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Spirit of Holy Cross Award

Elise Moentmann Receives Spirit of Holy Cross Award

The Congregation of Holy Cross, United States Province has honored Interim Provost Elise Moentmann for her service as a lay collaborator in the University of Portland community with a 2023 Spirit of Holy Cross Award.

The award is given annually to lay collaborators for the critical role they play to “make God known, loved, and served” through the Congregation’s education, parish and mission settings. The Congregation of Holy Cross honored nine award recipients this month in regions across the United States and three continents.

“I am thrilled that my dear friend and colleague is receiving the Spirit of Holy Cross Award,” said University of Portland President Robert D. Kelly. “Stated simply, Elise embodies all that we cherish as a Catholic, Holy Cross institution. She is endlessly devoted to student well-being and success; she views faith and reason as our God-given tools for discovering truth; and she approaches all that she does with zeal, hope and good humor.”

Since 2018, Moentmann has served as UP’s Associate Provost for Academic Affairs. In December, President Kelly tapped Moentmann to serve as Interim Provost, filling that key role as Herbert A. Medina returned to teaching and scholarship in UP’s Department of Mathematics.

A widely respected University of Portland leader since joining the Department of History in 1998, Moentmann came to the Provost’s office after serving as Associate Dean for Students in the College of Arts and Sciences. Her prior roles include Chair of the Department of History and Director of UP’s Summer Salzburg Program. 

Moentmann has proven her commitment to the Holy Cross vision of Catholic education as an advocate for mission-fit hiring. The Spirit of Holy Cross award recognizes her leadership across campus — including work on Title IX initiatives, the UP Care Team, and as co-chair of institution’s COVID-19 Steering Committee.

“She is an extraordinary lay collaborator to the priests and brothers of Holy Cross with whom we labor on The Bluff, and she is a remarkable witness to her Christian faith,” Kelly said. “Elise is wonderfully deserving of this honor, and I offer her my deepest congratulations.”

“I am incredibly honored to receive the Spirit of Holy Cross Award,” Moentmann said. “It embodies my own vision of teaching that moves beyond the classroom to accompany students along their journey of discernment while at UP to find not only a job, but a sense of purpose for both their professional and personal lives that reflects their values and a desire to serve others.”

2019 Spirit of Holy Cross Awardee: Thomas Greene

The Congregation of Holy Cross, United States Province of Priests and Brothers, will award the Spirit of Holy Cross Award to retiring University of Portland provost Thomas Greene. Greene is among the five 2019 recipients announced by the Congregation’s United States Province Office. Greene, who has served UP as an instructor, administrator, professor, and leader for more than 35 years, recently announced his plans to retire at the end of the current 2019-2020 academic year.

The award is given annually to lay collaborators who faithfully serve the Province in the United States and abroad. The Spirit of Holy Cross Award acknowledges the critical importance lay collaborators play in living out the vision and mission of Holy Cross founder Blessed Basil Moreau to make God known, loved, and served through education, parish and mission settings.

For more information contact the Holy Cross office at x8203 or colee@up.edu.

2018 Spirit of Holy Cross, Blessed Basil Moreau Feast Day, Jan. 20

All University of Portland community members are invited to celebrate the feast day of Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C., founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, on Sunday, January 20, at the 4:30 p.m. Mass in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher. Madeline Doll is the recipient of the 2018 Spirit of Holy Cross Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Congregation upon its lay collaborators. Madeline worked for many years as an administrative assistant in the Congregation of Holy Cross office at Holy Cross Court and retired several years ago.

The award is given annually to lay collaborators of the Congregation of Holy Cross, United States Province of Priests and Brothers. The award recognizes lay collaborators who devotedly work to make 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. Honorees receive a proclamation of gratitude signed by Provincial Superior Fr. William M. Lies, C.S.C.  on behalf of the entire U.S. Province.

For more information, contact Campus Ministry at x7131 or ministry@up.edu.

 

Spirit of Holy Cross Awards, Blessed Basil Moreau Feast Day, Jan. 20

All University of Portland community members are invited to celebrate the feast day of Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C., founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, on Saturday, January 20, at 10:30 a.m., in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher. Brian Doyle will be honored posthumously as a recipient of the 2017 Spirit of Holy Cross Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Congregation upon its lay collaborators.

The award is given annually to lay collaborators of the Congregation of Holy Cross, United States Province of Priests and Brothers. The award recognizes lay collaborators who devotedly work to make 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. Honorees receive a proclamation of gratitude signed by Provincial Superior Fr. Tom O’Hara on behalf of the entire U.S. Province.

For more information, contact Campus Ministry at 7131 or ministry@up.edu.

Spirit of Holy Cross Award for Brian Doyle

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.

Spirit of Holy Cross Award, Blessed Basil Moreau Feast Day, Jan. 20

U of P

All University of Portland community members are invited to celebrate the feast day of Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C., founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, on Friday, January 20, at 5 p.m., in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher. Sr. Sue Bruno, OSF, residence life, will be honored as a recipient of the 2016 Spirit of Holy Cross Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Congregation upon its lay collaborators.

The award is given annually to lay collaborators of the Congregation of Holy Cross, United States Province of Priests and Brothers. The award recognizes lay collaborators who devotedly work to make 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. Honorees receive a proclamation of gratitude signed by Provincial Superior Fr. Tom O’Hara on behalf of the entire U.S. Province.

For more information, contact Campus Ministry at 7131 or ministry@up.edu.

Sr. Sue Bruno, OSF, Receives 2016 Spirit of Holy Cross Award

U of P

Sr. Sue Bruno, OSF, resident director of Fields Hall, has received a 2016 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.

Sr. Bruno is a member of the Franciscan religious order. She is in her fifth year at UP as Fields Hall director, and spent 15 years at the University of Notre Dame working in a variety of capacities, including as the rector of Pasquerilla West Hall, in campus ministry, as the women’s basketball team chaplain, and as a member of the Moreau Seminary Formation Board. She also served on the selection committee for the Alliance for Catholic Education for 15 years, and was a founding member of the Standing Committee on Gay and Lesbian Student Needs Committee. Sr. Bruno served in congregational leadership with the Joliet Franciscans for four years. She has a bachelor’s degree in English literature from College of St. Francis, Ill., and a master’s of social work from Loyola University of Chicago.

“Sr. Sue has been a faith-filled and extraordinary collaborator with Holy Cross at the University of Portland and at the University of Notre Dame,” according to Rev. John Donato, C.S.C., vice president for student affairs. “For twenty years she has given herself entirely to the service and support of her resident students, truly knowing and understanding them and providing a great example of religious life. She has led the Encounter with Christ retreats, been a formation staff member for seminarians, and quite simply, has been an excellent friend to so many of us. Sr. Sue and I are in our fifth year of service in Fields Hall and I could not be more proud of her. I am honored to call her my colleague and friend.”

The 2016 Spirit of Holy Cross Award recipients are:

  • Jim Kavanagh, administrator at Corby Hall (Notre Dame)
  • Diane Welihan, administrator at Moreau Seminary (Notre Dame)
  • Enedina Cruz, housekeeping supervisor for all local houses at Notre Dame
  • Sue Bruno, OSF, resident hall director of Fields Hall (University of Portland)
  • Anne Noone, secretary president, John Ryan, C.S.C. (King’s College)
  • Ken Percy, union steward for facility workers (Stonehill College)
  • Suzanne Wewi, retiring principal of St. Joseph Grade School (South Bend, Ind.)
  • Mary Flood, former religious education coordinator at Sacred Heart-St. Francis de Sales (Bennington, Vt.)
  • Ted Dunne, longtime associate of Andre House (Phoenix, Ariz.)
  • Wayne and Diane Murdy, donors of the new organ in Sacred Heart Basilica (Notre Dame).

The Holy Cross community at University of Portland will formally honor Sr. Bruno at a Mass and dinner in January 2017 as part celebrations of Holy Cross founder Blessed Basil Moreau’s life. Honorees will receive a proclamation of gratitude signed by Provincial Superior Fr. Tom O’Hara on behalf of the entire U.S. Province.

For more information contact the Congregation of Holy Cross at 503.943.8024 or vocation@up.edu.

Blessed Basil Moreau Feast Day, Spirit of Holy Cross Award, Jan. 20

webKaren_Eifler copyAll University of Portland community members are invited to celebrate the feast day of Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C., founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, on Wednesday, January 20, at 5 p.m., in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher. Karen Eifler, co-director of the Garaventa Center, will be honored as a recipient of the 2015 Spirit of Holy Cross Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Congregation upon its lay collaborators.

The award is given annually to lay collaborators of the Congregation of Holy Cross, United States Province of Priests and Brothers. The award recognizes lay collaborators who devotedly work to make 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. Honorees receive a proclamation of gratitude signed by Provincial Superior Fr. Tom O’Hara on behalf of the entire U.S. Province.

For more information, contact Campus Ministry at 7131 or ministry@up.edu.

Karen Eifler Wins 2015 Spirit of Holy Cross Award

eiflerEducation professor Karen Eifler, co-director of the Garaventa Center, has received a 2015 Spirit of Holy Cross Award. The award is given annually to lay collaborators of the Congregation of Holy Cross, United States Province of Priests and Brothers, and recognizes lay collaborators who devotedly work to make 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.

Eifler is widely published in her field and has earned several academic awards in recent years, including the first national Collegium Visionary Award in 2014, the Culligan Medal for Faculty Service in 2014, and the Deans’ Award for Faculty Leadership and Outstanding Teaching in 2000. Eifler joins fellow award winners Susan Simmonds, executive assistant, Provincial Office in South Bend, Ind.; Scott Malpass, vice president and chief investment officer, University of Notre Dame; Robert Ell, first director of alumni relations at King’s College; Jim and Louise Kenneally of Stonehill College; and Linda Jones, business manager, Holy Cross Parish, South Bend, Ind.

The Holy Cross community at University of Portland will formally honor Eifler at a Mass and a dinner in January 2016 as part of the celebrations of Blessed Moreau’s life (Father Moreau died on January 20, 1873 in Le Mans, France). Honorees will receive a proclamation of gratitude signed by Provincial Superior Fr. Tom O’Hara on behalf of the entire U.S. Province.

Celebrate Feast of Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C., Jan. 20

moreauAll University community members are invited to celebrate the feast day of Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C., founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, on Tuesday, January 20, at 5 p.m., in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher. Political science professor Gary Malecha will be honored as a recipient of the 2014 Spirit of Holy Cross Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Congregation upon its lay collaborators.

For more information contact Campus Ministry at 7131 or ministry@up.edu.