Special Awards
CCL Convention 2006
Konald A. Prem Award is given to certified Teaching Couples who, as volunteers, have done or do exceptional work for the advancement of marital chastity and NFP.
1. TC 1279 David & Cristina Banda from the Denver Chapter. David & Cristina have taught 22 series and 127 couples in the Basic Spanish Program since they were certified in 2000. The Bandas have given generously of their time in the Spanish Teaching Training Seminars held in Denver, as well as assisting candidate couples with their certification process.
2. TC 1597 Isidro & Maria Mejia of Irrigon Oregon have taught 8 series and 44 couples since their certification in 2002. They have traveled to many parishes, more than four hours away from their home, to instruct couples in the Basic Spanish Program.
3. TC 1575 David & Anna Niles of Broken Arrow, OK have been teaching five series a year for the past four years. They have sponsored CCL information tables at church health fairs and at the Oklahoma City Men’s Conference. They have spoken about marital chastity and the CCL classes following their pastor’s homily on Sunday morning. Anna promoted NFP through the Diocesan Family Life Office as a volunteer for one year and as a part-time employee for another year. Her duties included calling on OB/GYN and Family Practice doctors similar to a pharmaceutical rep. She did in-service training for the staff and provided brochures, food and follow-up. Anna was a speaker at a program for women’s health at St. John’s Medical Center. David and Anna are goodwill ambassadors for CCL and NFP wherever they go.
St. Paul Evangelization Award is given to CCL Promoters for exceptional work in promoting CCL and NFP.
1. PR Howard & Mary Mead of Monona Wisconsin, where Mary is the current treasurer of the Madison Chapter and she publicizes the CCL classes by sending out postcards, bulletin announcements, and articles for the Diocesan paper, ads, radio announcements, brochures and CCL posters. In addition, Howard assists with computing needs. Mary also reserves the classroom, coordinates refreshments and childcare, if needed. Mary also serves as a “facilitator” for two Abortion Recovery Programs – Rachel’s Vineyard and Forgiven, and Set Free Bible Study for Care Net Pregnancy Center. Mary served on the Diocese of Madison NFP Committee for 5 years. The Meads have been married for 34 years and have two grown children.
2. PR Mike & Rosanne Sloan have been promoters for 21 years in Rio Rancho, NM. Rosanne puts all the announcements in the local bulletins and the archdiocesan weekly bulletin. She also coordinates the Pre-Cana requirement of an “Introductory NFP session” for all engaged couples. Rosanne reserves the classroom, provides refreshments, and arranges to have the meeting room open the night of the NFP class for TC 185 Jose & Elvira Guillen. The Guillens report that they could not teach and be a part of the CCL ministry if it were not for promoters Mike & Rosanne Sloan.
Edward A Keefe Award is given in recognition of work done in the medical or scientific advancement of NFP.
1. TC 1780 Jeff & Katy Appelhanses of Colorado Springs, Colorado have been a CCL Teaching Couple for 2 years. Jeff is a High School History Teacher and Katy teaches piano at home. The Appelhanses have two children and are expecting their third child in August, 2006. They have played a major role in assisting the local Bishop Michael Sheridan in mandating the full NFP course in the Diocese of Colorado Springs. Katy and Jeff were also instrumental in contributing to the new and improved features of the chart booklet and class visuals.
Herbert A Ratner Award is given to those who have excelled in teaching and/or promotion of NFP. It differs from the Prem Award in that the awardees do not have to be certified CCL volunteers (they can be), and they can be in a paid position.
1. Rev. Richard Hogan was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on July 31, 1951, the oldest of six children. He attended Catholic grade school and high school, graduating summa cum laude from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul in 1973 with a B. A. in history. The next year was spent studying history at the University of Munich in Germany on a Fulbright Grant. Returning to the Twin Cities, Fr. Hogan attended graduate school at the University of Minnesota earning a M.A. and Ph.D. in medieval history in 1975 and 1978 respectively. He was ordained a Roman Catholic priest for the Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis in 1981.
Fr. Hogan is co-author of two books, Covenant of Love and Is NFP Good? along with his classmate, Rev John M. LeVoir, also of the Archdiocese of St. Paul. The two priests assert that the late Pope John Paul II has a new way of presenting the Catholic faith more appropriate to our century. Fr. Hogan has recently written another book, The Human Body…a sign of dignity and a gift.
Fr. Hogan works for Natural Family Planning Outreach of Oklahoma City, which is a comprehensive clearinghouse for accurate, practical, up-to-date information on NFP. Fr. Hogan also is a faculty member for the CCL Physicians Seminar and was instrumental in reviewing the “pilot project materials” for the new CCL Course. Fr Hogan is currently serving as the “final editor” of the new CCL Course.
2. TC 421 Tony & Julie Skokna of Chicago, IL have just this month hit their 25th anniversary as CCL teachers, and they have taught 416 couples. That in itself is impressive, but they are primarily being awarded the Ratner Award based on Julie's unselfish efforts behind the scenes in helping re-build the CCL website, and Tony's unwavering support of Julie's work on this project. For the last several years Julie has used her website design, programming, and hosting business to help create CCL's multi-layered, database-driven website, which has allowed us to project a more professional appearance to the public and to connect with more people in more ways. Julie has toiled countless hours, probably the majority of them in the wee hours of the morning, is always timely in her responses, and never fails to offer suggestions to make things work better. We are grateful that the entire Skokna family has given of themselves by sharing their time and talents with CCL.
Special Awards cover a multitude of things, i.e. Convention Chair Couples, anything not covered above.
1. Chaircouple of CCL Convention 2006 and TC 453 Tom & Kathy Nauman have been CCL teachers for the last 25 years. The Naumans learned NFP from long-time teacher TC 246 Kermit & Mary Ann Heinz of Peoria, Illinois. The Naumans were certified in November of 1981 and had 22 couples at their first class. In 1982 they moved to Little Rock, AR where they taught at least five series a year. They formed a “Prayer Watch” and, as a result of their hard work and dedication there are now 15 CCL Teaching Couples and 10 promoters in the Diocese of Little Rock, which geographically covers the State of Arkansas.
