Bishop Hubbard, three deacons honored by diaconate association

Published: 2004-05-18

CHERRY HILL, N.J. (CNS) -- Bishop Howard J. Hubbard of Albany, N.Y., received the William Philbin Award from the National Association of Diaconate Directors recently to honor his leadership in the quality and growth of the diaconate. The award, given in recognition of contributions to the permanent diaconate on local and national levels, is named for the late Father William Philbin, who assisted with designing and implementing the diaconate in the Archdiocese of Chicago and died in a 1972 plane crash on his way to the ordination of Chicago's first deacons. The award was presented during the association's 28th annual convention, held in Cherry Hill in April. Also presented at the convention were the Bart O'Leary Awards, named for a retired deacon in Honolulu who served two terms as association president. Honored were Deacon Enrique Alonso of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Deacon George Miller of the Archdiocese of St. Louis and Deacon Thomas C. Welch of the Diocese of Rockford, Ill.

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