Father Frank Ruff
Glenmary Father Frank Ruff received the annual James E. Fitzgerald Award from the Catholic Association of Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers (CADEIO), recognizing his years of commitment to ecumenical ministry. The award was given during the National Workshop on Christian Unity, May 3-6 in Anaheim, California.
Father Frank’s ministry included a focus on ecumenism for more than 50 years before he retired from Glenmary’s Ecumenical Commission in 2021. His work focused on improving ties with Southern Baptists, and for many years he was the only Roman Catholic presence at the annual convention of Southern Baptists.
CADEIO’s Fitzgerald Award is named for the late Monsignor James Edward Fitzgerald from the Amarillo (Texas) Diocese. Father James was an early leader in the ecumenical movement in Texas. Nominations for the award are received from the rolls of diocesan ecumenical and interreligious officers, past and present. Since the award was established in 1979, 46 individuals or organizations have received the honor, including four cardinals.
Glenmary Director of Ecumenism Nathan Smith hosted a workshop on Catholic/Evangelical Dialogue at the same conference. Nathan has taken a torch that Glenmary has carried since its beginning, recognizing that Catholics can be a leaven for Christian unity in the communities we serve.