San Antonio District recognizes
3 individuals, 1 group

San Antonio District United Methodists honored three individuals and one group March 28 for Christian witness and service.
Ron Caccamese, University UMC, San Antonio, received the 2006 Bishop’s Exemplar Award for the district.
Pattie McGlinchey, Coker UMC, San Antonio, earned the Ted Caravantes Christian Service Award.
Katie DeVore, University UMC, took home the District Superintendent’s Youth Ventures in Ministry Award.
Young Mom’s Connection from University UMC was given the District Superintendent’s New Ventures in Ministry Award.
The four awards were presented at Coker UMC during the district’s annual celebration for laity and clergy. Some 350 people attended the event.
Bishop Joel N. Martinez gives the Exemplar Award annually to laypeople selected by each district board of laity “for witness, commitment and service after the example of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The Rev. Virgilio Vazquez-Garza, San Antonio District superintendent, presented the Exemplar Award to Caccamese on Martinez’s behalf. The bishop couldn’t attend.




“When I was listening to them call the nominations, what came to my mind was when Jesus was asked about the tax collectors, ‘Whose image is on the coin? Give Caesar what is Caesar’s’ and give God what is God’s—which is your time,” Caccamese said following the presentation.
Caccamese was selected from 21 nominees representing 13 congregations. He was singled out for being the living embodiment of someone trying to emulate Jesus Christ.
Since joining the University congregation in 1999, Caccamese has been “an evangelist in all facets of his life—from greeting at the church doors on Sunday to starting and leading two Bible study/accountability groups in his workplace,” the award nomination said.
At University he has been active on local and international mission projects, taught two adult Sunday school classes and volunteered for prayer ministry, theater work and building projects. He sings in the Chancel Choir and participates in both the Walk to Emmaus spiritual renewal movement and Kairos prison ministry.
Caccamese served on the University board of trustees for three years and chaired it for one.
McClinchey was one of 13 nominees for the fifth Caravantes Christian service award. Established in 2002 by Coker UMC, the award recognizes church leaders who demonstrate their faith by helping the needy. The memorial award is named for a former district United Methodist Men president.
Over the past decade McClinchey has volunteered at San Antonio Metropolitan Ministries, Wesley Community Center and San Antonio Children’s Center. She helped Hurricane Katrina evacuees living at Coker last year enroll their children in San Antonio schools.
She has been president of the Harmony Hills Elementary School Parent Teacher Association for two years and helped run several programs for students.
DeVore was one of six nominees for the third youth award.
A student at Rawlinson Middle School in San Antonio, DeVore organized a student prayer and praise group there two years ago. Called Students Taking A New Direction—or STAND—the group attracts more than 60 students to 45-minite meetings each Friday morning.
DeVore has trained a group of seventh grade students to continue the group next year when she moves to Clark High School. DeVore hopes to start a similar group there.
She is also involved in Bible studies, mission trips, camps and special youth events at University UMC.
University’s Young Mom’s Connection was one of 11 groups considered for the New Ventures in Ministry Award.
Organized in January 2005, the group focuses on nurturing high school-age and college-age mothers. with Christian fellowship and support.
Attendance ranges from 2 to 12 at meetings on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month.