NCEA Gala: Renewing the Promise

After a pause, NCEA brings back the NCEA Gala, a premier event honoring the distinguished recipients of the Elizabeth Ann Seton Award. Named for Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton in recognition of her lifelong dedication to teaching, the award honors exemplary individuals whose support and service advance Catholic education and the well-being of our nation’s youth. The Gala, to be held on October 5, 2026, in Washington, D.C., highlights the vital work of developing current and future leaders who will carry forward the mission of Catholic education with purpose, integrity, and faith.

The NCEA Seton Lifetime of Service to Catholic Education is a new and most prestigious honor bestowed upon an individual whose life’s work exemplifies unparalleled leadership and extraordinary service to the Church and to Catholic education, thereby advancing the Church’s mission across generations. The distinguished honoree of the 2026 NCEA Seton Lifetime of Service to Catholic Education is His Eminence Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop Emeritus of New York.

The recipients of the NCEA Elizabeth Ann Seton Award are His Excellency The Most Reverend Angelo Vincenzo Zani, former secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education and archivist emeritus of the Vatican Apostolic Archive, Titular Archbishop of Volturnum; Cecilia Abbott, First Lady of Texas; and Anthony J. de Nicola, chairman of the board of the Invest in Education Foundation.

The Gala rekindles the promise that has guided NCEA for nearly 125 years: to strengthen Catholic education by expanding access, supporting leaders, and helping Catholic school communities flourish nationwide.

To learn more about the return of the NCEA Gala, visit www.NCEA.org/Gala.