BELMONT — Leonard Leo, executive vice president of the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy, has been named the second recipient of the Benedict Leadership Award. The award, given by the Benedict Leadership Institute at Belmont Abbey College, was presented March 22 at Belmont Abbey College.
The Institute selected Leo for his dedication to the defense of religious liberty both in the United States and abroad and for his personal witness to the sanctity of human life.
Leo was appointed by President George W. Bush to three terms to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom as chairman, during which time he traveled to Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Sudan and Vietnam to assess country conditions on religious freedom.
“While your life displays numerous reasons for being worthy of the Benedict Leadership Award, the committee wished to honor and highlight your leadership in a few areas in particular: your defense of religious liberty and your personal witness to the sanctity of life,” wrote the Benedict Leadership Institute’s executive director, Conor Gallagher, in his selection letter to Leo.
“These are areas of great concern to Belmont Abbey College. It is our hope that your award will bring attention to those persecuted for their religious beliefs and to the dignity of all people, especially the disabled and the unborn.”
The Benedict Leadership Institute was founded in 2016 to develop and inspire Catholic leaders to transform society in light of their faith. The Benedict Leadership Award, given annually to recognize outstanding men and women whose achievements reflect the heroic leadership of St. Benedict, is a key activity of the institute.
Recipients deliver a public address in their area of leadership, and are presented with a $10,000 cash award.
— Sarah McPeek, Benedict Leadership Institute
Pictured are (from left): Dr. William Thierfelder, president of Belmont Abbey College; award recipient Leonard Leo; Benedictine Abbot Placid Solari of Belmont Abbey; and Conor Gallagher, executive director of the Benedict Leadership Institute.
CLEMMONS — Father John Eckert, pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury, offered “Called to Sainthood: Holiness a Day at a Time,” a Lenten retreat for women at Holy Family in Clemmons.
Approximately 100 women from across the diocese and other locations attended the day-long retreat Feb. 24.
Hosted by the Bishop Greco Columbiettes 9499, the retreat also included Mass, lunch, reflection time on the beautiful grounds of Holy Family Church, Eucharistic Adoration and the opportunity for the sacrament of confession.
During his talk about sainthood, Father Eckert said the Church’s standards are indeed very high and can be particularly challenging when it comes to unpopular teachings. “That’s why that high standard is coupled with unfathomable mercy,” he explained.
He also advised the group to avoid getting “bogged down” by recurrent struggles in the quest for holiness.
He encouraged everyone to examine the reasons for such roadblocks while avoiding being overly harsh or scrupulous.
“Think about where you were five years ago, 10 years ago. Sometimes, if you take that macro view, you’ll see that you’ve changed quite a lot. God works little by little. We get bogged down, and we may get tired, but God never gets tired of pouring out His mercy. Why? Because He looks at us and loves us,” he said.
“If we can hold onto that and spend time every day looking at our life through that lens of love and not be afraid of what’s there, being willing to confront it with the help of Our Lord, the help of the saints and the grace of the wonderful sacrament of confession, we’ll be fine. Ultimately, it’s all about us becoming saints, and that means eternal happiness with God.”
— Annie Ferguson, correspondent
Pictured: A number of Father John Eckert’s Sacred Heart parishioners traveled to Clemmons to hear more from their pastor on the universal call to holiness. Pictured (from left) are Pat Kobylus, Judy Hinkley, Father Eckert, Tere Freiberger and Renee Washington. (Annie Ferguson | Catholic News Herald)