The late Brian Doyle, whose connection with the Congregation of Holy Cross spanned over 40 years until his sudden passing in the spring of 2017, has received a posthumous 2017 Spirit of Holy Cross Award. Given annually to lay collaborators of the Congregation of Holy Cross, United States Province of Priests and Brothers, the award recognizes those who devotedly work to fulfill Blessed Basil Moreau’s vision and mission to “make God known, loved, and served” a reality at the Congregation’s education, parish, and mission apostolates.
Brian graduated with a degree in English from the University of Notre Dame in 1978, and after positions with U.S. Catholic magazine and Boston College magazine, Brian accepted a position on the Bluff as editor of Portland magazine, which he served with talent, creativity and joy. In 2005 the magazine won the Sibley Magazine of the Year Award, the top national honor for publications in higher education advancement. His volumes of fiction and nonfiction alike attracted a dedicated following, and his honors included an Oregon Book Award and the 2017 John Burroughs Medal for distinguished nature writing for his book Martin Marten. Brian blessed the Holy Cross Community with his friendship, and served as a mentor to many.
He joins the following 2017 Spirit of Holy Cross Award winners:
- Nancy Conroy of Holy Cross House in Notre Dame, Ind.
- Paul Fujawa, lifetime member of St. Casimir Parish in South Bend, Ind.
- James Kramer, associate director of development for the United States Province and the former Indiana Province since 2004.
- Pedro Pablo Miranda, manager of St. George’s College since 2004.
- Mary Nucciarone, director of financial aid at the University of Notre Dame.
- Benito Salazar, who has served for more than 40 years as director of the “Celestial Choir” at St. Adalbert Parish in South Bend, Ind.
- Lucyann Skvarla, who is in her 40th year of service to King’s College, where she began in 1978 as assistant for the humanities and social sciences faculty in Hafey-Marian Hall.
The honorees will be recognized in their local communities by the Holy Cross ministry for which they work during the month of January as part of the celebrations of Blessed Moreau’s life. At that time, they will receive a proclamation of gratitude signed by Rev. Thomas J. O’Hara, C.S.C., Provincial Superior, on behalf of the entire U.S. Province.