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The Saint Pio Foundation honors Sen. Rick and Karen Santorum, Msgr. John Enzler

Msgr. John Enzler, a native Washingtonian, has served more than 40 years as a priest, leader and advocate serving the needs of the most vulnerable. JOE CASHWELL | FOR THE CATHOLIC HERALD

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Actor Joe Mantegna was one of the special guests at the awards ceremony. JOE CASHWELL | FOR THE CATHOLIC HERALD

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The Saint Pio Foundation honored former Pennsylvania Senator Rick
Santorum, his wife, Karen, and Msgr. John Enzler, president and CEO of Catholic
Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington, with the Saint Pio Awardat St. Ann Church in ArlingtonMay 21. The foundation presents this
award each year to individuals whose selfless and outstanding contributions
serve as extraordinary examples of providing relief from suffering to those in
need.

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Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum and his wife Karen were recipients of the Saint Pio Award at St. Ann in Arlington May 21. JOE CASHWELL | FOR THE CATHOLIC HERALD

Rick and Karen, his wife of almost 27 years, are the parents of
seven children. 

In 2012, the Santorums co-founded Patriot Voices, a grassroots
online community of Americans committed to finding ways to restore the American
dream for hardworking families.

They also co-authored The New York Times
best-seller Bella’s Gift: How One Little Girl
Transformed Our Family and Inspired a Nation
that chronicles the
story of life with their special-needs youngest child who was born
with Trisomy 18, and wasn’t expected to survive beyond a few weeks. Bella
turned 9 in May, and her miraculous life has strengthened Rick and Karen’s
belief in the dignity of each and every life.

Msgr. John Enzler, a native
Washingtonian, has served more than 40 years as a priest, leader and advocate
serving the needs of the most vulnerable in our community. Catholic Charities helps more than 120,000
people in the metropolitan region annually. 

The ceremony commemorated the 130th anniversary of St.
Padre Pio’s birth and the 15th anniversary of his canonization, and
included official relics of the saint for veneration. See photos from the veneration at St. Ann

Special guests included
actor Joe Mantegna and Bishop Emeritus Paul S. Loverde. 

Find out
more

Go to
Saintpiofoundation.org or call 203/416-1471.

To see and buy photos from the St. Padre Pio relics tour go to catholicherald.smugmug.com.

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