b'FA L L 2 0 2 3VOLUMEXXXVIIISSUE 3T H Evisit our website: www.catholicfoundation.comGEORGIAANDMARCLYONS N A M E D 2024C AT H O L I C F O U N D AT I O N AWA R D H O N O R E E SGeorgia and Marc Lyons, South Louisiananeed, says Matt Kramer, president and CEO natives, college sweethearts and long-timeof The Catholic Foundation. Raised with a supporters of Catholic churches, schools andstrong moral compass, Georgia and Marc place major philanthropic campaigns in Dallas, willtheir Catholic faith at the center of all they do be honored as the 41st annual recipients of Theas volunteers and leaders to promote Christian Catholic Foundation Award on February 10.values and support Catholic education.The Lyons, married 51 years, parents ofThe Lyons met in college as Georgia two children and members of All Saints Catholicearned a bachelors degree in education from Church since 1985, are being recognized forNicholls State University in Thibodaux, La., their decades of leadership and engagement injust south of her hometown of Plaquemine. numerous diocesan and parish-based initiativesMarc, born in Crowley, La., attended Midland that have enhanced the quality of life for manyHigh School in West Texas, then earned a people. bachelors degree in quantitative management For more than four decades, Thewhile lettering on the Nicholls State golf team.Catholic Foundation Award has recognizedThe two met on a Friday night blind an individual, couple or family for theirdate during their freshman year and married distinguished service and support to furtherin 1972. In 1973, Marc began his career in the the religious, charitable and educational needsindividual reservations can be purchased onoil and gas industry working at Texaco and throughout the local Catholic community.our website. Georgia began teaching at Catholic schools in The Catholic Foundation Award DinnerGeorgia and Marc beautifully modelNew Orleans. There, they had their first child, will take place at the Hilton Anatole Hotel.how laity in the Catholic Church can make aKristen, now 49 and working at a Richardson Jane and Don Hanratty, recipients of the 2017significant impact in the way churches, diocesanpreschool. Son Greg, 43, who works in the film Catholic Foundation Award, are the 2024schools and nonprofit organizations grow and Award Dinner committee chairs. Table andplace heightened attention in critical areas of(continued on page 4THE PRESIDENTS LETTER and they want to give them back in His honor. Still more claim that their The support that The Catholic Foundationexperience at some of the nations oldest and most prestigious Catholic provides donors to help streamline and maximizeuniversities helped shape and form the way they now live as adults.their charitable giving reinforces to me daily theBy definition, Catholic laity are the ordinary members of the impact that laity have upon the Catholic Church.Catholic Church who are neither clergy nor recipients of Holy Orders or Im encouraged by Bishop Burns, a trustee of thevowed to life in a religious order or congregation. Lay people enhance Foundation, who often says that we cannot dotheir Diocese in many ways, including service on advisory boards and what we do in the Church without the laity. commissions, acting as volunteers and providing advice to pastors and As I meet regularly with local pastors, I hear reinforcing commentsDiocesan employees.from them about how lay people are vital to the health of ourIm proud of the laity who do great things as they walk by faith and community. During a Diocese of Dallas Synod listening session Ilive obediently to Gods Word. When ordinary people do extraordinary attended, the involvement of laity was encouraged and made its presencethings and are in tune with promptings of the Holy Spirit, they become known through the participation of a diverse mix of people. the light of the world.In this edition, youll read how actively engaged our 2024 CatholicAs we enter the holiday season and reflect upon the Nativity, we Foundation Award recipients, Georgia and Marc Lyons, are by way ofstep outside the Churchs Ordinary Time into the liturgical season of the numerous programs and projects they support at both the parish andAdvent. As we know, extraordinary things happen during Advent. Im Diocesan level. No one told Georgia or Marc they had to give of theirgrateful for lay faithful who play a vital role in the governance of the time, talent and treasure. They do so out of service and love of their faithChurch through their involvement every week of the year.and desire to serve others. Keep up the great work, and may the festive season of November Therein defines the character of so many donors of The Catholicand December offer you ways to be all the more extraordinary.Foundation. Many of our donors learned the joy of giving by watchingTogether we are the church. Together we are the Foundation.\heir parents. Others give back to the community because of hardships they overcame in life. Others recognize that all good gifts are from GodJ. Matthew Kramer'