2001 ACP Benefit

This year, again, the ACP Benefit is held at the Flossmoor Country Club; the date is September 15, 2001. For the evening, the Master of Ceremonies is Senator Patrick O'Malley, currently a pro-life candidate for Governor of the State of Illinois.

The celebration begins with the hymn Lord of All Life, found in both the Leaflet Missal and the American Catholic Hymnbook.

Dr. Eugene & Rosemary Diamond, with Father Gilligan, after the Diamonds received the Gratiam Dei Award, the highest honor of American Catholic Press. Dr. Diamond is nationally known as an author and speaker. He is a professor of pediatrics at Loyola University. Rosemary Diamond has long directed the work of Birthright-Chicago, a service to young mothers and mothers-to-be. Both are honored this day.

Bishop Jerome Listecki says grace, speaks briefly, and then gives his episcopal blessing.

From the left are Don Wernicke, John & Mary Wernicke. Don is the uncle of Pat Gnaster and John Wernicke.

This are two close relatives of the Diamonds, mother and child.

From the left are Betty Rutkowski, Bill & Loretta Cleary, Georgeen Bouras, and Mary Lou Chiaporri.

Tony & Mary Ann Veeneman, with Heidi Cipriano.

Father Tony Brankin, pastor of St. Thomas More Church in Chicago. He is an accomplished musician, harpmaker, and sculptor.

Jack and Eileen Mahoney, during the reception before dinner.

Frank and Joan Termini. Joan is the manager of ACP.

Father Michael Boland with his parents. Father Boland is the head of Catholic Charities. He comes to dinner with 13 other people. Support Catholic Charities!

Mr. & Mrs. Robert O'Hare

From the left are Yvonne & Warren Daubenspeck, with Suzanne Vorwerk.

Father Gilligan, Senator O'Malley, Joan Braden, and Pat Gnaster. Joan and Pat are ACP board members and helped organize this year's benefit.

Here, Gene Diamond, CEO of St. Margaret's Hospital, says hello to Father Ron Kondziolka of St. James Hospital. On the right is Sister Marlene, an ACP board member.

From the left are Fran Fortier, pro-life director of the Diocese of Joliet, Joann Haduck, Arlene Koehn, Mary Anne Hackett, and Matt Abbott.

Here, Dr. Robert Dolehide speaks in honor of Dr. Diamond.