Three women receive Sisters of St. Benedict’s Angels of Grace awards

By Natalie Hoefer

Throughout the Bible, three archangels are listed by name: Gabriel, messenger of good news to Mary and Zechariah; Michael, defender of heaven who cast the devil into hell; and Raphael, the traveling companion of Tobias.

The Sisters of St. Benedict of Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Beech Grove have annually identified three women who have heroically served in the roles of messenger, defender and companion, and recognized their service with an “Angels of Grace” award.

The 2023 winners are Beacon of Hope Crisis Center CEO Sandy Ziebold for the “defender” Angel Michael Award; Megan Weisenbach Foundation co-founder Theresa Weisenbach for the “companion” Angel Raphael Award; and Roncalli High School English and psychology teacher Kim Striby for the “messenger” Angel Gabriel Award.

The recipients will receive their awards at the Angels of Grace Awards Luncheon at Primo Banquet Hall in Indianapolis on Sept. 30.

Following is more information about the 2023 messenger, defender and companion, as listed at benedictinn.org/angels-of-grace.

Angel Michael Award: Sandy Ziebold

Ziebold has served as Chief Executive Officer of Beacon of Hope Crisis Center domestic violence and sexual assault services and referral agency in Indianapolis since January 2016. Beacon of Hope serves new victims and past survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, including intimate partner violence and family violence.

Ziebold has influenced positive changes to the law and is an expert witness, which has positively impacted lives. She is an expert in matters pertaining to domestic violence, strangulation and even pet abuse.

Ziebold was inspired to become involved in this work because she wanted to improve early intervention and barrier reductions and grow healing art opportunities. Through Beacon of Hope’s foster pet program, she also likes to ensure that pets of victims can be fostered and reunited with their owners once victims achieve safety, independence and self-sufficiency.

For more information on Beacon of Hope Crisis Center, visit their website at www.beaconofhopeindy.org.

Angel Raphael Award: Theresa Weisenbach

A wife, mother, grandmother and registered nurse by profession, Theresa and her husband Tom, who live in Indianapolis, started the Megan Weisenbach Foundation in 2013—one year after losing their youngest daughter to Sanfilippo A MPS III A, a rare autosomal recessive disease caused by an enzyme deficiency.

Unfortunately, there is no cure, and when Megan was diagnosed there were no treatment options available. Megan was in a wheelchair fulltime by age 9, and this also required a lot of changes to the family’s home and van to accommodate her needs, which was not covered by insurance. Megan was on the waiting list for state assistance for eight years and never received any assistance before she passed away.

Throughout their journey, Theresa and her family wanted to find a way to help other families that were experiencing this same financial stress with outside medical expenses and accommodating handicap accessibility. They established the Megan Weisenbach Foundation. The mission of the foundation is to provide financial assistance to families that have children with special needs to assist with quality of life.

For more information, visit www.themwfoundation.org.

Angel Gabriel Award: Kim Striby

Striby is in her 18th year of teaching English and psychology at Roncalli High School in Indianapolis. During her time at Roncalli, she has earned the respect of her students and peers for excellence in the classroom as well as her giving heart.

Striby has a passion for teaching, but her focus is not so much on teaching as it is on learning. She will do whatever it takes to ensure that her students master the course material and find success in her class.

What also sets Striby apart is her giving heart. She lives her life with a daily focus on how she can help others. In big and small ways, in seen and unseen ways, she consistently gives of herself—of her time, talent and treasure, but mostly of her heart which is filled with a love for all people.

For more information about Roncalli High School, visit their website at www.roncalli.org.
 

(The Angels of Grace Luncheon will be held at Primo Banquet Hall, 2615 National Ave., in Indianapolis, from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sept. 30. Tickets are $45. Proceeds benefit women’s programming at Benedict Inn Retreat and Conference Center in Beech Grove. For more information, to register, to donate or to become a sponsor of the event, go to benedictinn.org/angels-of-grace, call 317-788-7581 or e-mail benedictinn@benedictinn.org.) †