Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration Mary Ann Gschwind and FSPA Affiliates Joe and Barb Kruse have been named as 2024 Iverson Freking Ecumenical Recognition Award honorees.
Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration Mary Ann Gschwind
FSPA Affiliates Joe and Barb Kruse
“Community is part of my life,” says Sister Mary Ann. “It’s wonderful to be connected to the Church, the FSPA community and broader La Crosse. Life would be pretty lonely without community and connections.”
In a report aired by WXOW News 19, Barb says of the award, “We’re here to participate in life … to be in community with other people, trying to make everybody’s life better. That’s part of being a volunteer, part of being a person of faith. It’s all connected.”
In its 37th year, the annual award — posthumously named for Carl Iverson, a Lutheran,and Bishop Frederick Freking — is given to members of the La Crosse area based on spiritual example, respect for the faith of others, participation in a spiritual congregation and commitment to community.
Other La Crosse media outlets, including News8000 and La Crosse Tribune, are sharing the good news as well.