Since 1971, CLC-USA has presented awards to members and others outside CLC.

1. The CLC Development Award is presented to an individual (or individuals) who has given outstanding service in the promotion, growth and/or development of Christian Life Community. The person(s) nominated should have contributed meritorious service to CLC in the United States over a period of years.

The award may be given to a lay person or priest or religious. It is assumed that a lay member has made a permanent commitment to the CLC way of life and is part of a local community.

Past awards were presented to lay members and Jesuits who were Ecclesial Assistants, regionally or nationally. Other Jesuits who contributed to the movement by their writing or by developing programs were also considered.

2. The Development of Peoples Award is named after Pope Paul VI’s encyclical. It is awarded to an individual (couple or group) who is outstanding in carrying out the principles and ideals of this encyclical, especially peace and justice, in particular during the past few years. The encyclical encouraged individuals to “serve society by opening hearts to conversion and the struggle to change oppressive structures.” Those nominated do not need to be CLC members.

Following are the People who received the awards from 1971 -2014

The CLC Development Award

1971 - Joan DeWitt - was Treasurer of National CLC; helped solve a financial crisis from a large debt to being in the black.

1971 - Nicholas Rieman, S.J. - pioneer of CLC as it evolved from Sodality; established Sodalities of men and women in Ohio; advocated centrality of Spiritual Exercises; served as Vice- Ecclesial Ass’t of World CLC; helped revise the General Principles.

1973 - Francis K. Drolet, S.J. - contributed to the revision of the General Principles; established the New York Professional Sodality drawing men and women from the Metro NY area; wrote the book, New Communities for Christians (1972).

1973 - Dr. Fred Leone - Chaired the Cleveland Sodality; was the first CLC President; served as Vice-President if the World CLC; showed interest in mission of laity in the world.

1973 - Peggie Telscher and Jim Ford - served prominent roles in youth CLC development; Peggie was a high school rep on the National Board; together formed “Followers of the Way”, a youth song group.

1975 - Dr. Raymond and Dorothy Zambito - long term supporting and life-giving members of Sodality/CLC; served as President of CLC-USA; chaired the Arrupe Charitable Trust; served as delegates to World Assembly; founded Locust Valley CLC.

1977 - Jose Antonio Esquivel, S.J. - helped host the World CLC meeting in Santo Domingo; served on the nNational Board; developed “Faith Experience” weekend; served as World ExCo Treasurer.

1979 - Timothy Rouse - was recognized for his work in developing Omaha as a lively center of CLC; served as National President; ongoing force in development of CLC.

1979 - Barbara Bedolla - with husband Marcellino served as co-Presidents of CLC-USA; clarified and implemented the charism of formation in CLC; was a member of the National Formation Team.

1979 - Paul Roy, S.J. - was a moderator in a vibrant youth movement in New England; became National Moderator of CLC; helped redevelop the charisms of CLC (spirituality, community and mission); authored a book, The Faith Experience.

1981 - Marie A. Schimelfening - served as Executive Director of NCLC for 12 years; co-founder of the National CLC Center in St. Louis; was part of the team that developed Leadership training and Guides Courses and on the National Formation Team; served as Secretary of the World ExCo from 1982-1990.

1983 - Richard Roos, S.J. - was Province Promoter (EA)of CLC in New England; gave guidance to high school CLCs;initiated the first adult CLC in the region.

1985 - Sandy Splaine - in support of her husband, moved to St. Louis from New England to raise her family at the CLC House while Michael worked as NCLC’s office coordinator.

1987 - Mary Bialas - longtime member of Sodality/CLC in New Orleans(since 1950);active on all levels of CLC; planned and executed Faith Experience weekends; her CLC served as a pilot for formation programs.

1989 - Bill Kidwell, S.J. - long time youth and young adult moderator; sponsored many trips to Washington from Miami for the Right to Life gathering; supported the CLC conventions with large groups of young people in attendance.

1989 - Cris Kotow-Sullivan - CLC member in the USA and Canada; was VP for Youth in CLC-USA; helped develop National Formation Meetings for High School and College CLC guides, moderators and student leaders.

1991 - Jack Zuercher, S.J. - leader in development of CLC in Omaha area; developed introductory and other programs for CLC; developed new CLC groups in Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin.

1993 - Isabel Murphy - Sodality /CLCer for over 60 years; President of Archdiocesan Union of Parish Sodalities (New Orleans); served as member of National Board of CLC.

1995 - Daniel Fitzpatrick, S.J. - Ecclesial Assistant of the Metro NY Region for over 30 years; served as a rep of World CLC as an NGO at the UN; contributes frequently to Harvest and Progressio.

1997 - Shane Martin, S.J. - helped develop CLC in the US in the areas of Youth and Young Adult groups, Formation, Publications, and National and International Programs; co-authored a guide book for youth in CLC; served as Ecclesial Assistant in California.

1999 - Larry Gooley, S.J. - Larry began CLC groups in the Pacific Northwest He served as Regional and National Ecclesial Assistant. He developed materials that continue to be used for initial and ongong formation in CLC nationally.

2004 - Maryanne Rouse - served as CLC-USA President; was a delegate to World Assembly in Rhode Island; helped form four Omaha CLC groups; and worked on a CLC Formation Manual.

2004 - Renee O’Brien - served as President of CLC-USA; served as co-convenor of the North Central Region; co-founded two Omaha CLCs.

2004 - Patricia Carter - served as President of CLC-USA; was graphic designer for Harvest; served on planning committees for several CLC assemblies; facilitated discernment sessions; is a member of the Group Guides Community.

2009 – Dolores Celentano – served as a President of CLC-USA; was a long-time editor for Harvest; has held various roles in the New York region.

2009 - Lois Campbell - National President of CLC in 1985 and again elected president from 2002 - 2004.  Elected to World EXCO in 2003 - 2008 as consulter. Elected to World EXCO as      Secretary from 2008 - 2013. 

2014 - Kathleen (Kitty) Gray -  served as National CLC Treasurer from 2001 - 2012; served as co-chair on the Logistics Team for the 2014 National Assembly in St. Louis, MO.

Development of Peoples Award

1971 - Dom Helder Camara - Bishop from Recife, Brazil; advocate for human rights; opposed dictatorship while risking his life.

1971 - James O’Connor - worked toward alleviating hunger; founded the Academy of Food Marketing while at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia; was a member of Xavier Damien CLC.

1973 - Michael Jordan, S.J. - started a Day Care Center in Philadelphia; established a radio show, a magazine and DRAND, a development project for the community; established a Sodality and served as moderator.

1975 - Betty Leone - was involved in the inner city summer tutoring project of the Catholic Interracial Council in Cleveland; used her strong sense of mission and vision for service to God’s people on all levels; persuaded the World CLC to apply for NGO affiliation at the UN and served as its first representative.

1977 - Deacon Stanley Gogol, Jr. - worked to establish a Bible Center in the inner-city of Toledo, Ohio; was instrumental in opening the Catholic Churches in the area to minorities; helped establish a Montessori type school in the area for minority children; was a member of Realino-More CLC.

1979 - Otis and Mary Woodard - ministered at the Northside Neighborhood Project in St. Louis; worked with Lutheran Family and Children Services (including a food pantry, clothing distribution and visits to the poor); witnessed at the 1979 CLC Convention especially in providing insertion experiences to help participants better understand the area of social justice.

1981 - Archbishop Oscar Romero - saw misery and poverty as a negation of God’s will; was assassinated for reaching out to all the Salvadoran people; was given the award posthumously, delivered by Raymond Zambito to the Archdiocese in San Salvador.

1981 - Bishop Thomas Gumbleton - National CLC Episcopal Moderator; President of Pax Christi USA; President of Bread for the World. As such, he puts his commitment to Christ the “poor and humble” into action. On his home “front” of Detroit, he maintains a pastoral presence, arranging meeting sot hat he will not be absent from Sunday liturgy. In Detroit, he works for prison reform and heads the archdiocesan office that deals with Black Catholics, Hispanic Affairs, and Pastoral Ministry to the Handicapped.

1983 - Thomas Monahan - was the second NCLC rep in its role as NGO at the UN; was a research physicist for the Dept. of the Navy; realized the immorality of war and became a conscientious objector; was a prolific writer for CLC; was active in Loyola CLC in New York City.

1983 - Cardinal Bernadine for the U.S. Bishops - given to the U.S. Bishops (NCCB) for the publication of The Challenge of Peace: God’s Promise and Our Response.

1985 - Arthur Simon - Executive Director of Bread for the World, the strong lobbying and humanitarian group established to alleviate hunger.

1987 - Ben Hauserman and Rolland Smith - established an extensive food bank in the greater Cleveland area which became a model for other cities.

1991 - Lillian Spitzer - worked with and through organizations to help provide housing for the poor, to exert influence on racial justice issues and welfare issues, member of Discipleship CLC.

1993 - Mary Pat Mundzak - active in social action programs and civil rights groups in the parish and in the diocese; member of Leunis Regnun CLC in Cleveland.

1995 - Dr. Raymond Borer - Co-founder of a Free Clinic for homeless and indigent of Toledo area; recruited health professionals to serve there; was a member of Realino-More CLC.

1997 - Jean and Paul Mbuyu - risked their lives in Congo in their struggle to change oppressive structures; suffered incarceration, loss of property and exile.

1999 - Joan and Jim Felling - continued the Bridges program in St. Louis (which began in 1980) making it possible for an ever widening circle of people to make the Spiritual Exercises.

2004 - Dr. Monika Hellwig - for her distinguished service to the national and world communities through her career as an educator, author, lecturer and seminar leader in the field of Catholic education and social justice.

2004 - Father Jim O’Brien - for his quiet, steadfast and persistent involvement in peace and justice issues since the 50’s and 60’s; working to form organizations dedicated to the poor, working to make peace and involving students to become involved in those efforts.

2004 - Father Gregory Ramkissoon - founded Mustard Seed Communities, a non-profit organization, providing homes for children with severe disabilities who had been abandoned or v orphaned in Jamaica, Haiti, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic and Zimbabwe.

2009 - James Hug, S.J. – His ministry focused on social concerns. He spent 28 years at the of Concern, 23 of those years as Director. The Center of Concern "researches, educates and advocates from the Catholic social tradition."

2014 - Bridget Brennan and Jerry Shen - Their service work in Tanzania with self-development for women and setting up a soy milk processing system.

2014 - Hung and Kim-an Vu - For their love, dedication and concern for family, they initiated and formed a team to develop and implement the Marriage Renewal Workshop.

The above is a very brief description of the individuals’ accomplishments/ involvement. It is meant to serve as an example, not to tell the whole story.