The Evangelical Catholic Diocese of the Northwest honored several individuals Nov. 13 during its annual Bishop's Dinner and Awards Ceremony at the Pastoral Center of Atonement. Among the 11 honorees were Equality Illinois' Rick Garcia and Rep. John A. Fritchey, who has served in the Illinois State legislature since 1996.
The dinner was hosted by Bishop James Alan Wilkowski, who said that it was "important for us to celebrate the work of individuals...who build up our community."
Honorees received the Saint Joseph the Worker Award, celebrating their individual achievements and contributions to both Chicago and Illinois. Bishop Douglas Preyna, rector of the Saint John the Evangelist Seminary, was the evening's guest speaker. Preyna pointed out that " [ t ] oo much time [ is spent ] looking at differences of groups rather than similarities."
Many of the evening's honorees were pointed out for dedicating their lives and careers to bringing different communities together.
Wilkowski introduced LGBT-rights activist Rick Garcia by saying, "Rick is a given for the cause of civil rights."
Along with Fritchey and Garcia, other honorees for the evening were Locke Bowman, the Honorable Abishi C. Cunningham, Jr., Chicago Police Memorial Foundation, Rev. Robert Hemple, the Most Rev. Floyd Kortenhof, Cook County Clerk David Orr, Rescue Riders, Rev. Thomas Robb and Unite Here Local #1. Photos and text by Tully Satre