2027

Bishop's Award for Service

Nomination Form

Nomination Guidelines

Nomination guidelines

Pastors and parish administrators may nominate parishioners whose dedicated, selfless volunteer service merits the Bishop's Award for Service to the Church. Please review every requirement before completing the form below.

Nominations must be received by October 1, 2026

Nominees must be

  • Baptized
  • Confirmed Catholics
  • Active participants in Sunday Mass at your parish
  • If married, validly married in the Catholic Church
  • Over age 18
  • A registered member of your parish for more than one calendar year
  • A Catholic in good standing, not under canonical penalty and free from scandal
  • A volunteer who does not receive financial compensation from your parish or any other parish for full-time, part-time, or contract/stipend employment
  • Current on Safe Environment requirements. Diocesan policy requires criminal background checks for volunteers who work with children and vulnerable adults.
  • Previously unrecognized. Nominees may not be former recipients from your or any other parish. A volunteer may receive this award only once in a lifetime.

Please review before submitting

Por favor, revise antes de enviar

  1. The individual must be a Catholic in good standing, at least 18 years of age, who has rendered dedicated, selfless, faithful volunteer service to your parish.

    El ministro debe ser un católico en buen estado con la Iglesia Católica, de por lo menos 18 años de edad, que ha ofrecido un servicio voluntario dedicado, desinteresado y fiel a su parroquia.

  2. Parish staff, or anyone compensated in any way by the Church, are not eligible.

    El personal parroquial, o cualquier persona que recibe compensación monetaria de la Iglesia, no es elegible para ser nominado.

  3. Nominations must be completed and signed by the pastor (not delegated to staff).

    Las nominaciones deben ser completadas y firmadas por el párroco o administrador parroquial (no delegadas al personal).

  • Do not inform nominees

    Letters will be sent to approved recipients.

  • Upload a written recommendation

    The form asks for a document describing the basis for the nomination.

  • Allow time to upload

    Please stay on the page until you see the confirmation that your submission is complete.

Questions? Contact the Ministries Office at [email protected] or call 214-379-2800. This celebration is made possible by the Bishop's Annual Appeal.

Submit Your Form

Please Review Before Submitting | Por favor, revise antes de enviar

• Individual must be a Catholic in good standing and, at least 18 years of age and should have rendered dedicated, selfless, faithful volunteer service to your parish. | El ministro debe ser un católico en buen estado con la Iglesia Católica, por lo menos 18 años de edad, y que ha ofrecido un servicio voluntario dedicado, desinteresado y fiel a su parroquia.

• Parish staff persons or anyone compensated in any way by the Church are not eligible. | El personal parroquial, o cualquier persona que recibe compensación monetaria de la Iglesia no son elegibles para ser nominados.

• Nominations must be completed and signed by the Pastor (not delegated to staff). | Las nominaciones deben ser completadas y firmadas por el Párroco/ Administrador Parroquial (y no delegado al personal).

Saturday, April 24, 2027 · 10:00 a.m.

Honoring the faithful who serve our parishes

Inaugurated in 2012, the Bishop's Award for Service to the Church recognizes the great work and true sacrifice of lay men and women in the Diocese of Dallas.

Recipients are practicing Catholics and exemplary volunteers, known for their public witness to the faith. Each spring, Bishop Edward J. Burns celebrates a Mass in their honor at the National Shrine Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Learn more about the award Watch the 2026 Mass