May 01 @ 6:00 PM as part of St. Joseph's Fair
Mass at 5:00 PM for the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker
We must labor about “our Father’s business” (Luke 2: 49). And among us are exemplary models of faith-driven labors.
We should all be encouraged by their witness, and so spurred on to greater things. We should all “be imitators of them as they are of Christ,” to paraphrase St. Paul (1 Cor 11:1).
But we can only do that to the extent their labors are shared!
Applications requested by March 22.
Preference will be given to earlier applications.
About the Leading With Faith Awards
The Leading With Faith Awards honor individuals or organizations in The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis who boldly live their Catholic faith through their labors—be they professional, enthusiast, or apostolate—and so positively impact the broader community.
Originally presented by The Catholic Spirit newspaper of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, the awards have entered a new chapter. Under new ownership of the St. Joseph Business Guild, the focus expands beyond traditional C‑suite leadership to include employees, individuals, entrepreneurs, founders, executives, professionals, and organizations whose faith-informed work is actively changing the landscape of culture, and business, in Minnesota.
The awards recognize those who
- Integrate Catholic values into decision-making, culture, and operations
- Lead with courage, integrity, and service
- Influence systems, industries, or communities for the common good
- Elevate the visibility and credibility of Catholic witness in public life
New to 2026, there will be multiple award categories:
- Innovation
- Recognizing those who have developed creative solutions, new products, or services
- Business Growth
- Recognizing those who have demonstrated significant business/nonprofit growth, expansion, or scalability
- Entrepreneurship
- Recognizing those who have started a business or venture that aligns with Catholic principles and demonstrates resilience and initiative
- Community Impact
- Recognizing those who have made significant contributions to the local community through charity, outreach, or community services
- Collaboration & Partnership
- Recognizing those who have successfully collaborated across different sectors to achieve shared goals that benefit the wider Catholic community
Nomination Process
To nominate a party to receive a Leading With Faith Award, submit a simple nomination by the accompanying means provided no later than March 22, 2026.
Additional information may be requested thereafter to inform the awards process. Preference will be given to earlier and more resolved applications; early nomination is encouraged and preference will be given to earlier nominations.
No nomination material will be considered if submitted after April 5, 2026 (Easter Sunday).
Confirmation of finalists will be shared by the selection committee, to the nominator, no later than April 8, 2026.
Eligibility
Eligibility is open to all who meet the following and is not limited to members of the St. Joseph Business Guild
Nominees may:
- Be an individual (employee, enthusiast, entrepreneur, executive, professional, founder, or leader)
- Be a business, nonprofit, or organization
- Self-Nominate
Nominees must:
- Be domiciled/located in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
- Be practicing Catholics and publicly and authentically live out Catholic values in their labors
- Demonstrate measurable or observable impact beyond personal belief
Leading With Faith Awards Nomination
Please make sure you have read the accompanying information before applying. Clarity is much appreciated in your application: additional nomination materials may be offered or requested to supplement this application.
As noted previously preference will be given to more resolved applications—i.e., those that are more thorough, accessible, clear, objective, specific, significant, measurable, etc.