Father Robert Gonzalez of the Diocese of Tucson, Arizona, and Jason Shanks, president of Our Sunday Visitor Institute in Huntington, Indiana, received the 2022 Jessing Alumnus of the Year Awards from the Pontifical College Josephinum on Oct. 13.
The award recognizes honorees for service to the Church and community and for their support of the Josephinum and its mission in the spirit of Msgr. Joseph Jessing, a German immigrant priest who founded the institution in 1888.
Father Gonzalez attended the Josephinum from 1970 to 1978 before he was ordained in Tucson. After a period of diocesan service and completion of advanced degrees in Rome, Father Gonzalez returned to Columbus in 1989 to teach at the Josephinum.
During his years on the seminary faculty, Father Gonzalez was an active presence in the Diocese of Columbus, particularly at Columbus Our Lady of Peace Church, where he offered weekend Mass assistance. He returned to his home diocese in 2005 and currently serves at St. John the Evangelist Church in Tucson.
“It is a great joy for me to accept this award,” said Father Gonzalez, who was presented the award by Father Steven Beseau, the Josephinum rector and president. “I ask God’s blessings on the seminary, its rector, and all who are part of the Josephinum family.”
A convert to Catholicism, Shanks attended the Josephinum in the early 2000s as a seminarian and then as a lay student. After completing a Master’s in theology in 2007, he has served in many leadership roles within the Church.
Shanks founded Catholic Youth Summer Camp in central Ohio, was pastoral assistant and business manager at Columbus St. Mary, Mother of God Church and served as president of Greater Columbus Right to Life. After leaving Columbus, he managed the Department of Evangelization and Pastoral Life in the Diocese of Toledo and was founding chief executive officer of Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan.
He currently leads the Our Sunday Visitor Institute in its work of evangelization and outreach while also serving on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee for Religious Liberty and the Board of the National Eucharistic Congress.