Cardinal Francis George to Receive St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award from National Catholic Educational Association
Cardinal Francis George, Archbishop of Chicago, will receive the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award in October from the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) in recognition of his dedicated support of Catholic education.
The Seton Award is NCEA’s highest honor, given in recognition of significant contributions to Catholic education. The award is named in honor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821), the first native-born American saint.
This year’s 21st annual Seton Awards ceremony will be held Monday, Oct. 3 at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center in Washington, D.C.
An ardent proponent of Catholic schools, Cardinal George established the Board of Catholic Schools to encourage greater support and leadership for the archdiocese’s 215 elementary and 40 secondary schools that serve 62,274 students. Approximately 94,000 more students are enrolled in religious education programs .The archdiocese also includes six Catholic colleges enrolling 45,000 students and three seminaries.
According to Karen Ristau, NCEA president, more than one-third of the cardinal’s annual appeal is earmarked for education. Responding to the economic times, the Cardinal George Scholarship Fund makes available more than $1 million in emergency financial funds. In addition, the Big Shoulders Campaign provides support for Catholic schools in the neediest areas of inner-city Chicago.
“Foremost in Cardinal George’s priorities,” Ristau said “is maintaining the strong Catholic identity in the schools and he has devoted considerable time to reviewing and revising the religious curriculum. Catholic education is enriched by his support and guidance.”
Others receiving the Seton Award this year are are:
- Joseph E. Robert, Jr, McLean, Virginia, for his unparalleled support of elementary and secondary education for low income families in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area;
- Pleasant Rowland, Middleton, Wisconsin, founder of the American Girl Collection, for her role in furthering children’s literary education;
- Mary Lynn and Warren Staley, Edina, Minnesota, for their support of Benilde-St. Margaret’s School and Opportunity International.
John Convey, Washington, D.C., will receive the President’s Award for his research and strategic planning for Catholic schools in dioceses and archdiocese across the nation.
For reservations or additional information about the Seton Awards, contact Xaverian Brother Stephen Comeau at NCEA at (571) 257-2891.
NCEA, founded in 1904, is a professional membership organization that provides leadership, direction and service to fulfill the evangelizing, catechizing and teaching mission of the church. NCEA's members include elementary schools, high schools, parish religious education programs and seminaries.
National Catholic Educational Association
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