September 15, 2010

Catholic leaders to be honored at Archbishop José Gomez Gala

By Denver Catholic Register

Archbishop José H. Gomez, who was recently named to lead the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, will join Archbishop Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., in presenting awards to prominent and unsung Catholic business and pastoral leaders at the sixth annual Archbishop José H. Gomez Gala on Oct. 14 at the Sheraton Hotel in Denver.

Honorees at this year’s gala include Arthur and Lydia Heredia, who will receive the Social Justice Leadership Award; Julio Herrera, Pastoral Leadership Award; Jim Lyons, the Archbishop Charles J. Chaput Leadership Award; and Jerry and Mary McMorris, the Amistad (Friendship) Award.

“This ceremony honors individuals from all walks of life who make great personal sacrifices to support people in need,” said Luis Soto, executive director of Centro San Juan Diego, the Hispanic Institute for Family and Pastoral Care operated by the Archdiocese of Denver.

“There has been a great deal of excitement around this year’s gala as it will allow us to honor our own Archbishop Gomez for the first time after he was named the coadjutor archbishop of Los Angles,” Soto said about the former auxiliary bishop of Denver.

Jim Lyons, a partner in the law firm of Rothgerber, Johnson and Lyons, will be the inaugural recipient of the Archbishop Charles J. Chaput Leadership Award. A prominent civic leader supporting charitable causes across northern Colorado, Lyons has been actively involved in promoting peace in Northern Ireland.

The Heredias have been members of St. Therese Parish in Aurora since 1986 where Lydia, and later, Arthur have served as religious education teachers. Arthur has served on the parish council and the finance committee for the past five years.  The couple was invited by Father Bert Chilson, pastor of St. Therese, to be part of the group that formed the stewardship committee.

Herrera is known as a “true soldier of God” by the people of his Fort Lupton parish, St. William.  He is sub-coordinator in the formation of Cristo y Yo (Christ and Me) and is responsible for setting up retreats for the organization.  He is a member of the parish council and is a founding member of the parish’s Knights of Columbus Council. Herrera and wife Minerva have three children.

Jerry and Mary McMorris are supporters of Centro San Juan Diego, as well as The Children’s Hospital Foundation, Boy Scouts of America, the Denver Police Foundation and the Fisher DeBerry Foundation.  Jerry served as chairman, president, and CEO of the Colorado Rockies from 1993 to 2006.

Tickets for the event are $125 per person. A number of sponsorship opportunities, ranging from $1,000-$25,000, are also available. Information is available by calling Jennie Marquez at 303-295-9470 Ext. 104.

Archbishop Gomez Gala
Date: 5:30 p.m. Oct. 14
Where: Sheraton Denver Hotel, 1550 Court Place
Cost: $125 per person; sponsorships also available
RSVP deadline: Oct. 8
Tickets/Information: 303-295-9470 Ext. 104 or http://www.centrosanjuandiego.org/archbishop gomezawards/