What Would the Church do Without its Volunteers and Educators?

The Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women is honoring eight lay women for their volunteer work with the organization, their parishes and their communities. The women represent hundreds of years of combined service in ministries that range from assisting at fundraisers, food shelves and fish fries, to volunteering at schools, parish festivals and prayer gatherings.

Two men at Risen Christ School in Minneapolis were honored recently for their service to the school. Dick McGuire and John Friel were among 18 “extraordinary school volunteers” in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa honored by Minnesota dairy company Kemps. The honor included a $500 donation to the school.

Louie Mitteco of Totino-Grace High School was honored with the Outstanding Educator Award for his decades-long commitment to academics and extracurricular activities. Mitteco has 49 years of experience in Catholic education — 10 at St. Charles Borromeo in St. Anthony in addition to his 39 at Totino-Grace, where he has taught physical education, coached various sports teams and currently serves as director of athletics and transportation.

Margaret Hankes of St. John the Baptist School in New Brighton was honored with the Distinguished Teacher Award. The English teacher, profiled in the Jan. 26 edition of The Catholic Spirit, credits her 36 years of success to a love of grammar and literature as well as her sense of humor. Catholic Spirit