Rev. Edward Brienz is a finalist for national Catholic award

YOUNGSTOWN — The Rev. Edward Brienz is a finalist for the 2016 Lumen Christi Award, the highest national honor given by Catholic Extension, an organization that builds churches and the Church in America’s home missions.

Father Brienz founded Cafe Augustine in Newport Public Library. It opened in 2015.

He was inspired by a cafe in New Orleans that helped to rebuild homes after Hurricane Katrina.

The cafe is a four-month work-readiness program that teaches personal responsibility, financial management, teamwork and Catholic Church teachings to young people. In its first few months, the cafe touched the lives of 80 students, 45 volunteers and nearly 10,000 patrons.

Father Brienz is director of missions/propagation of the faith for the Diocese of Youngstown and is administrator of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in McDonald.