Telemachus Award

The Telemachus Award is given in recognition of faithfully and courageously speaking for innocent human life.

Telemachus, a fourth-century monk who lived in a monastery, felt God calling him to Rome. He couldn’t figure out why God would want him in Rome, but he felt the pressure to go. When he got to Rome, people were running about the city in great confusion hurrying to the amphitheater. He had arrived on a day when the gladiators were going to fight other gladiators and animals. Telemachus thought this must be why God had called him to Rome. He walked into the amphitheater. He sat down among 80,000 people who cheered as the gladiators came out. The little monk thought to himself, “Here we are, four centuries after Christ, in a civilized nation, and people are killing one another for the entertainment of the crowd. This isn’t Christian!”

Telemachus got up out of his seat, ran down the steps, climbed over the wall, walked out to the center of the amphitheater, and stood between two large gladiators. Putting his hands up, he meekly cried out, “In the name of Christ, stop!” The crowd laughed and jeered. One of the gladiators slapped Telemachus in the stomach with his sword and sent him spinning off into the dust.

Telemachus got up and again stood between the two huge gladiators. He repeated, “In the name of Christ, stop.”

This time the crowd chanted, “Run him through!” One of the gladiators took his sword and ran it through Telemachus’ stomach. He fell into the dust and the sand turned red as blood ran out of him.

One last time, Telemachus weakly cried out, “In the name of Christ, stop.” He died on the amphitheater floor. The crowd grew silent, and within minutes they emptied out of the amphitheater.

History records that, thanks to Telemachus, this was the last gladiatorial contest in the history of the Roman Empire.

2024 Recipient

Jim Delaney was married to his beloved late wife, Nan, for 59 years. He is a father of 10, grandfather of 38, and great-grandfather of 6. After starting his family, he worked at the I&M Power Company.

Jim and Nan raised their 10 kids as unique and perfectly created individuals with special gifts. They treated everyone with love and dignity and helped strangers in a Biblical, selfless way, by regularly picking up people to give them a ride, stopping at car accidents to help the victims, and even going so far as to give a meal and kind words to someone who broke into their home with the intent to steal.

Jim and Nan were involved in the pro-life community their whole lives. As a family, they frequently attended pro-life programs and talks. Jim continues to be the head of the Pro-Life Committee at St. Jude Catholic Church. He is instrumental in reaching out and recruiting people to get involved in the bi-annual 40 Days for Life campaigns, as well as participating in the campaigns himself. He encourages teens to attend the Life Defenders Summer Camp hosted by Right to Life, and he works to have regular pro-life programs at St. Jude's school.

Jim was once asked why he is so passionate about the pro-life cause, and he said he wants to be able to tell the Lord that he has done as much as he could to protect those who cannot protect themselves.

Recipients of the Telemachus Award

2024- Jim Delaney
2023- The Renner Family
2022- Robin Atkins
2021- Rev. Steve MacDougall & Joyce MacDougall-Schrank
2020- Nathan and Emily Berning, Let Them Live
2019- Angela Forker
2018 – Monica Kelsey
2017 – Tom Auer
2016 – The Fort Wayne Area Lutherans for Life
2015 – Marlene and Joe Romie
2014 – Mike Spencer
2013 – Dean & Evelyn Witte
2012 – Max & Linda Zimmerman
2011 – Dr. Dean O. Wenthe
2010 – The Most Reverend Bishop John M. D’Arcy
2009 – Judi Hapke & A Hope Center Staff
2008 – Kurt E Marquart
2007 – Mary Cross Tippmann
2006 – Susan Landrigan
2005 – Pam Durdahl
2004 – Wendell Brane
2003 – Phyllis Conroy-Avila