Five men and women with long careers of service to the local church and community were honored Feb. 4 with the Cardinal's Award at the annual dinner, held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Additionally, nearly $500,000 was raised for Sagrado Corazon y Santa Maria de Guadalupe Church in Cudahy, this year's Awards Dinner beneficiary. The money will be used toward helping build a church for parishioners, who currently worship each weekend in an open-air facility that offers only partial cover.

The five honorees --- Deacon Hosea Alexander, Mary Pat Cooper, Fran Curry, Dr. Clyde Von der Ahe and William Wardlaw --- were honored "for their selfless service and outreach to others," Cardinal Roger Mahony told those in attendance. "And by honoring them, we honor all of you for the work that you do."

Alexander, a member of the initial class of permanent deacons ordained for the archdiocese in 1975, expressed his gratitude "for bestowing this honor on all deacons and their wives. I pray that we will be living signs of servitude of Christ's church."

Other honorees likewise expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to serve. "I feel humbled and honored," said Cooper, director of development at the Maryvale orphanage in Rosemead. "Alone we can do so little, but together we can do so much."

"My life has been blessed by tremendous experiences," said Curry, a retired nurse and fulltime volunteer in numerous ministries at St. Monica Church, Santa Monica. "I pledge to serve this great community for as long as I can."

Von der Ahe joked that he had a headache "from my halo being too tight," but noted that he, like many honorees over the years, wondered why he had been selected. "So many more are more deserving," he smiled, "especially Peggy, my bride of 55 years."

Wardlaw, an attorney who has been active in the Cathedral development process and with Catholic Charities, summarized the feelings of all. "My involvement in these activities has been so rewarding," he said. "I am certain I have received much more than I have put in, and I feel blessed to have had the opportunity."

---Mike Nelson