The Pope Leo XIII Award Gala 2019
The Inaugural Pope Leo XIII Award Gala 2019 and Fundraising Dinner was held at The Yale Club in Manhattan on December 9th. We are thrilled to have hosted our 3rd annual gala on the 130th Anniversary of The Leo House. There were over 250 guests in attendance arriving from many parts of the city, as well as NJ, CT, TX, IL, WI, PA, NC, MA, MI, and VA.
2019 Gala Honorees
The Pope Leo XIII Award
The Pope Leo XIII Award goes to a clergy or religious person who best embodies the values and accomplishments most exemplified by Pope Leo XIII. The 2019 recipient of the Pope Leo XIII Award is Mother Dolores Hart, O.S.B., of the Abbey of Regina Laudis. Mother Dolores Hart, OSB, recently celebrated her Golden Jubilee of 50 years of vowed life on September 17th, 2016. She is a nun at the Abbey of Regina Laudis, which is a contemplative order of 40 Benedictine nuns.
Mother Hart may be best known as Elvis’ love interest in “Loving You.” She was also his first on-screen kiss! Due to her rising popularity after that film, she went on to star in 9 more productions. until she left behind Hollywood to take holy vows. Hart remains a member of the Academy of Mother Picture Arts and Sciences, known as ‘The Academy.’ To this day, she is the only nun to be an Oscar-voting member (wikipedia.org).
In 2012, she attended the Oscars on behalf of the HBO documentary, “God is the Bigger Elvis,” which was nominated for an award. View the trailer of the documentary, ‘God is the Bigger Elvis,” here.
St. Raphael Society Award
The St. Raphael Society Award is given to a lay person who has personified an exemplary Catholic life of personal accomplishments and influence. The 2019 recipient of the St. Raphael Society Award goes to John Allen, Jr., founder of CRUX Catholic Media.
The Mission Partner Award
The Mission Partner Award goes to an outstanding business partner. This partner has demonstrated a sustained commitment to the mission of The Leo House through the donation of goods and/or services. The 2019 Mission Partner Award goes to Patricia Scanlon of Catholic New York, America’s largest Catholic Newspaper.
Keynote Speaker
The Keynote Speaker for the 2019 3rd Annual Pope Leo XIII Award Fundraising Dinner Gala is Monsignor Kevin Sullivan. Kevin is the Director of Catholic Charities of New York.
The Pope Leo XIII Award Gala is an annual dinner and fundraising event where The Leo House community gathers to honor the recipient of the Pope Leo XIII Award, among other honors and awards. Past events recognized special people in the community including his Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan, his Eminence Sean Cardinal P. O’Malley, O.F.M., Cap., Mother Dolores Hart O.S.B., Mary Higgins Clark, Fr. James Martin, S.J., and more.
What is the Pope Leo XIII Award?
The Pope Leo XIII Award is administered by The Leo House Board of Directors through its Board Selection Committee. We notify recipients and celebrate them at our annual gala.
The award recognizes Catholic clergy, religious, and lay persons or organizations that best embody the ideals and values cherished by the late Pontiff, Pope Leo XIII.
The award also recognizes those who have served faithfully to advance and enhance the pontifical legacy and heritage of Pope Leo XIII.
The Pope Leo XIII Fundraising Gala 2019 Gallery
Mother Dolores Hart O.S.B., The Abbey of Regina Laudis, accepting the Pope Leo Award
Mother Dolores Hart O.S.B., The Abbey of Regina Laudis, speaking at The Pope Leo XIII Award Gala
Mother Dolores Hart O.S.B., receiving The Pope Leo XIII Award from Maria Cooper Janis.
Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, Director, Catholic Charities, New York (Keynote Speaker)
John Allen, Jr., Editor, cruxnow.com (St. Raphael Society Award recipient)
Thomas Farley, Master of Ceremonies
Patricia Scanlon, Catholic New York (Mission Partner Award Recipient)
Patricia Scanlon, Catholic New York (Mission Partner)
Notable guests at The Pope Leo XIII Award Fundraising Dinner Gala 2019
The Pope Leo XIII Award Fundraising Dinner Gala 2019
The Yale Club – featuring The Pope Leo XIII Award Fundraising Dinner Gala 2019 by The Leo House
Guests at The Pope Leo XIII Award Fundriasing Dinner Gala 2019
Maria Cooper Janis
Mother Dolores Hart, OSB, Recipient of The Pope Leo XIII Award 2019
Mother Dolores Hart, OSB, signing autographs.
Warren LeCruise of The Leo House of NYC
Michael Coneys of The Leo House of NYC
Father Ed Conway, Leo House Chaplain
More Information About the Pope Leo XIII Award Gala 2019
History of The Pope Leo XIII Award
The Pope Leo XIII Award is administered by the Leo House Board of Directors through its Board Selection Committee. The award seeks to recognize the Catholic clergy, religious and lay persons, or organizations that best embody the ideals and values most cherished by the late Pontiff. The award also recognizes those who have served faithfully to advance and enhance the pontifical legacy and heritage of Pope Leo XIII. The Pope Leo XIII Award remains the only national award in the United States honoring the name of a pontiff.
History of The Pope Leo XIII Award Gala
The origin of the Pope Leo XIII Award in the United States connects to the Archdiocese of Chicago and Bishop Bernard J. Sheil (1888-1969). Sheil, founder of the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) in 1930, devised and initiated the award. After Bishop Sheil’s death, the award continued until 1978 when it was discontinued. No Pope Leo XIII Award has been presented in the United States since that time.
About Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII (1878-1903) is the oldest-serving pope to date (reigning until his death at age 93). In addition, he holds the third-longest pontificate behind Pope Pius IX and Saint John Paul II. Due to his issuing eleven Papal encyclicals on the subject of the rosary, he is known as the “Rosary Pope.” Championing intellectualism, he attempted to define the Catholic Church in modern thinking. He inspired the Catholic faith in the youth around the world.
Standing up for the rights of workers, he supported fair wages, safe working conditions, and the formation of unions. Pope Leo XIII influenced Roman Catholic Mariology, or the system of study of the person of Mary, mother of Jesus. Pope Leo XIII was a tireless friend and protector of German immigrants arriving in the United States, specifically in New York.
Welcome to The Leo House
A Letter from the President
The Leo House is a nonprofit Catholic guesthouse dedicated to offering affordable and temporary accommodations. People of all faiths are welcome and we host a variety of guests including clergy and religious, persons visiting the sick, students, and travelers from the United States and abroad. Many of our guests come from foreign countries. Originally established and based in the Battery Park area of New York in 1889 by papal certification by Pope Leo XIII, The Leo House moved in 1926 to 23rd Street in the Chelsea section of Manhattan, one of the liveliest and safest neighborhoods in New York City.
The Board of Directors, The Leo House staff, and I invite you to visit with us and enjoy the wonders of New York City at a reasonable cost.
Sincerely,
Michael Coneys
Chairman and President, The Leo House
What Makes The Leo House Unique?
The Leo House is owned and operated by its own Board of Trustees consisting of laity, religious and clergy people committed to upholding the spirit of Christian hospitality in the midst of a busy city.
The Leo House is affiliated with Catholic Charities within the Archdiocese of New York, one of the largest Archdioceses in the United States.
In collaboration with devoted laity, the Sisters of St. Agnes of Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, have served as managers and ministers of Christian hospitality at The Leo House since its founding in 1889. Many religious dignitaries have stayed at The Leo House.
Our staff members are devoted members of the Leo House Community. Many have been employed for over 10 years and continue to be valuable contributors to the success of our establishment.
The staff at The Leo House looks forward to a bright future of continued success with expanding the number of rooms, renovations and improvement in all guest services.
Highlights About Our Guesthouse
Complementary Hot Breakfast
The Leo House serves a complementary hot breakfast served daily Monday – Saturday 7am-10am.
Onsite Chapel
The most unique attribute of The Leo House is its onsite chapel where you can attend mass three times per week at 7am.
Peaceful Spaces
Enjoy the peaceful garden and other communal spaces including a chapel, dining room, board room and business center.