April 2008: Fifteenth Annual Archbishop John L. May Service Awards
About the Archbishop John L. May Service Awards
The Archbishop John L. May Service Awards are presented each year to one senior student from each of the Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Saint Louis. The awards, named after the late Archbishop May and recognizing his dedication to service, honor the students’ outstanding commitment to serving others. The awards were founded in 1994 by Monsignor Ted Wojcicki, the former Associate Superintendent of Secondary Education for the Catholic Education Office, and current President of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary. About the Archbishop John L. May Service Awards
Recipients of the Archbishop May Service Awards consider service a part of their everyday lives. Many students are involved in their school, parish, and community, dedicating countless hours to serving others and giving back. This year’s 2008 award recipients volunteered at a variety of local organizations, including the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Karen House, Fr. Dempsey’s Charities, and Our Lady’s Inn. Others marched for life, led Kairos retreats, walked for cancer, and organized fundraisers. Some students even participated in international mission trips, giving their time and talents in places such as Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, and Mexico.
Award Festivities
Day of Prayer – March 6, 2008
On March 6, the recipients gathered together for a Day of Prayer. The day offered the students an opportunity to meet each other, pray together, and reflect on volunteering and service.
Archbishop May Service Awards Reception – April 22, 2008
On April 22, the recipients attended the Fifteenth Annual Archbishop May Service Awards Reception, where each was presented with an award to honor their service to the community. The event was held at the Busch Student Center at Saint Louis University. Reverend Mitch Doyen, Associate Superintendent for Secondary Education, attended the Reception. “I do believe the Archbishop May Service Award is the most eloquent testimony to our profound mission of Catholic secondary education in the Archdiocese of St. Louis,” he said.
The Micah Program of Saint Louis University gave the invocation, showing a beautiful slideshow presentation that highlighted each recipient and their prayer for service. The theme of the presentation was “Go Light the World.”
The keynote address was given by Reverend Bob Menner, our own St. Louis priest missionary serving in the Latin America Apostolate. Fr. Menner joined the Latin America Apostolate in 1973 and has given many years of service in South America, serving in both Chile and Bolivia. In Bolivia, where most of his time has been spent, his service has ranged from working with newly ordained Bolivian priests and helping them with their studies, to teaching in the seminary, to studying the Liturgy, with a special concentration on the celebration. During his keynote address, Fr. Menner highlighted his missionary work in Chile and Bolivia, and stressed the value of the service in which each recipient has participated.
Archbishop Raymond L. Burke and Superintendent George Henry presented each student with their award. The evening concluded with refreshments and an opportunity for all recipients and guests to visit and share experiences.
Colleen Coughlin, staff member at the Mission Office, attended the Service Awards. “I was so happy to get the opportunity to attend the Service Awards this year,” Colleen said. “Fr. Menner did an outstanding job and really tied together the idea of being missionary, whether it is serving overseas or participating in service right here at home.”
Honoring Archbishop John L. May
As a priest, bishop and archbishop, John Lawrence May dedicated his life to serving God and the Church, living as an example of Christian service and as an instrument of social justice.
Following his ordination in 1947 in the Chicago Archdiocese, the 25-year-old Fr. May served his first appointment as pastor of St. Gregory Parish for nine years and taught religion at St. Gregory High School. He was then appointed chaplain of Chicago’s Mercy Hospital for three years. Fr. May was also active in the U.S. Church’s Extension Society, a Chicago-based organization devoted to home missions. In 1950, he was named general secretary of the Society and served as president from 1967-70.
Fr. John May began his career as bishop in 1967, when he was named one of three new auxiliary bishops to the Chicago Archdiocese. Two years later, he was appointed Bishop of Mobile, Alabama, and served there for 11 years.
In 1980, Bishop May was installed as the sixth archbishop of St. Louis. During his tenure, the archbishop served in a number of positions for the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and the United States Catholic Conference, including the Administrative Board. He was elected vice president for the 1983-86 term and president from 1986-89, when he did much to strengthen bonds between the Vatican and the U.S. Church. In the fall of 1987, he led the delegation of U.S. bishops attending the world Synod of Bishops on the role of the laity in the Church and the world. Archbishop May also revitalized the archdiocesan pastoral council and reorganized the Catholic Charities agencies to better address the needs of the people in our area. Intensely proud of the St. Louis Cathedral Basilica, he authorized steps to complete the enormous mosaics that cover the interior of the Cathedral. He was furthermore a leader among the ecumenical community in the area, especially as the local churches organized efforts to reach out to those with AIDS.
The archbishop used his weekly column in the St. Louis Review to address many topics, including anti-abortion protests, desegregation in public education, the sale and distribution of Church property, Holy Communion under both species and a bilateral freeze on nuclear weapons. He wrote against the sale of McDonnell-Douglas fighter planes to Saudi Arabia and promoted stronger efforts to convert armaments production to peacetime use.
In July 1992, the archbishop was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. The following December, he felt he was no longer able to adequately serve his people in St. Louis and resigned from his 12-year post. Archbishop May died on March 24, 1994.
In honor of Archbishop May’s dedicated Christian service, the Archbishop John L. May Service Awards are conferred each year, recognizing the outstanding leadership and community service of young people in the St. Louis area. The 29 Catholic high school seniors being honored tonight have demonstrated extraordinary and inspirational volunteer achievement in their school, community and beyond, making service a way of life.
A Commitment to Service
Various recipients of the 2008 Archbishop John L. May Service Awards performed their service abroad in different locations around the world. Read below to learn more about the students’ experiences!
TODD
Christian Brothers College High School
Todd has traveled to Kenya, serves with TASK (Team Activities for Special Kids), and is involved with CBC’s Big Brother program.
Special Events and Pictures
The Archbishop John L. May Service Awards are presented each year to one senior student from each of the Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Saint Louis. The awards, named after the late Archbishop May and recognizing his dedication to service, honor the students’ outstanding commitment to serving others. The awards were founded in 1994 by Monsignor Ted Wojcicki, the former Associate Superintendent of Secondary Education for the Catholic Education Office, and current President of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary. About the Archbishop John L. May Service Awards 
The keynote address was given by 
As a priest, bishop and archbishop, John Lawrence May dedicated his life to serving God and the Church, living as an example of Christian service and as an instrument of social justice. 
TODD 
GENNA