Describing them as a hardworking and generous couple being honored for selfless giving, Msgr. Raymond E. Riffle introduced Janice and Michael Walker of Holy Family Parish, Latrobe, as the recipients of the Communities of Salt and Light Award for philanthropy.
"This award is granted to those who have truly placed themselves in the service of the church," Msgr. Riffle said.
He cited a limited list of the organizations the Walkers have supported: their parish; Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic School, Latrobe; the diocese’s Scholarship Partners Foundation; Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Greensburg; ordained ministry in the diocese; Saint Francis University in Loretto; the diocese’s World Youth Day pilgrims; the Diocesan Lenten Appeal; and the successful "Today’s Challenge ~ Tomorrow’s Hope" Capital & Endowment Campaign for the Diocese of Greensburg, which they helped lead at both the diocesan and parish levels.
In his remarks, Michael Walker thanked his and Janice’s many family members and friends who attended the dinner, calling them "fellows in faith sharing."
"You see, Janice and I did nothing more than what you, so many of you, taught us" sometimes just like in the Liberty Mutual commercial on television, "when you didn’t know we were watching."
Their family and friends were asked to be at the banquet, he said, to "thank you for being our light and thank you for sharing your gifts." He thanked their parents — Marge and the late Art Grant and John and Francine Walker — for "being our light and sharing your gifts."
"Seeing God’s work being done through so many," Walker asked how could he and Janice "not give generously to God and his people."
"There are hundreds of examples," he said, "where your faith, your example, moved Janice and I to increase our faith and caused us to share our gifts with those in need.
"Without you, all of you, sharing what God gave you, without your light, Janice and I are not at this dais."
He thanked Janice for her love, kindness, forgiveness and strength of faith, without which "it is not possible that I would stand here."
He then turned to their three sons — Gregory, Jonathan and Tyler — and future daughter-in-law — Valerie — and encouraged them to have a relationship with God by making quiet time in their lives to get to know God so "you will be a light to others."
Walker concluded by saying he and Janice were accepting the recognition on "behalf of all those here who are our salt and light" and giving the award to their three sons and future daughter-in-law "in hopes that our example may teach them, and they in turn may teach their children and so on for generations that God loves them, blesses them beyond measure" and "to freely and generously give to those in need."