Missouri Catholic Conference seeks Nominations for Citizen Recognition Awards

June 1, 2006, JEFFERSON CITY, MO – The Missouri Catholic Conference seeks to recognize one individual citizen from each of the four Catholic dioceses in Missouri who personifies the mission of the MC. This is an opportunity to acknowledge a Catholic in each diocese who works to promote gospel values and services that reflect respect for the dignity of human life. This could be someone who takes an active role in legislation; advocates for participation in, or improvement of, existing government services; initiates parish or community action; or in some way responds to the MCC’s call for action. In the past, individuals have received this award because they operated a soup kitchen for the poor; participated in prison ministry; started pro-life groups around the diocese; took an active role in passage of legislation; or otherwise became part of the solution to a problem in the community.

An Awards Selection Committee composed of representatives of the MCC Public Policy Committee and MCC staff will review nominations and select honorees. A nomination will not be accepted if it is submitted anonymously to the MCC. However, the MCC will honor a request if the nominator chooses to remain anonymous to the award recipient. For an award recommendation form visit the MCC website at www.mocatholic.org or call (573) 635-7239. The deadline for submissions is Friday, July 14, 2006. The awards will be given during the MCC Annual Assembly held on Saturday, September 30, 2006, in the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City.

Mission of the Missouri Catholic Conference:

• To promote the material and spiritual well being of all people of the State of Missouri in the fields of health, education and social welfare;

• To provide moral leadership to Catholics and others throughout the State particularly in the area of public policy: The Conference shall serve as one of many resources in the State, which promotes among people the vision of both material and spiritual well-being as needed for full human growth;

• To participate in the democratic process of government, its legislative, executive and judicial branches;

• To serve as a forum for the dioceses in developing positions on statewide issues, coordinating diocesan programs and organizing statewide projects;

• To provide a channel of communication through which Catholics will communicate with one another and with groups both secular and religious in order to establish a network of information and action to address issues affecting the common good.