Fr. Stubeda recognized for "distinguished service"

On September 28, 2002, Reverend Anthony J. Stubeda, a priest of the Diocese of New Ulm, received the League of Minnesota Human Rights Commissions Award in appreciation for his distinguished service to the community of New Ulm and the state of Minnesota.

The focus of this award is the advancement of human rights and the recognition of Reverend Stubeda’s conscientious and vigorous efforts to improve intergroup understanding and unity, most specifically his work with the Hispanic community.

Since 1988 Fr. Stubeda has served as director of the Office of Hispanic Ministry of the Diocese of New Ulm. Presently, Fr. Stubeda is serving as the Associate Pastor of the Church of St. Mary in Willmar, MN. He continues to be the Director of Hispanic Ministry of the Diocese of New Ulm.

Fr. Stubeda has made significant contributions to the local Hispanic/Latino community for the past 20 years. During that time, and especially during the past 10 years, the local Latino community has grown significantly. There are also significant numbers of Latino persons who are migrant workers in the New Ulm area.

Fr. Stubeda served two terms as president and two terms as treasurer of the Catholic Migrant Farmers Network, which is a national organization devoted to migrant workers’ needs. He has also served on the board of directors of the Catholic Migrant Farmers Network for ten years.

Strongly devoted to the young people of the area, Fr. Stubeda is founder of the Crossroads of Friendship/Caminos de Amistad Program, an exchange program for young persons of high school age designed to draw communities together, as well as help migrant workers and those who live in Minnesota year-round develop a deeper understanding of one another.

In 1998, Fr. Stubeda was one of 400 delegates representing 106 countries chosen nationwide to attend the International Congress on the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees which was held at Vatican City.

Fr. Stubeda has made a career-long effort to increase understanding of and facilitate communication about and among the growing Latino community in the New Ulm area and throughout Minnesota. His tireless and continuing efforts have brought improved relationships between Latino and non-Latino groups by increasing the understanding and knowledge of many people.

In 1996 he received the Diocese of New Ulm’s Distinguished Service Award and the City of New Ulm Human RightsAward.