Hearts on Fire Award
Dr. Chit-Sang Tsang, Ph.D.

Dr. Chit-Sang Tsang, Ph.D., was born in Hong Kong and moved to Los Angeles in 1979.  He earned a Master’s degree in Religious Studies from Creighton University and a Doctorate in Electrical Engineering from USC.  He is currently a professor at California State University in Long Beach.  In 1979 he joined the First Evangelical Church in Glendale where he has been a deacon and elder.  He has also served as Chair of the governing board of the First Evangelical Church Association (FECA).  Ignatian Spirituality has been valuable to him in his ministry with FECA.  He is a spiritual director and Director of Spiritual and Ministry Formation for FECA, providing the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, silent retreats, training for spiritual directors and leaders, and much more.  He plans to draw from his experience to write a book on meditation and Lectio Divina. The Bible provides him a solid Christian theological framework, while having a vibrant spirituality enables him to follow Christ daily with a passionate heart.

About the Hearts on Fire Award

The Board of Directors of the Loyola Institute for Spirituality (LIS) created the Hearts on Fire (HoF) Award in 2003 to annually recognize outstanding Christians whose contributions to spirituality, community service, and Christian leadership have been inspired by their formation in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola. The Spiritual Exercises form the basis of the Institute’s vision, mission, and broad array of multicultural and ecumenical services and programs. The award is bestowed by the Loyola Institute at its annual fundraising dinner celebration held in the Spring.

Four criteria are used to select the award recipient(s). First, the candidate must be formed in Ignatian spirituality. Second, the candidate must exemplify the Ignatian ideal of finding God in all things, i.e., live the Spiritual Exercises on a daily basis. Third, the candidate must be engaged in the service of faith to others. And fourth, the candidate’s sphere of influence must be one which is compatible with Ignatian ideals and which aligns with the vision and mission of the Loyola Institute for Spirituality.

Writer's Award in Spirituality
Mr. Jim Manney

Mr. Jim Manney, a graduate of St. Peter’s University in Jersey City, worked as senior editor at Loyola Press from 1998 until his retirement in 2014.  He is the author of God Finds Us, A Simple Life-Changing Prayer, What’s Your Decision?, and What Do You Really Want?  He also compiled and edited Charged with Grandeur: The Book of Ignatian Inspiration and The Ignatian Book of Days.  At Loyola Press he worked with many authors, including previous recipients of this award: Chris Lowney, James Martin, S.J., William Barry, S.J., and Joseph Tetlow, S.J.  He was the founding editor of IgnatianSpirituality.com and contributed to the dotMagis blog.  Jim continues to write and do freelance editorial work.  He is a parishioner at St. Mary Parish at the University of Michigan, a Jesuit parish, where he frequently speaks about Ignatian spirituality.  As a member of the Detroit chapter of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps, he tutors in basic literacy.   Jim and his wife, Susan, live in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and are the parents of four adult children.

About the Writer's Award in Spirituality

In 2005 the LIS Board of Directors created the Writer's Award in Spirituality, to be given to someone who has demonstrated excellence in furthering the spiritual teachings of St. Ignatius of Loyola through writing. The Writer’s Award is customarily bestowed along with the HoF Award at the Loyola Institute’s annual fundraising dinner and award ceremony.

Rosita Diaz "Love in Action" Award
Dr. Carol Cowgill, D.Min.

Ms. Carol Cowgill began her career in Catholic colleges in Los Angeles, but quickly moved into adult education where she perceived the greater hunger to grow in relationship with God.  The call to work on behalf of the Spanish-speaking community came as a surprise when in 1977, as Director of the newly formed Office of Religious Education in Orange, she had set the diocese's goal to provide opportunities for religious formation for all catechists.  One morning she noticed the obvious: this project needed to include the 250,000 Spanish speakers, whose education had been grievously ignored.  New programs began in response to this need, specifically Iniciación Cristologica and Caminando con Cristo.  As a member of the Ignatian Trinitas Community, she had the opportunity to assist the spiritual formation of the members, and she brought this integrated approach to those who came to the diocese for ministry training.  Now retired and living in Ojai, CA, she continues to offer scripture studies and retreats in parish settings.

Abou the Rosita Diaz "Love In Action" Award

Inspired by the life and service of Rosita Diaz, of the Delhi Community in Santa Ana, the “Love in Action” award (Amor en Acción) is awarded annually to an exceptional Latino(a) for outstanding service to the Hispanic community of Orange County. This award was first given by the Loyola Institute in 2001, even prior to the creation of the annual Hearts of Fire dinner and award ceremony, and added to it in 2006.