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Day 1 Opening
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Day 4- Close
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Awards-CCL Convention 2004
Romeoville, Illinois

Konald A. Prem Award is given to Certified Teaching Couples who, as volunteers, have done exceptional work for the advancement of marital chasity and NFP.

TC Mitch & Lee Walski of Greenbush, MN, have done a great job of promoting the CCL Clergy Seminar in the Crookston Diocese. They recruited a total of five priests and two deacons to attend the November 2003 Clergy Seminar. They also sent a nurse practitioner to the September Physicians Seminar. In April 2004, at the request of the Walski's and diocesan officials, CCL Central hosted a two-day Clergy Seminar in the Diocese of Crookston.

TC Paul & Barb Donovan of New Hampshire, with their Bishop's support, organized a Clergy Seminar, the Humanae Vitae Conference, in 2003 linking contraception to abortion. The conference ran 4 days with 250 attendees, and it included a 2-day priest's conference and a morning workshop for laity. Speakers included Brain Murphy (God's Plan for Life), Fr. Matthew Habiger, 3 NFP witness couples and 3 NFP-only doctors. Thirty-five priests, 6 seminarians and 4 deacons attended.

TC Rob & Sandy Polocz of Arvada, Colorado were certified in the spring of 2001. They have taught 34 series to both English and Spanish speaking couples with a total attendance of over 269 couples. The Polocz were married in August 1997, and they have two children.

TC Tom & Heather Bress have been teaching for 5 years in the Divine Child Parish in Dearborn, Michigan. They have spoken at youth & family gatherings, on Catholic Radio, at NFP Parish Outreach Weekends and at the Happy Marriages and Vibrant Parishes Conference for priests, deacons, and laity, sponsored by the Metro Detroit Chapter.

TC Richard & Mary Bresowar of Gonzales, LA served as District Coordinators in the Baton Rouge District for a number of years. They were the leadership that helped pilot a program of NFP for marriage prep under the previous bishop. They have led the teachers and promoters in the Baton Rouge District, and Richard and Mary are frequently involved when priests come to visit the district.

St. Paul Evangelization Award is given to CCL Promoters for exceptional work in promoting CCL and NFP. The couples should be volunteers.

Promoters Chuck & Linda Biewer of St. John's, MI are an excellent example of what "behind-the-scenes" couples can do to promote NFP far and wide. The Biewers, parents of six children, prefer to stay in the background, but their efforts are far reaching. The Biewers faithfully keep our diocesan Engaged Encounter Program stocked with pamphlets about NFP, getting the word out to many couples who might otherwise never hear about it. Chuck has created and maintains a website (www.ccl-mi.org) that lists a schedule of all CCL classes in Michigan. The Biewer's were responsible for the recording and editing of the Lansing Clergy Day tapes.

Promoting Couple Ted & Kathryn Groening of Midland, MI faithfully contact every Teaching Couple in the State of Michigan at least twice a year to generate the statewide Michigan NFP class schedule. This schedule enables couples on both peninsulas to find the nearest class. It also helps clergy working with the engaged to easily refer couples to NFP classes during marriage preparation, even when they live in different parts of the state.

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 teachers or promoters, and they can be in a paid position. This would include clergy, layworkers, etc.

Rev. Thomas Voorhies began making NFP a normative part of marriage prep as an Associate Pastor in Lafayette, LA. He was the first priest in the diocese to do this, even before the pilot program began in 1993. Father Voorhies has been ordained for 15 years and is now a pastor in Eunice, LA.

Rev John Higgins of Garnerville, NY sent 28 couples from his parish to attend NFP Classes (he personally paid for 13 couples) in 2003. Two couples from that original group are now preparing to become teachers. He is dedicated to educating couples on the Church's teaching regarding sexuality and marriage.

Bishop Jerome E. Listecki clearly explained and proclaimed the Church's teaching on contraception and sexual morality both to his seminary students as Professor of Moral Theology at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary and as Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago. For many years Bishop Listecki was instrumental in sending numerous couples he married to NFP classes.

Rev. Thomas R Koys clearly teaches the beauty of NFP, the evils of contraception and the need and benefits of chastity. Father Koys has faced opposition for his clear preaching about the Church's teaching on sexual morality, yet he has continued to speak the truth. Father Koys has served as chaplain of the Chicago CCL Chapter for many years.

TC Joe & Cinda DeVet have taught NFP for many years. They have been CCL certified for 8 years, taught with the Diocese of Patterson, NJ for 7 years and are passionate about spreading the good news of NFP. Last year they taught 13 series, for a total of 107 couples in Houston, TX. All 5 of their married children use NFP. One daughter is in the process becoming certified, and another daughter was certified last year.

Special Awards - to be announced

5/24/2004