Catholic Extension Society reveals Lumen Christi finalists

Catholic Extension Society has announced the finalists for the 2024/25 Lumen Christi Award. Selected for their outstanding work that represents the Church in action, the nominations and award each come with a monetary grant that will aid them in furthering their faithful missions. 

The Lumen Christi is an annual award Catholic Extension Society has bestowed since 1978, to individuals and groups that “radiate and reveal the light of Christ present in the communities where they serve.” In 2022, for example, Fr. Stuart Long, whose life story was immortalized in the hit film Father Stu, starring Mark Wahlberg, was awarded. A posthumous award, as Fr. Long died in 2014, it paid homage to the enduring influence of his hard-lived faith story, which saw the priest continue his ministry even while contending with the debilitating disease, ALS. 

Fr. Jack Wall, president of Catholic Extension Society, explained in a press release that the finalists brought about confidence, joy, and faith within the communities they encountered. 

“This year’s Lumen Christi Award finalists have each found a way to play their part in making a difference in the lives of others,” Fr. Jack Wall said. “They are helping to build up a better nation, where people care for one another, and where the pain of others does not fall on deaf ears. They feel called to be a blessing in places where there is no shortage of trouble and tribulation.” 

Let’s meet the finalists. 

Since 2017, Deacon Sellers has run a prison ministry, teaching those incarcerated and even on Death Row that there is still hope. In a press release, the deacon noted that the first time he visited the condemned inmates he was not sure that he had the strength to return, but he has since “found the beauty of a ministry that offers light and hope in a place that so desperately needs it.” Deacon Sellers travels an estimated 400 miles a week to visit different prisons and share the faith with inmates; this is said to lessen the likelihood of convicted criminals re-offending.

Catholic Extension Society has hailed Holy Rosary Catholic Church for its transformational efforts in the community. Serving in one of the poorest areas of Birmingham, the church runs a food pantry that serves an estimated 800 people per month. They continue to serve the community despite the financial hardships that have come with the rise in food prices. In addition, the church runs a youth soccer program that helps develop positive behavior skills for kids and teens. 

A member of the Benedictine Sisters of the St. Scholastica Monastery, Sr. Maurer coaches the football team at the College of St. Scholastica. A beloved Catholic figure in Duluth, Sr. Maurer uses sports as a bridge for the faith, extending her encouragement and know-how both in sports and Catholicism to all 22 of the college’s athletic programs. She explained that her role as coach has led young people to be comfortable approaching her, which opens pathways for discussions on the struggles of real life. 

A Religious Sister of Mercy, Sr. Renfer is a medical doctor of Osteopathic Medicine who serves as director of St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic (SMLC), a mobile clinic that serves the poor in eastern Kentucky. In the last year, this clinic has traveled some 11,000 miles to serve the needs of about 1,500 patients. The clinic did so thanks to a network of 100 medical professionals who lend their expertise to the mission. Along with the physical needs of patients, Sr. Renfer is always on hand to tend to their spiritual needs as well. 

Described as “a lifelong resident of Louisa, Kentucky, [who] repairs both homes and hearts,” Eddie Michael is the executive director of the Father Beiting Appalachian Mission Center (FBAMC). This outreach ministry of the Diocese of Lexington gathers volunteer groups who donate thousands of hours conducting home repairs in Appalachia. Michael himself assesses the social services needs of some 200 families each year and conducts around 50 charitable home repairs annually. 

Similar to Fr. Stu, Sarah Alley is a former athlete and teacher who has continued to serve God and her community despite contending with ALS. When she felt angry with God after her diagnosis, she received the response: “Sarah, you are much more than your body,” which led her to start a blog that she writes with optical sensors that trace her eye movements, as she no longer has the use of her hands.

In addition, she is the director for the annual “Autumn Walk for ALS” race, works with a local outreach ministry that assists in feeding 700 people per month, and runs several Bible study groups that cross denominations. In a press release she said: “As long as I’m living, I will use my brain to help others in need. I love my city, and I love the Lord.”

An 82-year-old mission priest, Fr. Henley continues to serve Native American communities in southern California. Citing his own presence as the key to his ministry, the octogenarian travels hundreds of miles each month to visit six different Native American Catholic communities. His ministry honors and preserves the Native American traditions and cultures, as Fr. Henley believes that allowing the richness of our Catholic faith to speak to the beauty of the Native American culture “results in a vibrant spirituality which enhances all who participate.”

Each of these finalists will receive a $10,000 grant to help support and enhance their ministries. The winner of the Lumen Christi award, however, will be given a $25,000 grant, along with an additional $25,000 grant for the nominating diocese. Look for the announcement of the winner of the 2024/25 Lumen Christi Award in the Fall. 

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