Joe Swiss receives national service award
Frederick DRE "shocked" by presentation at NCCL Conference.

BUFFALO, NY: It was quite the prelude to "May Day" for Joe Swiss. Before a banquet crowd of over 800 people from all parts of the country, Swiss was surprised by the April 30 presentation of the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership Distinguished Service Award.

The award reads: "The National Conference for Catechetical Leadership presents its 2001 Distinguished Service Award to Joseph Swiss in grateful acknowledgement of his significant contributions to catechetical ministry and in recognition of his longstanding loyalty and support to the Conference." 

"I was initially shocked to receive this award," said Swiss, a seasoned catechetical leader who has been active in the organization for many years.  Names of award recipients are kept secret until the banquet ceremony. Having had some time to recover from his surprise, Joe said that receiving the award gives him a sense of "deep honor":

"The NCCL has been for me a forum in which I have been challenged to grow as a professional DRE," Joe noted. "It is a privilege to belong to and be honored by a Conference that is made up of so many people who are not only so excellent in their field but who are also so  passionate about Catechesis and the sharing of the Good News."

Joe has been involved in catechetical ministry since 1964. He is currently in his 10th year as Director of Christian Formation at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Frederick. He has been a member of the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership for eight years. Joe has served as a Province Rep to the NCCL Representative Council, and a member of the Board of Directors. He is a familiar face to the organization, having worked with many other committees and projects of the Conference.. 

Congratulations, Joe, on an award well-earned!