Accepting the 2008 Vineyard Award from Effingham Catholic Charities, from area director Sister Carol Beckermann, OSF, (center) are Daughter of Charities Sisters Margaret Quinn, Brenda Fritz, Bernadette Forquer and Naomi Libiak.

EFFINGHAM - The Daughters of Charity who began Catholic Charities in Effingham and served at the agency during the past 26 years were honored with the Catholic Charities' 2008 Vineyard Award during the Catholic Charities annual benefit dinner dance held last month at the Teutopolis Knights of Columbus Hall.

Sisters Bernadette Forquer, Brenda Fritz, Naomi Libiak and Margaret Quinn were there to receive the award in person. Unable to attend were: Sisters Marillac Grabinski, Angele Hinkey, Catherine Mary Norris and Beth Ruder.

The Vineyard Award is presented annually by the CC advisory board to those who have shown exemplary effort in promoting the mission and ministries of Catholic Charities in meaningful and substantial ways; helped the agency grow in demonstrative and distinguishable ways; contributed time, talent and treasure to bring to flesh the Gospel of Jesus through CC, and consistently served as an instrument of "healing and empowering presence of Jesus" to those who are struggling and those burdened by poverty.