MILESTONES: Higgins, Mendenhall receive landmark awards

Sandy Higgins, center, received the Faithful Servant Award at St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church in Spring. Pictured with her from left are: Dr. Dan Giradot, Father Leon Strider, Dr. Rick Lopez and her husband, Deacon Mike Higgins. (Courtesy photo)

Sandy Higgins honored with SWLC ‘Faithful Servant’ award

HOUSTON — Each January at the Annual Study Week, the Southwest Liturgical Conference (SWLC) presents “Faithful Servant” awards to recognize outstanding contributions to the work of liturgical renewal in the region.

These awards are a sign of commendation and appreciation for those who have worked faithfully in a variety of liturgical ministries; they also serve as inspiration and encouragement for those who are just beginning to work in the area of liturgy and liturgical music.
This year, the honor was bestowed on Sandy Higgins, retired director of the Office of Worship in the Archdiocese.

“Frankly, I was incredulous and speechless when I was told,” she said. “It is a humbling experience.”

The award is not automatically given annually but only when the committee deems someone contributing significantly to the work of liturgical renewal in the Southwest region of the U.S.

Higgins worked at St. Ignatius of Loyola parish in Spring for five years, then became the associate director in charge of formation for the Office of Worship for 10 years. She was later named the director of the Office of Worship, where she worked for six years. She retired in May 2021.

“Recently, I had been consulting with the office as it searched for a new director of the Office of Worship and will continue on for a bit to facilitate a smooth transition,” she said. Recently, the Archdiocese named Dr. Adam Brill as the new director.

Higgins continues to teach for the Office of Worship and parishes, when asked. She has stayed active as an associate member on the SWLC board of directors, working on the virtual Southwest Liturgical Conferences in 2021, 2022 and 2023. She continues to assist as a worship coordinator at her parish, St. Ignatius of Loyola, and as an extraordinary minister of holy Communion.

“In my retirement, I am enjoying more time with my husband, my children and their spouses and my grandchildren, which brings me great joy,” she said.

The SWLC represents lay, religious and ordained liturgists and liturgical commissions in dioceses in states including Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.

Trini Mendenhall honored for her generosity, support for the marginalized

Trinidad Mendenhall, center, received the Spirit of Francis Award from the Catholic Extension. Pictured with her (from left) are Father Jack Wall and retired Bishop Curtis J. Guillory of Beaumont. (Photo courtesy of Catholic Extension)

HOUSTON — Catholic Extension, which works in solidarity with people to build up vibrant and transformative Catholic faith communities in America’s poorest regions, honored Trinidad “Trini” Mendenhall with the Spirit of Francis Award.

Mendenhall, who co-founded Fiesta Mart Inc. with her late husband, O.C., in 1972, was honored for her legacy of generosity and support for the marginalized, both in the Houston community and beyond.

She received the Catholic Extension award at a Feb. 17 dinner in Houston. Attendees included the 2019 Spirit of Francis Award recipient, retired Bishop Curtis J. Guillory of Beaumont. The dinner also honored the memory of the late Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza, who died Sept. 19, 2022, at age 91. The prelate, headed the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston from 1985 until his retirement in 2006,  received the award in 2018.

Mendenhall has been dedicated to philanthropic efforts in the Houston community and in the state of Texas for more than two decades. In 1997, alongside her late husband, Mendenhall founded the Trini and O.C. Mendenhall Foundation, which empowers women, minorities and children. In September 2002, she established the Mendenhall Asthma Research Laboratory at Baylor’s Biology of inflammation Center in memory of her husband.

She told the audience at the dinner that “as a woman and mother,” it is in her nature “to be nurturing and caring” and to always practice her Catholic faith “by following what our good Lord called us to do: Love one another.”

Mendenhall said she was humbled and honored to receive the award, adding that philanthropy is for her “the joy of helping the most vulnerable people in our community that makes it all worthwhile.”

Her commitment to her Catholic values and her Houston community are made evident by her work on behalf of children, women and the vulnerable. She serves on the board of Catholic Charities and her foundation endows scholarships for the CROSS Academies and the College of Education of the University of Houston.

She has served on the numerous boards including for Ronald McDonald House, Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, Baylor College of Medicine, University of St. Thomas, Houston Ballet Public Affairs Committee, University of Houston’s Center for Mexican American Studies Excellence Endowment Campaign Committee, United Way’s Women’s Initiative and more.

Proceeds of the dinner benefitted Catholic Extension’s work in Texas in memory of Archbishop Emeritus Fiorenza.