University President Fr. John Jenkins received the Spirit of Francis National Award at the Metropolitan Club in New York on Oct. 22, according to a University press release. Jenkins was honored “for his role in supporting and encouraging future leaders of the Catholic Church throughout his career at Notre Dame,” the release stated.
The award was given by Catholic Extension, a national fundraising organization which support Catholic dioceses throughout the United States, the release stated. Catholic Extension has partnered with the University on a variety of initiatives.
“Since its founding over a century ago, Catholic Extension has served the most isolated and poorest places in America, and now most ably under the leadership of its president, Fr. Jack Wall,” Jenkins said in the release. “Notre Dame is proud of its association with Catholic Extension and honored to be recognized by so revered an organization.”
According to the Catholic Exchange website, the award was established in 2014 to honor individuals and groups that have significantly aided the Catholic Church in the United States, “in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, Pope Francis and the founder of Catholic Extension, Fr. Francis Clement Kelley.”
