Still partnering with parishes throughout Ventura County!

Due to circumstances in our county and the world this year, we were unable to host our traditional Partners in Service dinner with all of our county parishes. Instead, we hosted our 20th annual Partners in Service Awards as an online video event!

A huge thank-you to all of our participating parishes, who took the time to film their awards presentations and support Catholic Charities of Ventura County once again!

We streamed the video presentation live on Sunday, May 16th, but the video is available on our YouTube channel!
All of our honorees this year are posted below, please check out their smiling faces and wonderful stories! 

Michael Gallardo and Trish Friou

Our Lady of the Assumption, Ventura

Mike and Trish are generous and enthusiastic proclaimers of the Gospel. the live The Good News of Jesus by their service to family and the parish community. They say their "Yes" to the Lord by their commitment in marriage. They companion many through our Baptism Prep Program, Marriage Preparation Ministry, and as sponsors and presenters during the Christina Initiation programs (RCIA). Mike is a Eucharistic minister and sacristan while Trish serves on our Pastoral Council.

Bill and Margaret Santangelo

St. Maximilian Kolbe, Westlake Village

Bill and Margaret have been with St. Max's for the past 16 years. Bill is a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society as well as the Deputy Grand Knight for the Knights of Columbus. He has been instrumental with many projects including the Easter basket preparation for Catholic Charities in Moorpark. Margaret is involved in everything from Eucharistic ministry to CCD to Women's Bible Study. She founded the Prayer Shawl Ministry that helps to provide the homeless with warm clothing, blankets, hats and scarves during the winter.

Armando and Eva Vigil

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Oxnard

Armando and Eva were married on May 29, 2004, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish. They have three daughters Fatima 16 years old, Yesenia, 14 years old, and Clarissa, seven years old. Their older daughter is part of the parish Choir, and in 2017 they joined the Media Ministry. They are a family committed to the service of the Parish and the service of God. They are instruments of God, and through their ministry, they transmit the word of God to the whole world.

Martin Calderón

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Oxnard

My name is Martin Calderón from Guanajuato, Mexico; it is my pleasure to help the church. My parents taught me to be helpful to others, especially when I can.  I would not say I like to go around showing off when I do something for others. As I was asked to serve, I couldn’t refuse. Thank you for giving me the opportunity and the trust you have in me.  I always say God knows what I do, and for that, I thank God and the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe: I am catholic, and I will continue in my catholic faith until God gives me life.

Lucy Bolognino

St. Rose of Lima, Simi Valley

Lucy is the parish receptionist, and helps with our Christian Service program that helps serve families in need of food. She also volunteers extensively with her husband at parish school.

Pauline Simpson

St. Rose of Lima, Simi Valley

Pauline is our Director of Religious Formation and serves on the parish Pastoral Team. She also runs the Christian Service program, taking care of all the paperwork etc and interfacing with Food Share in Ventura.

Bob and Liz Watanabe

St. Jude the Apostle, Westlake Village

Bob and Liz have been blazing new trails for and with us at St. Jude's in areas of evangelization, RCIA, and Adult Faith Formation. They've made themselves indispensable in the area of Liturgy.

Kathleen Paul

St. Jude the Apostle, Westlake Village

Kathleen has been a mover and a shaker in Liturgy. But she has also been that essential person, always in the background in so many parish ministries and organizations, who does the loving service and extends the hidden kindness.

Alan and Karin Hill

St. Peter Claver, Simi Valley

Alan Hill serves as St. Peter Claver's Safeguard the Children Chairperson, as well as facilitating the VIRTUS sessions. Alan and Karin together have been very active in Boy Scouts for many years, impacting the lives of many children and their families. Both also serve as ushers each week at Mass. Along with the usual duties and warm hospitality, ensure safety for all attending Mass, and doing the sanitizing of the church after the Mass they served, during this Pandemic.

Norma Joyce

St. Peter Claver, Simi Valley

In February 2012, St. Peter Claver Parish partnered with Food Share Ventura County. Norma was one of the first to come forward to volunteer in distributing food to the hungry and those in need. She has continued serving every week, quietly and humbly. She has been reliable and by her example of serving, has touched many of the other volunteers as well as those she has served.

Guadalupe y Ana Ruvalcaba

Mission Basilica San Buenaventura

Guadalupe has ushered at the Saturday evening Spanish Mass for as long as anyone can remember and he supports the faith formation of the Hispanic community by promoting monthly prayer booklets. Ana in the past was an active member of the Spanish Prayer Group at the Mission. Together Ana and Guadalupe have care for their daughter who has special needs. Thus they have witnessed by their love the respect and dignity for all human life.

Gloria McGill

Mission Basilica San Buenaventura

We are grateful to Gloria for her beautiful ministry as a Catechist for over twenty-five year, inculcating the faith to children to form them for life as a disciple of Jesus. Thus, you have witnessed by your love the respect and dignity for all God's children.
A special thank you to all who made this video possible:

Bishop Robert Barron
Fr. Leon Hutton
Fr. Riz Carranza
Fr. Joseph Shea
Catholic Charities of Ventura County Advisory Board
Fr. Thomas Elewaut
Joseph Gloor, Word on Fire
André Fox Productions
...and many more!

Support Catholic Charities and Partners in Service

While we are unable to host our awards dinner this year, Catholic Charities is still open and serving those in need around Ventura County. To support our efforts in honor of the 20th annual Partners in Service Awards, please click below!