Annual Dinner of Gratitude 2026
Thursday, October 15, 2026
Join the Shrine of Saint Joseph for our Annual Dinner of Gratitude as we gather in thanksgiving for God's many blessings and honor individuals whose lives and ministries reflect faithful service to the Church.
The evening will begin with the celebration of Holy Mass at 5:30 PM in the Main Chapel at the Shrine of Saint Joseph, followed by a cocktail reception at 6:30 PM and dinner at the Primavera Regency in Stirling, New Jersey.
2026 Honorees
Spirit of Father Judge Award
Most Reverend Pedro Bismarck Chau
Auxiliary Bishop, Archdiocese of Newark
Missionary Spirit Award
Religious Teachers Filippini
Accepted by Sister Elaine, Villa Walsh Academy
Guests will enjoy an evening of fellowship, hors d'oeuvres, dinner, and a special awards presentation celebrating the remarkable contributions of our honorees.
Proceeds from the Annual Dinner of Gratitude support the Shrine of Saint Joseph's mission of prayer, evangelization, pilgrimages, retreats, spiritual programs, and the care of this sacred place that welcomes thousands of visitors each year.
We invite you to join us as we celebrate faith, service, and community while helping ensure that the Shrine remains a beacon of hope, peace, and spiritual renewal for generations to come.
Event Schedule
5:30 PM – Holy Mass
Main Chapel, Shrine of Saint Joseph
6:30 PM – Cocktail Reception & Hors d'oeuvres
Primavera Regency, Stirling, NJ
7:30 PM – Awards Program & Dinner
Sponsorships and Reservations
Sponsorship opportunities and ticket reservations will be available starting August 1, 2026
If you are unable to join us but would like to support the Shrine of Saint Joseph's mission, please complete the form below.
Your gift helps us continue the Shrine of Saint Joseph's mission!
Digital Program Ad Submission Instructions
Please submit digital ad artwork (JPG or PNG, 1920x1080 px) by September 1st.
Custom ad design assistance available upon request. If a digital ad is not submitted by September 1st, one will be created for you unless you request that one not be created. Your digital program ad not only honors our distinguished Honorees but also supports the Shrine of Saint Joseph's ongoing mission.
Thank you for your generosity and for being partners in mission with us!
HONOREES
Spirit of Fr. Judge Award
The Most Reverend Kevin J. Sweeney, Bishop of the Diocese of Paterson
Bishop Sweeney is a native of Queens, New York; he was born on January 17, 1970, to the late James and Agnes (nee Blewitt) Sweeney. He has a sister, Marie Shanahan, and a brother, Brendan, and five nieces and nephews. Bishop Sweeney grew up in St. Luke’s Parish in Whitestone.
He attended Cathedral Prep from 1984 to 1988 and was an outstanding baseball player for the high school seminary team, excelling as an infielder, outfielder, and pitcher. While his dream of playing professional baseball never panned out, he was inducted into Prep’s Hall of Fame in 2013. After high school graduation, Bishop Sweeney entered Cathedral Seminary House of Formation in Douglaston and studied at St. John’s University, receiving a B.A. in philosophy in 1992. He then entered the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington and received an M.Div. in theology. During his time at the Seminary in Huntington, Kevin spent a pastoral year at St. Agatha’s (Brooklyn).
On June 28, 1997, Bishop Sweeney was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Brooklyn by Bishop Thomas Daily. Bishop Sweeney’s first assignment as parochial vicar was to the parish of St. Nicholas of Tolentine (Jamaica) from 1997 to 2003. He was then assigned to Our Lady of Sorrows (Corona) from 2003-2004.
In 2004, Bishop Sweeney was named by Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio as the vocation director. During his time as vocation director, which lasted until 2010, he also served as the first director of the (St.) Pope John Paul II House of Discernment.
In January, 2010, Bishop Sweeney was appointed pastor of St. Michael’s Parish in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, where he served for ten years. Bishop Sweeney is fluent in Spanish, having studied the language extensively in programs in the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica.
Installed as the eighth bishop of the Church of Paterson on July 1, 2020, at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, New Jersey, Bishop Sweeney officially became the new shepherd of the 82-year-old Paterson Diocese after Pope Francis appointed him to the position on April 15, 2020.
Missionary Spirit Award
Fr. Michael Tidd, O.S.B., Headmaster of Delbarton
Fr. Michael Tidd, O.S.B., is a Benedictine monk of St. Mary’s Abbey and has served as Headmaster of Delbarton School, a Benedictine Catholic institution, since 2017. Deeply committed to the mission of Catholic education, he previously served as Treasurer of St. Mary’s Abbey, overseeing the financial operations of the monastic community.
His vocation blends educational leadership with pastoral care, rooted in the Benedictine tradition of prayer, work, and hospitality. Fr. Michael holds a Doctorate in Private School Administration, a Master’s in Theology from La Salle University, an MBA from the University of Notre Dame, and a Bachelor’s in European History from the University of Pennsylvania.
Ms. Marie Santana, Spiritual Director & Mission Partner
Marie Santana has been part of the Shrine of Saint Joseph in Stirling, NJ since 1982. A devoted Catholic with a passion for Ignatian spirituality, she is a certified spiritual director and graduate of the An Croí Wisdom Institute in Dublin. Marie completed the Spiritual Exercises (19th Annotation) at Loyola Jesuit Center in Morristown, NJ, where she now leads retreats and spiritual programs in both English and Spanish, including an 8-week format of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises.
In 2018, she deepened her formation through the Ignatian Immersion Course at the International School of Ignatian Spirituality in Manresa, Spain. Marie also serves on the boards of Trinity Mission Partners, Vocation of Business Leaders, and Ignatian Spirituality and Formation for regional programs
Thank you for your continued support and prayers, please know that you and your family are in our prayers.