

Vincentians, staff and friends of the Society gathered in the chapel at St. Ursula Academy on Sunday, September 26 for our annual Fall Fellowship mass and awards ceremony. During this mass, Alison Zlatic, 11 Conference Presidents and three new Vincentian Volunteers of Cincinnati were commissioned as they begin their tenures of Vincentian service.

Congratulations to each of our award recipients, who were nominated by Vincentians from across our Cincinnati District Council and honored at this event. We are blessed by their compassion, leadership and dedication to the mission of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

Christian James (right)

CHRISTIAN JAMES

Christian James, a volunteer call-taker for Our Lady of Lourdes Conference, was honored with the Fires of Faith Award. Michael Mattingly, Conference President at Our Lady of Lourdes, commended James for his unwavering efforts to help others, six years after a life-altering ALS diagnosis.

“Christian chooses to live each day with relentless positivity – bolstered by his spiritual fire for helping others. Christian’s steadfast faith in God – and his trust in God’s plan for his life – has a positive impact on all who are privileged to know him,” Mattingly said.

Mary McConn (center)

MARY McCONN

A Vincentian at Immaculate Heart of Mary Conference for over 15 years, Mary McConn was presented the Fires of Faith Award. IHM Conference President Lori Laux says, “Mary and her late husband Dick not only took calls and made visits, they also went above and beyond on many occasions to follow up with our neighbors to make sure they had what they needed. They drove neighbors to appointments, went shopping for them and even shared their own food when the pantries were not available.”

“I cannot think of a more deserving person for this award than Mary,” continues Laux. “Her love and care are consistent and we would be lost without her.”

Adriana Howard (left)

ADRIANA HOWARD

Adriana Howard, who serves St. Vincent de Paul as Call Center Manager at the Neyer Outreach Center, received the Ozanam Award. She was nominated by Bob Ramsay from Church of the Nativity Conference. Ramsay says, “I have been working with Adriana as a volunteer call taker at Bank Street for a little more than a year. She has been a true joy to work with.”

“When we start a call session, we take a few moments to pray. Her prayers are so honest and humble, they’re inspirational. She is really having a conversation with God. Asking Him to forgive us for our failings; to guide us with patience, love and understanding with our neighbors; and to help us be better people. I always feel blessed after her prayers. And it makes me a better call-taker,” says Ramsay.

Dennis Cook (right)

DENNIS COOK

Dennis Cook, who has dedicated five years to St. Catharine of Siena as Conference Treasurer, was honored with the Top Hat Award. Therese Bower, a St. Catharine Vincentian, says “Dennis would underplay the many good works he has done… but he goes above and beyond.”

Bower continues, “So many of our neighbors have come to us defensive or frightened. Dennis listens with empathy, speaks calmly, and is able to defuse tense interactions. It’s in these interactions that Dennis displays the virtues of gentleness and simplicity. It’s amazing how many neighbors call asking for ‘Mister Dennis.’”

Trudy Thomas (right)

TRUDY THOMAS

Trudy Thomas received the Top Hat Award for her outstanding work as a Vincentian at St. Bernard Conference, Spring Grove Village. Among her many acts of compassion, St. Bernard Conference President Bob Mierenfeld says, “Trudy will often do drawings of our clients and their children, frame them, and offer them to the neighbor after a visit. She goes beyond the expressed concerns during a visit, to make sure a neighbor’s needs are met.”

He continued, “Trudy has energized our conference. She inspires me by the energy, enthusiasm and sincerity with which she serves. She has a deep faith in God and in humanity which is evidenced in everything she does.”