Adan Pacheco, an immigration advocate for Catholic Charities in Ocean County, was featured on a Gabriel Award-winning episode of Cristo Para Todos,“Inmigracin: Visin Cristiana” (“Immigration: Christian Vision.")
Adan Pacheco, an immigration advocate for Catholic Charities in Ocean County, was featured on a Gabriel Award-winning episode of Cristo Para Todos,“Inmigracin: Visin Cristiana” (“Immigration: Christian Vision.")
By Brittany Wilson 

Diocesan Social Media Coordinator

Hard work, talent and a strong sense of mission have now paid off twice for “Cristo Para Todos – Christ for All,” which was recognized for the second time in as many years with a Gabriel Award from the Catholic Academy of Communication Professionals.

“What an honor for the Cristo Paras Todos production team to receive the Gabriel Award for the second year in a row,” said Marianne Hartman, executive producer. “They put so much enthusiasm and dedication into each episode, and it’s evident when you watch this faith-based and entertaining show for the whole family. “The humorous but meaningful skits, combined with interviews and musical segments, help viewers understand different facets of the show’s topic, while reaching out to the Spanish- speaking community and Latinos who want to grow in their spirituality and Catholic faith.”

Other members of the show’s team agreed.

“We are so blessed to be able to work in this ministry of Cristo Para Todos,” said Ericka Rodriguez, co-host of the Spanish-language television program produced by the Diocese of Trenton. “We are honored to be recognized again for our efforts.” Cristo Para Todos was awarded for its episode, “Inmigracin: Visin Cristiana” (“Immigration: Christian Vision”), in the category of “Religious, National or Local Release.”

The 51st annual Gabriel Awards will be presented during the Catholic Media Conference June 2 in the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark in St. Louis, Mo. The episode features an interview with Adan Pacheco, who as a 10-yearold, entered the United States with little more than the hope and love of his family to sustain him. He and his mother and little sister journeyed from San Miguel del Puerto in the southwestern Mexican state of Oaxaca, through the Arizona desert on foot. Later, they took a stifling ride in a van to family already settled in Freehold.

Now, Adan is a graduate of Freehold Boro High School and is continuing his studies at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft. He also works as an immigration advocate for Catholic Charities in Ocean County.

“The many details in this episode on immigration move me,” said producer and co-host Matthew Greeley. “From the skit, which was put together by Esteban Cairol, CPT’s writer in Costa Rica, to the profound witness offered by our special guest, Adan Pacheco, and everything else. I am proud to be part of this ministry that really does seek to be a voice of love on TV and online.”

Greeley said he was pleased to present the topic of immigration in a different light than that which it is sometimes portrayed in other media.

“With so much discord and animosity surrounding the topic of immigration these days, I love being part of the message we offer in this episode,” he said. “It challenges everyone to open their arms and hearts to their neighbors, whether they feel a connection to them or not. We are challenged to be love in this world, regardless of whether it’s comfortable for us or not.”

Cynthia Pineda, a member of the show’s production team, has a special connection to the topic of immigration.

“It is so satisfying to see how our teamwork is really bearing fruit … Cristo Para Todos!,” she said. “Especially in terms of this episode’s topic – because I am an immigrant and many on our team are immigrants – we produced a final product that beautifully and directly speaks to the realities of the immigrant.”

Named for St. Gabriel the Archangel, patron saint of television, radio and all digital communication, the Gabriel Awards are presented annually by the Catholic Academy in recognition of work that proclaims value-centered views of society and humanity, primarily through the media. Founded in 1965, the awards have been the culmination of an intensive screening process and blue ribbon judging that honors excellence in film, network, cable television and radio, as well as social media.

“Cristo Para Todos share the same values as the Gabriel Award criteria, ‘to uplift and nourish the human spirit’ … ‘to affirm the dignity of human persons; recognize and uphold universally recognized human values such as community, creativity, tolerance, justice, compassion and the dedication to excellence,’” Hartman said.

Entrants go through a selective process of preliminary screening and judging by values, content, creativity, artistic and technical quality and impact. Media professionals, through the awards, have an opportunity to be honored for outstanding work that might otherwise not be recognized for its enrichment value. The award is a silver angel – Gabriel – raising a globe encircled by electrons to symbolize communicating God’s Word to humanity. CPT episodes include segments of humorous skits, special guests, music by the group Ministerio Getseman, interviews with Catholic Latinos from around the Diocese and a reflection on Scripture related to the episode topic. New and encore episodes air every Saturday on Philadelphia’s Telemundo 62 and online at CristoParaTodosTV.com. New episodes air the first Saturday of each month on New York’s Univision 41. CPT can also be viewed on a number of local, national and international television stations. For more information and a detailed broadcast schedule, visit CristoParaTodosTV.com.

This is the second Gabriel Award for CPT in its eight-year history. The show began in 2006 as AHTV – Apostolato Hispano Television – and won a Proclaim Award from the Catholic Communication Campaign in its first year, as well as a videographer award. The show evolved and changed format over the years, becoming CPT in 2010.