Shining Stars: Inspiring Immigrant Communities
Thank you for Joining Us for the 2024 Annual Shining Star Award Celebration
Catholic Migration Services recently honored this year’s Shining Stars during an award celebration presented by the Most Reverend Robert J. Brennan on Friday, April 19, 2024, at Gargiulo’s Restaurant near Coney Island’s iconic boardwalk. All proceeds benefit the programs and services of Catholic Migration Services.
The honorees, selected by their parish communities, exemplify the values of hard work, patience, and fidelity to their culture and identity. They serve as an inspiration to the immigrant communities Catholic Migration Services supports. Here’s a look at this year’s Shining Stars and the ethnic apostolates they represent:
- Reverend Carlos A. Agudelo, Colombian Apostolate
- Christopher Chasteau, West Indian Apostolate
- Nicolasa Flores, Garifuna Apostolate
- Slavica Grancaric, Croatian Apostolate
- Jenny Jiang, Chinese Apostolate
- Gook Kim & Mrs. OK Saena Kim, Korean Apostolate
- Salvijus Kungys & Mrs. Monika Kungys, Lithuanian Apostolate
- Johnny Joseph Kurian, Indian Latin Rite Apostolate
- Brian Long, Irish Apostolate
- My Nguyen, Vietnamese Apostolate
- Joseph Obeng, Ghana Apostolate
- Armando Ocha & Mrs. Alejandrina Ocha, Mexican Apostolate
- Lucas Paragas & Mrs. Elnora Paragas, Filipino Apostolate
- Anna Marie Paunetto, Italian Apostolate
- Olena Rogalska, Indonesian Apostolate
- Anwar Sariwati & Mrs. Tuty Taufan, Indonesian Apostolate
- Geralda Alecrim Sena, Brazilian Aspostolate
- William Shahzad, Pakistani Apostolate
- Katarzyna Ziolkowska, Polish Apostolate