Record Staff Report
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) recognized 22 new volunteers, known as Vincentians, and honored “the top three Vincentians” at a ceremony held late last month at St. Agnes Church.
The society presented the St. Vincent de Paul Top Hat Award to Ken Kirn, a volunteer for St. Raphael Church’s St. Vincent de Paul Conference. The award is the highest honor presented by the society’s Conference Affairs Committee. It is presented to a person who “exemplifies the spirit of SVDP’s founder, Frederic Ozanam,” according to an announcement from the society.
According to the announcement, Kirn gives about 10 hours a week at SVDP’s food pantry near downtown Louisville. He is also active in the Christmas Food Basket Drive and helps organize cookouts for residents of SVDP’s shelter.
“Ken is always the first to arrive and the last to leave, with a smile on his face and a kind word to speak to each client visiting the pantry,” the announcement said.
SVDP also honored Jim Koerber of Corydon, Ind., with the St. Vincent Award. The honor is presented to a Vincentian “who, like St. Vincent himself, has dedicated his life to supplying non-judgmental and supportive service to people in need,” the announcement said.
Koerber visits people seeking assistance in their homes each month and delivers food baskets at Thanksgiving. He is also credited with reviving an SVDP parish conference in Corydon, recruiting 12 new members.
Sue Taylor of Elizabethtown, Ky., received SVDP’s Ozanam Award “for serving as a role model, not only for fellow Vincentians, but also for the broader faith community,” the announcement said.
“She has an unwavering way of making people feel good even in bad situations,” the announcement said.
Taylor is active in her parish conference, having recently served as president, and is involved in the Room in the Inn warming shelter in Elizabethtown. The shelter is sponsored by several area churches, including Taylor’s parish, St. James Church. Taylor helps clients check-in.
Following is a list of the 22 people inducted into the society as Vincentians and the parish conferences to which they belong.
Holy Trinity Church — Elizabeth Stanis.
St. Dominic Church, Springfield, Ky. — Eric Cambron, Rebecca Carrico, Susan Koester and Cathy Taylor.
St. Patrick Church — Kathi Johnson.
St. Paul Church — Deborah Carlisle.
St. Peter the Apostle Church — Donna Cox, Jerry Cox, Emily LoChirco, Penny Pierce, Denise Shawver.
St. Raphael Church — Sean Eisert, John Huckleberry, Bill Lippy, Kenyon Meyer, Beth Miles and David Winkler.
St. Brigid and St. James churches — Joan Owens and Sue Gerstle.
St. Michael Church — Sandy Woods.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, New Albany, Ind. — William Brewer, Danielle Luecke and Joann Murphy.
