Saint John Henry Newman (1801–1890, canonized 2019)

Cornell Catholic Community's "Saint John Henry Newman Award"

Our Cornell Catholic Community wishes to honor a graduating member of our faith community with the Saint John Henry Newman Award. This graduating senior has exemplified many of the following qualities:

• Creates a welcoming sense of community
• Aids in the appropriation of the Catholic faith and formation of Christian disciples
• Contributes to the formation of Christian Conscience
• Exhibits awareness around issues of social justice
• Has been active in the liturgical and faith life in our Catholic Community
• Helps to facilitate personal development of other students
• Contributes toward the development of future leaders

2020 Saint John Henry Newman Award Recipient, Carl DiFranco

Carl DiFranco has been a dedicated servant leader in many aspects of the Cornell Catholic Community. His leadership and participation helped build the community, inspire other leaders, serve those in need, and act as a role model in being a true disciple of Christ. Carl has been active in the liturgical life of the community as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion as well as a sacristan at weekday liturgies. He is a dependable liturgical minister, and, in addition to always being ready to serve when he is scheduled, he frequently fills in for ministers who were unable to be present. When there became a need for a sacristan to serve at weekday liturgies Carl did not hesitate to step up and help. He faithfully served each week.

Carl has been a part of the student leadership team for years. He has served as chair of the social committee. He has especially put a lot of work into organizing the largest event in our community, Big Red Carnavale, for the last two years. Part of that task included helping guide other leadership team members and event volunteers to make sure the event ran smoothly. He patiently and responsibly worked out the budget, worked with vendors, and collaborated with students. Carl organized this event paying special attention to detail and continuously problem solving.

Another area of ministry that Carl has truly left a mark on is jail ministry. He has consistently been involved in jail ministry and always makes time to go and volunteer. Even if a student has to drop out last minute, Carl is there to fill in. He has expressed how important it is to serve in this way and models that through action and not just words. He is very humble in all the ways he serves, and especially in jail ministry. He has been a person that is assigned to go with students that are newer to the ministry since he has experience and can help set an example. Carl's leadership and presence in the Cornell Catholic Community has been a blessing and he has modeled discipleship. When asked once to share about his experience in jail ministry Carl quoted from Matthew 25:36, "I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." He expressed that his own faith has been inspired and strengthened in the ministry.

Carl’s humility has impacted many lives. He lives out his faith and integrates it into his life, which is an inspiration to us all. It would be hard to count the seemingly small other ways Carl has impacted the community, like the time he has spent in the Catholic offices in Anabel Taylor Hall making people laugh and feel welcome. He is selfless and always eager to help, as for example on fall break in his senior year he volunteered to help at a local food pantry. Carl DiFranco is a testament to the good works that come from faith, to the value of humility, and to the reality that there is always enough time for faith and service.