2022 American Catholic Press Benefit

The American Catholic Press (ACP) benefit is held on Friday, September 30, 2022. Reception begins at 6:00 p.m. with dinner starting at 7:00 p.m. The venue for this benefit is Olympia Fields Country Club, in Olympia Fields, Illinois. You get there by going south on I-57 Expressway, exiting eastbound at Vollmer Road, and turning south on Western Avenue. Just after Joe Orr Road, you turn west, on the west side of Western, onto Country Club Road. After about a quarter mile, you come to a watchman and a barrier; the club is gated. You identify yourself to the watchman at the gate; just say that you are there for the American Catholic Press benefit. The watchman then causes the barrier to go up. You then proceed forward and park in the lot in front of the main building, which you enter. No further identification is required. Click here for a local map of the area. Here is a link to a video of Olympia Fields Country Club.

The Gratiam Dei Award

The Gratiam Dei Award is given to Anthony Panici a local pharmacist and philanthropist.

Anthony Panici

Anthony Panici is the past president of the Amaseno Lodge in Chicago Heights. During his lodge tenure, Anthony provided excellent leadership and management. Under his direction, the lodge helped Italian immigrants, promoted Italian culture, and funded substantial scholarships. Anthony also promoted devotion to St. Lawrence and St. Francis of Assisi. Shrines to both saints are now found at both the lodge and San Rocco Oratory. By his generosity, he has helped the oratory survive in these difficult times. In addition, Anthony also developed a program to distribute the COVID vaccine to the general public. He has also helped the Cancer Support Center through the Annual Lynn Panici Golf Outing. For his philanthropy, Anthony Panici is worthy of the 2022 Gratiam Dei Award, the highest honor of American Catholic Press.

The Henry Hyde Award

The Henry Hyde Award is presented to Mary Hallan FioRito.

Mary Hallan Fiorito

Mary Hallan FioRito is an attorney, public speaker, and commentator. She speaks on women’s leadership in the Catholic Church. She addresses the challenges that mothers experience, balancing work and family. She deals with human life issues and questions of church administration. She is a wise teacher. For more than 28 years, Mary Hallan FioRito worked in various positions for the Chicago Archdiocese. She is a contributor to two books, a participant in a national Catholic radio program, and a widely respected speaker on pro-life issues. In 2000, Newsweek magazine recognized her as one of the “Women of the New Century.” For twelve years, she was executive assistant to Francis Cardinal George, until his death in April 2015. For her pro-life and pro-women good work, Mary Hallan FioRito is the recipient of the 2022 Henry Hyde Award of American Catholic Press.