Voters select our Volunteer of the Year

For Immediate Release
Contact: Kristina Sherrett, 651-490-0170 or engage@catholicunited.org

SAINT PAUL, MINN — The year 2020 may have put a pause on many normalcies, but it did not stop Tricia Manuel, a lifelong Maple Lake resident and parishioner at Church of St. Timothy, from keeping her community thriving. Manuel put her creative hat on and went to work revamping parish events. She has been honored for her selfless service with Catholic United Financial’s Volunteer of the Year Award.

Manuel was nominated by local Catholic United members and selected by popular vote this spring. An outstanding number of people from Maple Lake, surrounding towns, and even outside of Minnesota went online or called in to show their support and gratitude for all that she has done.

Manuel is known locally as the owner of The Costume Shoppe and nationally as the clown, Pricilla Mooseburger. At her parish, St. Timothy’s Catholic Church, she is known as a dedicated, giving, kind, joyful, hard-working, and very faithful volunteer and person. She gives of her time without drawing attention to herself and wanting any praise or gratitude, and she always does so with such a joyful, energetic, and faithful spirit.

This year, Manuel spearheaded a noon parking lot mass and did all of the organization to make sure that people could receive the sacraments amidst the pandemic. She also served as fundraiser chair for the annual parish festival, turned drive-thru, and made sure everyone had a Thanksgiving meal. To help ensure that no one would miss out this year, Manuel called upon parishioners to donate $15 per dinner and then — with the help of a local caterer, volunteers, and friends — delivered meals to 45 homebound parishioners and eight families in need.

“It is her joyful, faithful, energetic, humble spirit in which she volunteers and especially seeking to reach out to those who were affected by the pandemic and being a light to them in so many ways that makes her most worthy of this award,” Father John Meyer of St. Timothy parish said.

The Volunteer of the Year Award is an honor created by Catholic United to recognize a Catholic community member – whether a member of Catholic United or not – whose superlative service serves as a shining light of selflessness.

About Catholic United Financial

Catholic United Financial is a not-for-profit financial cooperative that has served Catholics in the Upper Midwest since 1878. The company provides life insurance and retirement products for its 75,000 members and returns a portion of its profits to local communities through programs like the Catholic Schools Raffle, Post-High School Tuition Scholarship, Gather4Good® service events, and more. Based in St. Paul, MN, Catholic United helps its members plan for every step of their life journey.