Fr. Fred Kammer, SJ, Wayne Amedee, Jay Zainey, Evangeline Vavrick, Milton Retif, John Charbonnet,
Christophe Hanemann, Br. John Casey, CFC (for Br. Joe Fragala), Irene Mackenroth, Mary Flick, John Combe

Wayne Amedee is first and foremost an artist. His paintings and sculpture have won many prestigious awards and have been added to major public and private collections throughout the country. Wayne was a founder of the Contemporary Arts Center, is active with the New Orleans Museum of Art, and is on the Board of Longue Vue House and Gardens. For the past ten years he has been among the most active members of Loyola's Visual Arts Visiting Committee. He has been very active in the promotion of a world-class archive of research material on Frère Joseph-Aurélien Cornet, a Christian Brothers missionary who worked for decades to preserve art and culture in the Belgian Congo. Because of Wayne's continuing work on this project, Loyola will become a major international research center in African art. His care for other people and for the cultivation of God's great gifts of beauty and creativity are a unique asset to Loyola and our city.

John Charbonnet and Fr. Harry Tompson, SJ, were classmates at Jesuit High School which explains John's enormous involvement in many of the Jesuit ministries. He worked with Fr. Tompson in the building of the Roussel Center at Jesuit High and with the remodeling of the rectory at Immaculate Conception Church. Answering yet another call from Fr. Tompson, John agreed to oversee the construction of the Good Shepherd School. When it was complete, he then agreed to oversee the maintenance of the building, which he continues to this day. He has served on almost every major committee at Good Shepherd inclucing Capital Campaign Co-Chair and Chairman of the Nominating Committee and is an active and respected Board Member. John has freely given of his time, talents and treasure. He appreciates the mission of Good Shepherd: the school not only educates children who would otherwise receive much less of an education, but it also helps the student's entire family. Through its efforts many parents have been able to further their own education and procure a brighter future for their children. John has truly made a difference in the lives of thes children and their families.

John Combe, Jr. and his wife Lynn became parishioners at Immaculate Conception Church in the 90's joining their friend Fr. Tompson. But John has had a connection with the Church for many years since his childhood when he would go there with his mother following a shopping trip on Canal Street. He is a Lector, a member of the Parish Council, a Board member of the Harry Tompson Center and the toughest job of all—ensures that there is parking for weekend Masses. When asked what makes Immaculate Conception so special, he responds that the spiritual feeling upon entering such a beautiful place is very moving, but even more importantly, the eclectic and heterogeneous group that makes up the parish is the reason this Church experience is so special. People come from all parts of the city and the Northshore to be a part of it.

Mary Flick and her husband Richard have been involved with Boys Hope Girls Hope since its very inception. When Fr. Tompson met with them to ask if they would help make the idea a reality, their answer was an unqualified "yes." Before his death, Richard served on the Board for many years. When there were no donors and no funds for the purchase of the first house, the Flicks solved the problem by buying the house and donating it. Mary has always been active, chairing the Gala serveral times including co-chairing the twenty-fifth anniversary Gala. Her children are also very involved and have chaired the Gala, as well. In addition to her time, she is also generous with her financial support of both BHGH and Good Shepherd School. Mary says she remains involved because, "Boys Hope Girls Hope is such a remarkable program. So many young people have been able to develop their potential when they would not otherwise have had the opportunity. Many of them have gone on to college or the military—all because of Boys Hope Girls Hope."

While Br. Joe Fragala, CFC, was teaching in upstate New York, his Provincial announced plans to send several Brothers to New Orleans to help in the recovery from Katrina. Br. Joe volunteered to come, and he and two others arrived last summer. He had researched several organizations and decided to offer his services to Café Reconcile and didn't have to offer twice. He assists wherever he is needed in the daily operation of the restaurant—rolling silverware, cleaning tables, and helping with food preparation. His main job, as he sees it, is to be a "mentor and an affirmer" of the young people who work there. He works alongside them and listens to their stories."My heart goes out to them. Café Reconcile gives the basics to these kids to prepare them for work in the food industry, but so much more is needed in their lives." He is there to listen and offer advice. He finds the staff at Reconcile to be spiritual and dedicated people. Br. Joe is very happy to be at Café Reconcile, and they are delighted to have him.

Christophe Hanemann made a terrible mistake one month after his graduation from Jesuit High School. In the early morning hours after a night of parties, he decided to drive a friend home. He failed to see a red light and was involved in a crash that left him in a coma for a month and now partially paralyzed. Luckily his passenger and the occupants of the other vehicle received only minor injuries. His job in the hotel industry fills his days, but the empty moments are what capture his attention—pitch and catch with friends, a pick-up ball game, a leisurely jog. He will always be a spectator, never a participant. But something else that's absent from Christophe's life is self-pity. He has used his personal tragedy to help others. He asked himself, "What can I do with this changed, damaged life?" The answer was, "I can tell my story and encourage teenagers not to make the same mistake." As a member of the Charity Hospital Trauma Unit Community Service Team, he has spent twenty years doing just that, speaking to students at Jesuit, Mt. Carmel, Br. Martin and Dominican. This year he adds St. Martin, Country Day, OLA and Blenk/Immaculata to the list. Christophe approaches the students as a peer when he speaks to them and feels like he is indeed making a difference in their lives.

Irene Ernst Mackenroth was born in New Orleans but grew up in Arlington, Virginia, where her father was the Chief of Procurement for the Armed Forces during WWII. She and her deceased husband Donald have three children. She is the owner of Econotax which is a bookkeeping and tax service for the elderly. Her association with the Jesuits began when she attended a Jesuit retreat while a student at Sacred Heart. She came to Holy Name of Jesus Parish in the 90's when her good friend Fr. Paul Schott was active in the parish and has been a very involved member ever since. Irene has served on the Parish Council, the Liturgy Committee, and as Treasurer of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. She is a Funeral Minister, a Lector and an Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister. In short, she responds to any need that arises. Irene remains involved because of her love and respect for the Jesuits. "They are truly men for others. They instill in us a love of God and a desire to help others."

Milton Retif was educated at Jesuit High School. He attended Tulane University on a baseball scholarship and has been honored with induction into the Tulane Athletic Hall of Fame. When the baseball program was in jeopardy of dropping to a lower competitive level and while attempting to establish his own business, Milton agreed to become the head coach, a position he held for almost a decade. He has been described as a take-charge type of person, someone who works tirelessly to achieve his objectives and as a "life coach." He attributes his success to the good people who helped and encouraged him in his youth and to all of the great people with whom he has worked in his charitable endeavors. Milton was the driving force behind securing the necessary financing to build a multimillion dollar presentation facility, Loyola Hall, at Manresa House of Retreats. He serves as Co-Captain of a retreat group that has met for over thirty years and is on the Board of Directors at Manresa. He has also been on the boards of various high schools and religious orders throughout New Orleans serving with dedication and skills learned from his days at Jesuit High. He has assisted with fundraising for an adoration chapel in Mexico and helped reopen one of the first Catholic Churches in Kiev, Russia. He is described as "a mentor, consultant and friend, truly a person for others."

Evangeline Vavrick has had a life-long association with the Jesuits. Her parents counted many Jesuits as friends, frequently entertaining them for dinner and taking many on fishing trips. They were "almost family." She attended Loyola University and went on to graduate from Loyola Law School. Over many years she has served on the Board of the Province, the Jesuit Volunteer Corps Board, the Loyola Law School Visiting Committee, and on fund-raising committees too numerous to mention. She has been on the Jesuit Province Development Advisory Board and is currently serving on the Capital Campaign Committee. Evangeline helps with "all things Jesuit," whether serving on Boards or hosting luncheons. She is "a phone call away, a phone call for good counsel, sound thinking and a balanced view—all aimed at fulfilling the Gospel mandate to serve the least among us."

Judge Jay Zainey was reading the Immaculate Conception Parish bulletin in May of 2004 when an article on the Harry Tompson Homeless Center caught his interest. He called Fr. Tom Stahel to see how he could be of service and the HELP (Homeless Experience Legal Protection) program was born. Locally, HELP is a group of 450 attorneys from some very prestigious law firms who volunteer their time to consult with the homeless and offer legal advice on a variety of issues. They go to where the homeless are—at the Harry Tompson Center, Ozanam Inn, and the N.O. Mission. Over one hundred people per month receive aid at the Harry Tompson Center alone. The success of the program is widely acknowledged and has led to similar programs in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, New York, Chicago, Savannah, and Atlanta. Plans are also underway for new programs in New Haven, Columbia, Charleston, and Little Rock. Yale and Fordham Universities have also expressed interest. The program's success is measured not ony by the assistance given to the clients but also by the effect it has on the volunteers. One attorney expressed his amazement that homelessness was not always the result of lack of ambition and laziness as he believed. "I've learned that circumstances can strike so that despite one's best efforts, a roof over one's head and a job are impossible to maintain." Jay's passion for helping those most in need leads him to advocate tirelessly on their behalf.