The Catholic University for Independent Thinkers
Each year before the Landregan Lecture, the School of Ministry hosts the annual SOM Alumni Reunion. We encourage all School of Ministry alumni, both from our graduate programs and from our Catholic Biblical School and other continuing education programs, to attend. This is a great opportunity to reunite with classmates, network with SOM alumni you have never met, and discover how the School of Ministry is positively impacting the Church of North Texas and beyond!
6:00 p.m. | Catherine Hall - University of Dallas
Join fellow alumni in fellowship as we recognize the winners of the Dei Verbum and Lumen Gentium distinguished alumni awards, immediately preceding the 14th annual Landregan Lecture, which will feature Fr. James Martin, S.J.
Please RSVP with your name, your degree/program and graduation year, and the names of any guests to Cindy Worth at cworth@udallas.edu or 972-721-4077.
We are happy to announce that the following distiguished alumni will be recognized for their exemplary service to the local church in general, the work of faith formation in particular, and the larger community, especially the poor and needy.
2012 Lumen Gentium Award - Denise Giegerich Phillips
2012 Dei Verbum Award - Deacon Eduardo & Olga Garcia
Join us in congratulating them! They will receive their awards immediately preceding the Landregan Lecture on December 1, 2012.
Denise Giegerich Phillips earned a master of religious education degree in 1990 as a member of the inaugural class of the Institute of Religious and Pastoral Studies (now the School of Ministry). A long time Dallas resident, she graduated from Bishop Dunne High School before attending the University of Texas at Dallas, where she earned a bachelor's degree in literary studies. She has served as catechist within the Catholic Diocese of Dallas since 1981 and as director of campus ministry at the University of Dallas since 1997. She is also currently the university's acting dean of student life. Phillips earned a professional certification from the Catholic Campus Ministry Association (CCMA) in 2004, and is part of that organization's Speaker Committee. Last June, she was awarded CCMA's John Henry Cardinal Newman Legacy Society Award. During her tenure as director of campus ministry, she collaborated with the School of Ministry to establish the Campus Ministry Graduate Assistant Mentoring Program.
Deacon Eduardo and Olga Garcia graduated from the School of Ministry Catholic Biblical School in 2010 as part of the first Spanish-language class. Members of Fort Worth's All Saints Catholic Church until 1994, the couple is now active at St. Matthew Catholic Church in Arlington, Texas, where Eduardo serves as a permanent deacon. Since 1995, the Garcias have organized two retreats per year for couples who want to con-validate their marriage in the church. Deacon Garcia also provides communion services at correctional institutions, has assisted AIDS victims at John Peter Smith Hospital and serves as a pastoral counselor within the parish, celebrating baptisms, weddings, quinceañeras and funerals. Mrs. Garcia served on the Permanent Deacon Formation Board from 2000-2008. Together, the couple serves their parish as Eucharistic ministers, catechists, presenters and small group leaders.
If you would like to help plan the 2012 reunion or have an idea for another alumni event, please contact us at ministryevents@udallas.edu.
