The 54th annual Humana Vitae Mass and award presentation was celebrated July 28, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in St. Cloud. The Humanae Vitae Award is given each year to someone who has dedicated their time and talents to promoting natural family planning, or NFP.
This year’s recipient was 90-year-old Mary Hughes. Hughes helped to establish the natural family planning office for the diocese of St. Cloud, where she worked for nearly 20 years before retiring in 1992. Father Tom Knoblach celebrated the Mass and Mary’s husband, Mark, two of her daughters, and dozens of other family and friends were on hand.
NFP is a form of family planning that aligns with the teaching of “Humanae Vitae,” an encyclical written by Pope Paul VI in 1968 that details God’s plan for marriage and family.
To read more about Mary Hughes and her work, visit:
This year’s award recipient was 90-year-old Mary Hughes, a member of the Together As One Area Catholic Community in St. Cloud. Hughes worked in the St. Cloud NPF office from 1973 until her retirement in 1992. She was also a certified Billings Ovulation Method instructor.
Mary’s husband, Mark, was present to accept the award in honor of his wife. Mary and Mark were married in 1954.
Also in attendance were some of Mary’s family. From left to right: Bill, Mary’s son in law, daughter Ellen, Deacon Jim Trout, husband Mark, daughter Kathy, and Father Tom Knoblach, celebrant.
Two of Mary Hughes’s daughters, Ellen and Kathy, bring up the gifts during the Humanae Vitae Mass. Father Tom Knoblach was the celebrant.
A family attends the Humanae Vitae Mass and Award Presentation at St. Mary’s Cathedral in St. Cloud July 28.
Family, friends, and other supporters of NFP attended the Humanae Vitae Mass and Award Presentation July 28 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in St. Cloud.
Author: Gianna Bonello
Gianna Bonello is a multimedia reporter for The Central Minnesota Catholic Magazine.
