Omaha Evening of Gratitude 2024 Joanne Fisher, IVC Omaha Regional Director, Fr. Greg Carlson, SJ, Fr. Larry Gillick, SJ, and Becky Ehrman, IVC VP Region and Program Development October 20, 2024.
Omaha held its second Evening of Gratitude on Sunday, October 20, 2024. This year’s Madonna Della Strada Award recipients were Fr. Greg Carlson, SJ, and Fr. Larry Gillick, SJ, Creighton University’s Jesuit Community members. The afternoon program was held at Creighton Preparatory High School in the Sullivan Commons.
Featured as a way of introduction to all that the two men have contributed to the success of Omaha Ignatian Volunteer Corps was a film titled THL471. This film was originally produced to focus on a unique course the two Jesuits teach at Creighton University accompanying students through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius in one semester. Understanding how the average individual can practice Ignatian Spirituality and how St. Ignatius intended his exercises to be used in everyday prayer life as a focus of the course helped the attendees comprehend what the two men live out daily. Teaching a new way to pray and hear the working of God in one’s life desires was echoed repeatedly in the film by multiple student testimonies and colleague accolades showcasing the easy camaraderie of these two Jesuits. To have an understanding of how much the understand the growth of the Omaha region, Becky Ehrman, VP of Programs and Region Development and past Omaha Director shared anecdotal memories of membership on the Advisory Council, leadership for numerous Lenten Mornings of Reflection, and continuous promotion of service through the Ignatian Volunteer Corps. In their remarks, the honorees updated those gathered with information on how the course changed the trajectory of at least two lives students shown in the film, and humbly accepted the Madonna Della Strada Award. Joanne Fisher asked the crowd to honor and recognize 17 Omaha Service Corps Members who have served for 15+ or more and 10 or more years of service, with closing gratitude and remarks made by Mary McGinnity, CEO.