To be named the winner in the Church service program category, a college council must display a commitment to the faith and a desire to share that devotion with their peers and those on the peripheries. Our communities are often blessed with great facilities in which to worship and gather as a community of faith, however, in other parts of the world this is not the case.
This year’s award winning council responded to a call to help the faithful in Granada, Nicaragua, who lacked a church hall in which they could hold catechism classes, parish meetings and other community activities. This parish had been conducting its own fundraisers for years, but with slow progress towards its goals. Compelled to aid these brothers and sisters in faith, this council conducted a series of fundraisers including Christmas puzzles, a golf tournament and raffles to raise over $1,200 to provide the building’s roof and over half of the flooring. The council aims to continue supporting this parish in the future as they have bonded in faith offering Masses and prayers for each other.
In recognition of their outstanding work supporting a Nicaraguan parish, this year’s Church Activity Award was presented to Council 7682 at Southern Illinois University.