The Berakah Award
The Berakah Award has been given since the beginning of the Academy and is given every year to a member of the Academy to honor her or his work.
Click year to read citation:
| Year | Berakah Awardee | Site |
| 2008 | Dr. Paul Bradshaw | Savannah, Georgia |
| 2007 | Fr. John Baldovin, SJ | Toronto, Canada |
| 2006 | Dr. Gordon Lathrop | San Diego, California |
| 2005 | Fr. Kevin Seasoltz, OSB | Louisville, Kentucky |
| 2004 | Rabbi Lawrence Hoffman | New York, New York |
| 2003 | Dr. Hoyt Hickman | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| 2002 | Fr. Clarence Rivers | Reston, Virginia |
| 2001 | Mr. Robert Rambush | St. Louis, Missouri |
| 2000 | Fr. John Gallen SJ | Tampa, Florida |
| 1999 | Dr. Geoffrey Wainwright | Vancouver, Canada |
| 1998 | Dr. Nathan Mitchell | San Antonio, Texas |
| 1997 | Mr. Frank Henderson | Chicago, Illinois |
| 1996 | Dr. Hans Boehringer | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| 1995 | Dr. Harold Daniels | Boston, Massachusetts |
| 1994 | Fr. Edward Kilmartin SJ | Charleston, South Carolina |
| 1993 | Sr. Mary Colllins OSB | Albuquerque, New Mexico |
| 1992 | Dr. Donald Saliers | Washington, D.C. |
| 1991 | Fr. David Power OMI | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| 1990 | Sr. Theophane Hytrek OSF | St. Louis, Missouri |
| 1989 | Dr. Balthasar Fischer | Nashville, Tennessee |
| 1988 | Fr. Michael Marx OSB AND Fr. Aelred Tegels OSB |
San Francisco, California |
| 1987 | Dr. Thomas Talley | Tarrytown, Pennsylvania |
| 1986 | Fr. Gerard Sloyan | Durham, North Carolina |
| 1985 | Fr. Robert Taft SJ | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 1984 | Dr. Eugene Brand | Chicago, Illinois |
| 1983 | Dr. James White | Jamaica, New York |
| 1982 | Fr. Robert Hovda | Atlanta, Georgia |
| 1981 | Mr. Frank Kazmarcik | Los Angeles, California |
| 1980 | Fr. Fred McManus | Washington, D.C. |
| 1979 | Dr. Horton Davies | Princeton, New Jersey |
| 1978 | Dr. Massey Shepherd | San Francisco, California |
| 1977 | Fr. Godfrey Diekmann OSB | San Antonio, Texas |
| 1976 | Fr. Aidan Kavanagh, OSB | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| 1975 | Notre Dame, Indiana | |
| 1973 | Scottsdale, Arizona | |
2005: Fr. Kevin Seasoltz, OSB
2004: Rabbi Lawrence Hoffman
2003: Hoyt Hickman
The 2003 Berakah Award to Hoyt L. Hickman
Learned pastor, skilled writer and editor,
Intrepid leader, indefatigable guide,
Witty genealogist, generous friend---
True catechist of the Church, Methodist and Ecumenical
Wesley's “knowledge and vital piety” have embraced
in you to bring forth fruitful reform and renewal.
With legendary ecclesial savvy, you have
nurtured authentic evangelical diversity
sourced in the centrality of Word and Sacrament--
all with a caring heart.
For these graced gifts marking your steadfast vocation
in this golden jubilee year of your ordination
we shout “HALLELUJAH!” giving thanks.
2002: Clarence Rufus J. Rivers
Born with a song in
your soul and fire in your bones
you sing freedom, justice,
the love of God;
Your fire ignited liturgy
and music for the Church Catholic,
And summoned all to
come in from the cold
to new centers of color,
sound—to the City in that Kingdom, Hallelujah!
For all that you are,
and all you have given in pain and joy—
Irrepressible, Spirit-in-flesh,
true original, faithful servant,
Your three-score and
ten sounding earth and heaven,
Seeking a place of
beauty and bright mansions
with no want, pain
or tears—
We shout HALLELUJAH.
God is Love.
2001: Robert Edward Rambush
Where liturgical design
and social witness meet,
Where elements of earth
and living imagination fuse,
When renewal of life
and resurrection hilarity dance
Where space and people
embrace in 400 and more places of adoration and doxology—
countless
windows, tapestries, ambos and altars,
furnishings, paraments,
fonts and pools,
drawings, calendars,
postcards
ecumenically co-mingling—
There you move in our
midst
with delight and reverence,
awe and artistry.
you have given images
lavishly in myriad ways
for the people of God
assembled for prayer,
Timeless servant, rambunctious,
fresh-witted friend
Thus we praise God
for your person and work.
2000: John Gallen, S.J.
Progenitor, prophet,
Priest,
Seer, Sustainer, Shepherd,
Writer, Editor, Wonder-Waking
teacher—
Your friendship
embraces ecumenism's
wide bounds,
while an Ignatian flame
burn in your intellectual
heart,
for our “mutual
enrichment” and
“redounding to
the pastoral good
of the churches.”
From Scottsdale and
South Bend
to this time and place,
your seal is on all
our assemblies
and your joyful encouragement
in every good conciliar
work.
Thus we bless God,
and celebrate your
on-going gifts.