Skip to content

California Sister Assisting Immigrants is Named Winner of National Lumen Christi Award

Free World Class Education
FREE Catholic Classes

September 15, 2011 - 1:29 PDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA ADVISORY


Contact: Renae Placinski
Vivid Ascent
312-346-2005
Renae@vividascent.com

Sister Gabriella Williams, O.P. and Diocese of San Bernardino to Receive Two $25,000 Grants from Catholic Extension for their Ministries

CHICAGO, IL (September 15, 2011) - Catholic Extension today announced that Sister Gabriella Williams, O.P. of the Diocese of San Bernardino, Calif., has been named the winner of the 34th Annual Lumen Christi ("Light of Christ") Award. The Lumen Christi Award was established by Catholic Extension to highlight an outstanding individual who has shown a special dedication to serving people in his or her under-resourced diocese.

A special Mass and award reception will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 21, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Indio, Calif. The Mass, with Bishop Gerald R. Barnes presiding, will begin at 5:30 p.m. PDT. Mass will be concelebrated by Catholic Extension President FatherJack Wall. A reception will follow, in which Fr. Wall will present Sr. Gabi with the Lumen Christi Award. All are welcome to attend.

Sr. Gabi, as the Lumen Christi Award winner, will receive a $25,000 grant to assist her in her work. In addition, the Diocese of San Bernardino, where Sr. Gabi ministers, will receive an additional $25,000 grant.

"These grants are provided in the spirit of Catholic Extension's mission to strengthen and support the growth of the Catholic Church in under-resourced faith communities," said Catholic Extension President Father Jack Wall. "We are pleased to assist Sr. Gabi in her ministry through funding that will help her continue to extend the light ofChrist to those around her."

Light Your Free Payer Candle for a departed loved one

What is Palm Sunday?

Live on March 20, 2024 @ 10am PDT

Sr. Gabi was nominated for the Lumen Christi Award by Bishop Gerald R. Barnes of the Diocese of San Bernardino.

Eight years ago, when Bishop Barnes requested that Sr. Gabi work in outreach ministry to the poorest of the poor, she responded with great enthusiasm. Sr. Gabi has since shared her gifts with the poor, including many Catholic field workers and hourly laborers, in the CoachellaValley. In hundreds of trailers with unsatisfactory conditions, Sr. Gabi advocates for struggling individuals and families. Sr. Gabi and Sr. Teresita Navarro, a member of her community, work to offer a pastoral presence to these groups. Catechesis and after-school tutoring take place in the park. Sr. Gabi is the presence of the church with these people who have suffered so much injustice and indignity. While working to enrich their faith lives, Sr. Gabi also couldn't help but notice the assistance these individuals and families desperately need with basic necessities, so she answered that calling as well. Most of the trailer parks do not receive the infrastructure and resources that many people take for granted, such as electricity and water treatment. In addition to her pastoral presence, she helps low-income earners connect with help from the county.

One of Sr. Gabi's biggest projects is near completion. She is working with a non-profit organization called "Communidad de San Jose" to create a facility for adult and youth learning. The facility will be the first of its kind to offer people of this under-resourced area opportunities for basic education, tutoring, technology, English as a Second Language andhealth and nutrition classes. Because of Sr. Gabi's tireless efforts to fundraise and work with governmental agencies to receive the necessary permits, this facility is a dream coming true for the local community.

Sr. Gabi plans to use Catholic Extension's Lumen Christi Award grant to purchase laptop computers, software licenses, chairs and computer tables to create a technology room within the Communidad de San Jose. The technology room will be used primarily for after-school programs for school children and teenagers that do not have access to the technology they need to complete their studies. Sr. Gabi also hopes to use the facility for college preparation and to begin a trade school to teach vocations to those who do not attend college.

"The Communidad de San Jose will be the first facility of its kind in the area--it will be a resource for the community," said Sr. Gabi. "I am extremely grateful for the recognition and funding from Catholic Extension, which will help us continue our work and supply this facility with essential technology for the programs we plan to offer to local residents and families."

We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.

Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.

Help Now >

In addition to her work to open the Communidad de San Jose, Sr. Gabi works on housing issues that are prevalent in many of the local trailer parks. Primarily, she works with legal agencies to improve fire safety, to clean up raw sewage that often leaks onto the ground and to remove naturally occurring arsenic from the water by securing more frequent water testing and the installation of water treatment systems.

Most importantly, Sr. Gabi is dedicated to creating a true sense of Christian fellowship among the diverse groups of the geographically vast Diocese of San Bernardino. Her outreach to parishes in the diocese has yielded fruit beyond financial contributions--she has created volunteer opportunities that build relationships, bridging the gaps between diverse cultural communities and various income levels.

"Sr. Gabi's devotion to providing resources and support to the poor in San Bernardino are a wonderful expression of the mission of Catholic Extension," said Fr. Wall. "Her ability to share the light of Christ with those in challenging situations is one of the primary reasons she was chosen as the winner of the 2011 Lumen Christi Award."


About Catholic Extension
Catholic Extension, based in Chicago, is a national fundraising organization committed to supporting and strengthening under-resourced Catholic communities across the U.S. The organization provides funding resources to dioceses and parishes through programs and services investing in people, infrastructure and ministries. This support is given based on need, passion and commitment to the growth of the Catholic faith. Since 1905, Catholic Extension has distributed nearly $500 million to communities across America. For more information, visit www.catholicextension.org.

Contact

Vivid Ascent
http://www.catholicextension.org
IL, 60606 US
Renae Placinski - , 312-346-2005

Keywords

Catholic Extension, Sister Gabriella Williams, Grant, Lumen Christi, Diocese, Fundraising, Service

Category

OTHER

We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.

Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.

Help Now >

More Catholic PRWire

Showing 1 - 50 of 7,177

When Pope Francis Arrives in North America, There is Only One Network to Watch: EWTN Global Catholic
EWTN Global Catholic Network
September 16, 2015 - 5:17 PDT

GHIRELLI'S WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES ROSARIES NOW AVAILABLE
The Word Out | Marketing For Catholics
September 11, 2015 - 11:44 PDT

The Synod on the Family: Addressing the Instrumentum Laboris
Franciscan University of Steubenville
September 11, 2015 - 10:26 PDT

OCP Artist, Pedro Rubalcava, Writes Song for Pope Francis' Visit
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
September 10, 2015 - 2:50 PDT

Pre-Synod Conference unites Cardinals and men and women living with homosexual tendencies
September 09, 2015 - 2:58 PDT

The Rigging of a Vatican Synod
September 02, 2015 - 3:44 PDT

17 Cardinals and Counting
August 31, 2015 - 3:38 PDT

19th Annual Carnival Announced for St. Ann's Parish
August 28, 2015 - 9:20 PDT

The John Paul II International Film Festival Marks Its Five-Year Anniversary
August 27, 2015 - 6:09 PDT

OCP Pledges to Support the V Encuentro
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
August 27, 2015 - 2:51 PDT

Thu, Sept 24, 2015- Mass & Healing Service with Fr. Angelos Sebastian Our Lady of Grace Catholic Chu
August 26, 2015 - 4:03 PDT

Grief, Death, Eternal Life Explored in New Catholic Title by PBM
Pauline Books & Media
August 25, 2015 - 3:55 PDT

How do we live the truth in love when the culture says we're haters?
August 25, 2015 - 9:52 PDT

Right Next to Disneyland: Theater Meets Faith
Saint Luke Productions
August 19, 2015 - 1:29 PDT

OCP Parish Grant Program to Distribute $200,000 to U.S. Parishes
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
August 18, 2015 - 1:23 PDT

Franciscan University Joins With UK School to Offer Online Master of Catechetics Degree
Franciscan University of Steubenville
August 05, 2015 - 2:20 PDT

CONOR GALLAGHER NAMED PUBLISHER OF TAN BOOKS AND SAINT BENEDICT PRESS
Saint Benedict Press & TAN Books
July 20, 2015 - 12:49 PDT

Thérčse Drama Surprises Audiences
Saint Luke Productions
July 16, 2015 - 12:35 PDT

Catholic Press Association Honors Liguori
Liguori Publications
July 10, 2015 - 8:29 PDT

Crosier Order elects master general and councilors
June 26, 2015 - 2:06 PDT

World Library Publications Honored With Three Paul Revere Awards
World Library Publications
June 23, 2015 - 4:11 PDT

Indie Catholic Authors June Ebook Sale Offers the Faithful 17 Books Outside the Mainstream
Four Waters press
June 23, 2015 - 12:10 PDT

Limitless Love in Action: First Steubenville Youth Conference Inspires Teens to Bring the Fire Home
Franciscan University of Steubenville
June 18, 2015 - 2:03 PDT

Franciscan University of Steubenville Athletic Director Enshrined in Sports Faith Hall of Fame
Franciscan University of Steubenville
May 29, 2015 - 1:53 PDT

AWARD-WINNING CATHOLIC AUTHORS TEAM-UP TO PROMOTE HEALING THROUGH FORGIVENESS
Pauline Books & Media
May 27, 2015 - 12:32 PDT

NY CONCERT FOR NEPAL 5/31
May 27, 2015 - 1:22 PDT

Who's responsible for designing the designer?
May 19, 2015 - 11:12 PDT

Thu, Jun 11, 2015- Mass & Healing Service with Fr. Bill Adams at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church
May 13, 2015 - 4:21 PDT

Your search for true happiness is over
May 05, 2015 - 1:22 PDT

ValLimar Jansen's latest album "a soulful experience"
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
April 30, 2015 - 1:33 PDT

Uncovering the roots (and branches) of the greatest revolution in the American Catholic Church
April 28, 2015 - 9:45 PDT

NYC May 8, 2015 Spring Fling Catholic Singles Mingle Fundraiser
The Catholic Fellowship
April 18, 2015 - 9:07 PDT

Thank A Nun Day
Image Books/Random House
April 15, 2015 - 12:32 PDT

#TweetingwGod dares young people to believe
April 14, 2015 - 9:54 PDT

Experience Beloved: Finding happiness in marriage
April 13, 2015 - 1:27 PDT

Archbishop Aquila, Dr. Edward Sri and other experts to participate in 'Beloved' telepress conference
April 07, 2015 - 4:51 PDT

Nobis Media, Marketing & Web Development Company
April 01, 2015 - 5:49 PDT

Catholic toymaker puts Faith in hands and mouths of babies: Pope Francis doll added to line of toys
The Word Out | Marketing For Catholics
April 01, 2015 - 3:48 PDT

Concert Series Concludes with Winthrop University World Percussion Ensemble
April 01, 2015 - 2:48 PDT

Birth Choice Health Clinics Announces Transition to Obria Medical Clinics and Plans for Expansion
March 28, 2015 - 10:43 PDT

OCP releases expanded edition of Mass of the Sacred Heart
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
March 24, 2015 - 4:43 PDT

Archbishop Aquila, Dr. Edward Sri and other experts participate in 'Beloved' tele-press conference
March 21, 2015 - 11:57 PDT

Priest and Seminarian Join National Three-Point Contest to Benefit Marriage Ministry
Paradisus Dei
March 13, 2015 - 10:20 PDT

Shroud of Turin Exhibit At Holy Spirit Brighton
Holy Spirit Catholic Church and School
March 12, 2015 - 3:58 PDT

Flor y Canto campaign invites the Hispanic community to share their stories
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
March 11, 2015 - 4:40 PDT

Crisis Pregnancy Center Dream Becoming Reality
TRFC Inc.
March 10, 2015 - 6:36 PDT

Crisis Pregnancy Center Dream Becoming Reality
TRFC Inc.
March 09, 2015 - 7:04 PDT

Join RealOptions 2015 Walk for Life and 5K Run!
RealOptions Pregnancy Medical Clinics
March 09, 2015 - 2:40 PDT

New Orchestra Comes to Mary's Nativity Church
March 09, 2015 - 12:06 PDT

Paradisus Dei Offers New Marriage Program to Churches at No Cost
Paradisus Dei
March 05, 2015 - 6:25 PST

Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.

Lent logo
Saint of the Day logo

Catholic Online Logo

Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.

Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.