Franciscan Retreats: History of the Award

History of The Franciscan International Award

Each year the Order of Friars Minor Conventual presents an award to an individual or to an organization which is committed to serving the Ideals of Christ, especially as they were proclaimed by St. Francis of Assisi. This Franciscan International Award is presented yearly by the Conventual Franciscans on behalf of the Franciscan Retreat House, Prior Lake, Minnesota.

The Franciscan Order was founded in 1209 as an Order within the Roman Catholic Church by St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis had many devoted friends and benefactors among the inhabitants of his native Italy. Many of these were especially honored by being awarded honorary membership with the Franciscan Order. So, from the very beginning of the Order, individuals who served others in an outstanding way were given a "Franciscan Award" for their acts of charity. That custom endures to the present day and was the basis for reestablishing the Franciscan International Award In 1959.

The recipient of the award is requested to be present for the Award Presentation that takes place during a banquet, usually held in the Minneapolis-St Paul area. The recipient is requested to give a few words (25 minutes) of acceptance. The acceptance speech may properly express the work of the recipient who merited the Award. The banquet both recognizes the accomplishments of the recipient and promotes Franciscan Retreats. Any profits realized from the ticket sales help support Franciscan Retreats in Prior Lake.

The actual presentation is made by an official of the Franciscan Order, either by the Minister General of the Order or his delegate. The Archdiocese of the Saint Paul and Minneapolis is represented at the Award Presentation by the Archbishop or his representative.

The award itself consists of a walnut plaque and shield bearing the Franciscan Coat of Arms, with the proper information about the recipient of the Award.

PAST RECIPIENTS
OF THE FRANCISCAN INTERNATIONAL AWARD

1959 Mr. and Mrs. I.A. O'Shaughnessy -- Family Life

1960 Archbishop William Brady - Journalism

1961 Mr. Lawrence Welk - Family Entertainment

1962 Mr. Charles Kellstad - Business

1963 Dr. Finn J. Larsen - Science

1964 Dr. Charles W. Mayo - Medicine

1965 Mr. Ara Parseghian - Athletics

1966 Mr. F.K. Weyerhaueser - Conservation

1967 Alcoholics Anonymous - Social Service

1968 Mr. James T. Griffin - Promoting Ideals Among Youth

1969 Mr. George Harris - Promoting Civic Welfare

1970 Baroness Catherine DeHueck Doherty - Womanly Virtue

1971 Mr. Harry Reasoner - Communications

1972 Dr. Billy Graham - True Ecumenism

1973 Dr. & Mrs. J.C. Wilke - Pro-Life Movement

1974 Governor Patrick C. Lucey - Criminal Justice Reform

1975 Mr. and Mrs. Joe Rigert - Interracial Justice

1976 Dr. B.F. Pearson, M.D. - Healing Ministry

1977 Mr. Francis MacNutt - Spiritual Healing

1978 Dr. Mildred Jefferson, M.D. - Pro-Life Movement

1979 Fr. Bruce Ritter, O.F.M. Conv. - Youth Ministry

1980 Mr. John E. McCarthy - Work in Refugee Affairs

1981 Fr. William B. Wasson - Work with Orphaned and Disabled Children

1982 Lorand and Anna Andahazy - Classical Arts

1983 Fr. Urban Wagner, O.F.M. Conv. - Founder of Franciscan Retreats

1984 Gerald and Patricia Mische - Global Awareness Education

1985 John Michael Talbot - Contemporary Christian Music

1986 Wilko B. Schoenbohm - Service to the Disabled

1987 Sesame Street Staff - Excellence in the Education of Children

1988 Sister M. Giovanni, SSND - Work with Today's Youth

1989 Rabbi Max A. Shapiro - Work in Jewish-Christian Dialogue

1990 Loaves and Fishes Too - Feeding the Hungry

1991 Madonna Kerber - Volunteer Work with Prisoners and the Disadvantaged

1992 Father Kenneth J. Roberts - Catholic Priest\Evangelist

1993 Sisters of St. Clare - Dedicated Lives of Prayer and Contemplative Living

1994 Carolina Mata-Woodruff - Advocacy for Migrant Workers

1995 Rainbows for all God's Children - Healing for Those Who Grieve

1996 Archbishop John Roach - Outstanding Church Leadership

1997 Marty Haugen - Composer of Liturgical Music

1998 National Evangelization Teams - Catholic Youth Ministry

1999 Habitat for Humanity - Housing for the Poor

2000 Mary Jo Copeland of "Sharing and Caring Hands" for mobilizing help to the poor.

2001 Janet Krocheski -- For Leadership for Life.

2002 Friars Regis Armstrong, Bill Short, and Wayne Hellmann, for Franciscan Scholarship

2003 Sister Helen Prejean -- Advocate for those on Death Row, their victims, their families, and the families of their victims.

2004 Jacob Wetterling Foundation -- for promoting and protecting the integrity of children.

2005 Camp Heartland -- for providing summer recreation to children with HIV/AIDS

2006 Worldwide Marriage Encounter -- for supporting and celebrating Marriage

2007 The Knights of Columbus -- for service to one and all.