The Kindly Light Award

At Cardinal Newman's death in 1890 it was said that he more than any other person had changed the attitude of non-Catholics to Catholics. Many Popes have paid tribute to Newman. Soon after raising Newman to the Cardinalate, Pope Leo XIII stated: 'I had determined to honour the Church in honouring Newman. I always had a cult for him. I am proud that I was able to honour such a man.' At the beatification of Blessed Dominic Barberi, the priest who received Newman into the Catholic Church in 1845. Pope Paul VI described Newman as a man

who had travelled 'an itinerary, the most toilsome, but also the greatest, the most meaningful...that human thought ever travelled during the last century, indeed one might say during the modern era, to arrive at the fullness of wisdom and of peace.' In Coventry in 1982 Pope John Paul II, having described Newman as a pilgrim for truth, told the crowd: 'I commend to you this example of persevering faith and longing for the truth. He can help you to draw nearer to God, in whose presence he lived, and to whose service he gave himself totally... Imitate his humility and his obedience to God'. It was this same Pope who declared Newman Venerable on January 22, 1991.

The "Kindly Light Award", taking its name from one of Cardinal Newman's most well-known poems, was established by the Newman Centre of Toronto in 1996. It is awarded each year to a person who embodies the vision and dream of John Henry Cardinal Newman; to one who is willing to address the major questions of our time in the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; to one who is not afraid to preach and teach and communicate the message of the Gospel and the Church, especially at the University.

The first award was presented in 1996 to Sr. Helen Prejean, C.S.J., of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Medaille [USA]. Through her work, her best-selling book and the Academy Award-winning movie, Dead Man Walking, Sister Helen has become an eloquent spokesperson for life and a leading crusader against the death penalty not only in the United States, but throughout the world.

The second award was presented in 1997 to His Eminence Pio Cardinal Laghi, internationally-renowned Church leader, pastor, and currently the Prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education.

The third award was presented in 1998 to Archbishop Renato R. Martino, Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, in recognition of his untiring efforts for peace and justice throughout the world, for championing the cause of the poor, and for establishing the Newman Centre Internship at the Holy See Mission to the United Nations.

The 1999 Award was presented to Archbishop Carlo Curis, Apostolic Nuncio to Canada, on his retirement from the Vatican Diplomatic Corps, on December 16, 1998 in the Newman Centre Chapel.

In March 2002, the Kindly Light Award was presented in grateful recognition
to those who founded the Out of the Cold program in Toronto. These individuals had a prophetic vision in helping to create a ministry that helps us all to become more sensitive to the poor and homeless on the streets of our city. Award recipients:

• Sr. Susan Moran, O.L.M.,
• Fr. John Murphy, C.S.B.,
• Rev. John Erb
• Original student founders from St. Michael's College School: Kevin Anderson, Allan Dilworth, Pat Dunn, Liz Eustace, Chris and Joanna Foy, Ed Moran, Enzo Sallesse, Craig Smeaton, John Spence, John Paul Teskey, Alex Vernon, Robin Wolf , Chris Zowinir
  
  

Lead, kindly Light, amid th'encircling gloom,
Lead thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home;
Lead thou me on!
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene- one step enough for me.

John Henry Cardinal Newman (1801-1890)