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Television mom thrilled to get Padre Pio Award
archived from: 2006-08-04
by: John Franko

Faith is more than a role for actress Catherine Hicks.

Her Catholic upbringing and values have been a foundation of her life, and led to her involvement in a number of social justice issues outside of her role as Annie Camden on the critically acclaimed series “7th Heaven.”

Hicks will be recognized for her efforts when she receives the 2006 Padre Pio Award from the Capuchin Franciscan friars at the Annual Padre Pio Award Dinner on Thursday, Sept. 14, at 6 p.m. at the Omni William Penn Hotel.

Hicks has been a longtime activist on the humanitarian crisis in Sudan. She said she has been “shocked” by the occurrence of hunger in the African nation and food being wasted in countries like the United States.

“We’re completely wrong,” she said. “We’re not sharing enough. We’re not giving enough. It shouldn’t exist.”

Hicks has worked with Catholic Relief Services to bring recognition to the violence in Sudan’s Darfur region.

She has filmed a public service announcement for CRS. She also hosted an informational gathering at Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral in Los Angeles on June 4, and she has sponsored a celebrity outreach to actors and other celebrities.

“It’s a horror,” she said in describing the conditions in Darfur.

Born in Manhattan and raised in Arizona, Hicks said her parents were a model of living the Catholic faith.

She described her father as “a deeply spiritual man who read Scripture and taught me to look at the sunsets in Arizona and give glory to God.”

Hicks said her mother faithfully attended Mass until she died at 91.

In noting that she attended Catholic schools from the first grade through college, Hicks said the witness of priests, religious and other theologians has always aroused her intellectual curiosity.

She majored in theology and English literature at St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Ind.

“We have many great thinkers in the Catholic tradition,” she said. “Great theologians and great mystics.”

Hicks said her Catholic education instilled an awareness of poverty and the social obligation of the faithful.

She received a master of fine arts degree in theater from Cornell University, then moved to New York City. Within one week she landed her first role on the daytime drama “Ryan’s Hope.” Shortly thereafter, she co-starred opposite Jack Lemmon in the acclaimed Broadway play “Tribute.”

Hicks’ film credits include “Peggy Sue Got Married,” “Garbo Talks,” “The Razor Edge,” “Turbulence,” “Star Trek IV” and “Better Late Than Never.”

She said she enjoys her role on “7th Heaven” because it allows her to mix comedy and drama.

“It’s a very deep connection the audience has to the show,” she said. “They really need it. I feel like when I’m acting it’s really doing something worthwhile.”

A member of a parish in the Westwood section of Los Angeles, she is married and has a 14-year-old daughter.

She said watching her daughter grow up has shown her the importance of having young people grow up in the faith.

“That’s the future of our church,” she said. “We’ve got to get young people wanting to be Catholic. It has to mean something to them.”

Hicks noted that she began praying to St. Padre Pio during her daughter’s sporting events and described him as a “spiritual sports adviser” to her.

“I can’t believe it,” she said of receiving the honor in Padre Pio’s name. “It’s sort of come full circle.”

Hicks has spoken about her faith on programs such as “Personally Speaking,” a project of the Catholic Communication Campaign, with Msgr. Jim Lisante. She also has been a judge for the Catholic Church Extension Society’s Lumen Christi award.

Tickets to the Padre Pio Dinner are available for a $150 donation and include a cocktail reception. Table of 10 discounts are available at $125 per ticket.

For reservations and more information, contact Jerry Gaughan at 800-224-0330 or 412-682-0247. E-mail jerryg@capuchin.com.

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