Julia Greeley Award
In 2006 ENDOW began to recognize women in our Catholic community whose works (religious, spiritual, family, professional, parish, civic) demonstrated in a particular way the Genius of Women as described by John Paul II. As our model, we have selected Julia Greeley. Click here to read her amazing biography.
ENDOW Julia Greeley Award Recipients (see biographies below):
2006: Hanna Nevin
2007: Suzie LaVelle
2008: Elizabeth Wisniewski
2009: Jane Eusterman
2010: Sharon Post
2011: Jennifer Ricard
(From Left to Right: Terry Polakovic, Archbishop Jose Gomez, Hanna Nevin, Elizabeth Wisniewski, and Suzie LaVelle)
ENDOW Julia Greeley Award Recipients:
2006: Suzie LaVelle
Suzie LaVelle is a wife, mother of three, grandmother, Eucharistic Minister and Altar Server at Sacred Heart of Mary Church in Boulder, CO. Through Suzie’s ministry in Real Choices Pregnancy Care Center she felt a deep call to give the unfortunate victims of abortion the dignity and respect they deserve. With the help of Fr. Andrew Kemberling, Suzie embarked on a mission to develop the “Memorial Wall for the Unborn,” a stone monument designed to give recognition to the thousands of abortion victims. In so doing, she honored the memory of these forgotten children, but also subjected herself to intense media scrutiny. Like Julia Greeley who gave of herself for the poor and suffering of Denver, Suzie has also been called by God to help our community. Because of Suzie, women who suffer the deep emotional and psychological scars of abortion have a vehicle for recovery and unborn children receive the rest and recognition they deserve. She exemplifies the highest dignity of womanhood and the true feminine genius that ENDOW seeks.
2007: Hanna Nevin
Hanna Nevin has been a faithful Catholic since her early childhood. She is now 94 years old, and her love for and support of the Church has never wavered. She is a woman who survived very difficult circumstances with joy and a dedication to serve. Hanna, like Julia, perfectly exemplifies the feminine genius by showing what one woman can do to improve the lives of so many others. That is truly our mission at ENDOW.
2008: Elizabeth Wisniewski
Elizabeth Wisniewski is a young adult who authentically lives out her Catholic faith in today’s society. Whether having morality discussions with her coworkers or leading purity talks with teens, Elizabeth’s faith permeates every aspect of her life. Like Julia, Elizabeth is a woman who chooses to fill her free time with activities at the sevice of society and the Church, working actively to bring others to know and love Christ. Elizabeth exemplifies the feminine genius in answering John Paul II’s call to change our culture. In this, she is truly living out our mission at ENDOW.
2009: Jane Eusterman
Jane Eusterman, like Julia Greeley, is a convert to Catholicism. Her father was Catholic, and she was baptized and received her First Communion in the Catholic Church. However, she was subsequently raised Episcopalian. After meeting her husband, Vince, and after a great deal of discernment, study and family support, she decided to complete the process to become Catholic. That was just the beginning of her thirst for knowledge of the Catholic faith. She is the mother of three young adult children who are faith-filled evangelists for the Catholic Church. Like Julia Greeley, she also longs to spread the love of Jesus in small ways. She believes that the “little ways” are women’s feminine genius, and everyone has the opportunity and capacity to make a difference, one small act at a time. In this, she is truly living out our mission at ENDOW.
2010: Sharon Post
Like Julia Greeley, Sharon Post is regarded by those fortunate to know her as a true sister in the Lord. A wife, mother of three teenage sons and a long-time member of St. Thomas More Parish, she is a committed Catholic who takes the call to evangelization seriously. She has donated countless hours to religious education for preschoolers, to substitute teaching at her parish grade school, and mentoring young couples through marriage preparation classes. Sharon has been an enthusiastic supporter of ENDOW from the beginning by both participating in and leading study groups. In recent years, she has chaired ENDOW’s Annual Women’s Conference. To everyone she meets, Sharon brings a spirit of patience and compassion as she listens, offers encouragement, and shares unconditional love. We are proud to know her and pleased to bestow upon her the honor of the Julia Greeley Award.
2011: Jennifer Ricard
Jennifer Ricard has been using her God-given gifts in the service of love and life, spreading the Gospel in her home state of Ohio. Professionally trained as an engineer, she traded the world of aerospace technology for another kind of heavenly calling. Her early days of outreach were spent caring for pregnant and newly delivered moms. She indulged her passion for reading by delving into spiritual classics that shaped her understanding of Catholic theology. She loved John Paul II’s teachings on authentic feminism and theology of the body and when ENDOW came along, she embraced the role of facilitator. In addition to rearing six children with her husband Frank, Jennifer is a spiritual mother to seminarians as well as to the women in her many ENDOW groups. Like Julia Greeley, Jennifer loves worshipping God at daily Mass and faithfully prays for all those entrusted to her.