Saint Luke Awards 2023

2023 - Saint Luke Award and Archdiocese of New Orleans Order of Saint Louis IX Medal Honorees

The Saint Luke Award is presented to members of the Saint Luke parish family for their dedicated service of parishioners. The award honors both faith and service. As Saint James so aptly put it, "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?"[James 2:14], a faithful man or woman lives a life of faith that blesses those around him or her and cooperates with the Holy Spirit to spread the Gospel through love and generosity for others.

This year, our honorees are:

 
Armando and Carol Ruiz served 27 years at St. Margaret Mary Church in the Marriage Encounter ministry, In-Home marriage prep, Altar Society, 2nd and 4th grade PRS teachers, Supper and Substance, Mary’s Way of the Cross, volunteering at the fair and serving on the Parish Council. Carol started a Prayer Blanket ministry which is still going strong there. Since joining St.Luke parish, Carol has been making items for our beautiful St.Joseph’s altar, helps with Project Christmas, Seven Sister Apostolate to pray for our priests and Good Sams data entry. Armando has enjoyed the Saint Luke Men’s Club, Food for the Homebound, Parish Council, and through St. Luke, he has been enrolled in the ILEM (Institute of Lay Ecclesial Ministry) program at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. Together, they teach first/second grade for FIRE/Blaze, help coordinate our annual Family Bash celebration, have started the Flame of Love Cenacle, began selling Divine Mercy signs to the parish and are regular adorers of the Blessed Sacrament. The Ruiz’ love helping with many other ministries here. 

Dr. Tom Neal served as Academic Dean and Professor of Spiritual Theology at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, Louisiana for over a decade and has a particular passion for exposing the unlimited potential of theology to offer the faithful a deeper sharing in the mind and heart of Jesus Christ. He has worked for twenty years in adult catechesis, retreat ministry and teaching theology in various contexts trying to make present for others the "Word made fresh." Tom has dedicated much of his energy more recently to theological reflection on the vocation and mission of the lay faithful to be "secular saints" whose essential labor is to consecrate the world itself to God by faithfully living out their personal vocations in the world. He believes that the Church has yet to produce a proper theology of "lay secularity" and, consequently, a robust vision of spirituality that is suited to those whose primary path to perfection is to be found in engaging in temporal, secular affairs. His hope is to make a small contribution to that development. Originally from Rhode Island, Tom has lived over the years in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, Florida, Iowa and New Orleans, Louisiana. He and his wife now live in Tallahassee, FL,  and they love being called to be saints among Saints. Find more of Tom's writing at his blog, Neal Obstat.

Tom Neal has been an honorary Saint Luke parishioner over the course of three years for all his deep prayer for our parish, incredible support behind the scenes, and training of our pastoral team in the proper way to serve God's people in their vocation to make holy the secular world. When our parish was suffering and struggling, Tom Neal set his shoulder to his own cross, modeling the prayerful life of laity in the ministry work of the Church and supporting our team in their effort to provide better healing, compassion, communication, and guidance to Saint Luke's families.

Cynthia Hingle and her husband, Bob, have served at Saint Luke's parish family with love and faithfulness for many years. Cynthia's beautiful heart and smile have allowed our Cancer Support Group to thrive and help support parishioners and visitors in the difficult struggle, because of her experience as a registered nurse with an extensive oncology background. She has been honored as one of New Orleans 100 Great Nurses in 1996. Her special kindness and generosity have also blessed our parish by her service as a Kindergarten CCD teacher, volunteer coordinator for our annual Family Bash (then referred to as the Fais Do Do), Confirmation Sponsor and Mentor, Family Promise, St. Joseph Altar, and Thanksgiving Basket volunteer, and by her prayers at the Adoration chapel. 

Jeffrey Lopinto has been ushering for over thirty years and is a joyful and generous blessing to our parish family, greeting our parishioners and setting a reverent and prayerful example. As a member of the Saint Luke Men’s Club and the Knights of Columbus volunteers who support our parish's efforts of outreach and welcoming, Jeffery's smile is a contagious witness to the love he holds for the Eucharist, the people of our community, and his family.  Jeffrey is much more than a usher at the 9 am Mass - he provides support and help wherever he can -  for both our clergy and lay people. He loves to work the fish frys,his specially is battering the fish at our Lenten fish frys, and he is also a key member of the doughnut ministry on FIRE mornings! He is a daily Mass attendee and even helps with our First Friday socials following the morning Mass. He has also been honored as the Knights of Columbus Knight of the Month.