Msgr. Arturo Bañuelas wins Lumen Christi Award

Msgr. Arturo Bañuelas, a priest from the El Paso Diocese, received the 2026–2027 Lumen Christi Award from the Catholic Extension Society. The Chicago-based organization announced the award in a news release on Sept. 28.

Bañuelas was selected from eight finalists and 46 nominees to receive the highest honor given by the society. He was chosen for his 50 years of ministry and his work training approximately 80,000 lay leaders. He founded the Tepeyac Institute, a center for lay ministry formation that serves the El Paso Diocese.

The award is determined by bishops, who nominate one individual, group, or institution from their respective dioceses each year. In a statement, Bañuelas said the award highlights the blessings the Tepeyac Institute has brought to the community.