The diocesan Office of Multicultural Ministries awarded the Fr.
Augustus Tolton and Mother Lange Black Catholic Service Award to Jerry Cousin
at Christ the Redeemer Church in Sterling Nov. 24. The award, given annually to
a person who has worked tirelessly to support the Black Catholic population in
the diocese, was presented at the end of the Mass for Black Catholic History
Month.
Cousin, a parishioner of Holy Trinity Church in Gainesville, was
nominated by his peers and selected by a nomination committee. He stood out to
the committee as a witness of Christ-like humility and a servant to others. He
is an active member of the Knights and Ladies of Peter Claver, the largest lay
organization of Black Catholics, and serves as a mentor to Junior Knights and
Ladies.
Most recently, he created detailed and beautiful traveling
displays of African American men and women with causes for canonization that
have been featured at numerous parishes throughout Black Catholic History Month.
He organized to have fellow Knights and Ladies assist with sharing the stories
from each display. Among the displays, Venerable Father Augustus Tolton and
Servant of God Mother Mary Lange, for whom this prestigious award is named, are
prominently featured.
Wilson is director of diocesan Office of Multicultural
Ministries.
