Champion of Life Awards

Amber Dubois

A 34-year-old resident of Abbeville, Amber Dubois is a graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and a current student of Divine Mercy University.  She works full-time as a theology teacher at Catholic High School, New Iberia.  She is recently married and a proud dog mom.

Amber is passionate about education for youth and adults about the pro-life movement. Born as the result of sexual assault, she shares her unique pro-life story to help give a voice to the child’s perspective. She gently and lovingly talks about issues such as compassion for the mother in crisis and the stigmas surrounding children conceived in rape. By doing so, she hopes to help inspire others to think differently about the rape exception and encourage more men and women to speak out against all forms of assault to make this world a safer place for current and future generations.

Amber has been involved in groups that advocate for life such as Louisiana Right to Life, Rachel’s Vineyard, Friendship Explored, and Even This Way. She has shared her story with local schools, church parishes, and at PULSE Immersion events - a youth program designed to educate and empower pro-life students to serve and lead in their local communities. She has also spoken at the Geaux Forth Rally in Washington, D.C (2023) and is a member of Save the 1 – a national community of men and women who have been conceived in rape or women who have become pregnant by rape.

She is a convert to Catholicism (2009) and her faith remains a central part of her work and identity. Amber is grateful to be a part of the Pro-Life community and contribute to building a world of forgiveness, compassion, and healing. Amber prefers her puns intended, her Dr. Pepper over ice, and long naps on the couch.
 

 Kent Zerangue

Kent Zerangue was born in Opelousas, but during a 31-year career in corporate America, Kent lived throughout the United States. Upon retirement in 2017, Kent and his family came back home to South Louisiana, and now live in Lafayette. Seven years ago, Kent founded the Food with Love Ministry (FWL). Food With Love is an organization of volunteers ministering to the spiritual needs of long term and terminally-ill patients through the weekly delivery of meals. In each of the visits, Food With Love volunteers work to share the simple, profound Christian message that Jesus loves you, he will never abandon you and you are not on this journey alone.

FWL partners exclusively with Hospice of Acadiana who refers hospice families. However, FWL sources new families through word of mouth. FWL is completely volunteer driven. All the cooking and stored meals takes place at Kent’s home. Kent is the head chef and cooks the meals with the help of 80 volunteers, know as Kitchen Angels. Kent visits all of the families in FWL Ministry before they are assigned to a Delivery Angel volunteer. When the situation requires, Kent will be the family’s Delivery Angel for that final journey home.

Over the past 7 years, FWL has walked with over 350 families on their final journeys home. In 2024, FWL delivered over 40,000 meals to families dealing with serious and terminal illnesses. When a husband or wife is called home, FWL continues to deliver meals, and visit the surviving spouse for 8 weeks or longer. Many FWL Families share that while the meals are delicious, the visits, the prayers and the love shared are invaluable.

Kent has been married to Susie for 41 years, and they have 3 children, Ashley, Christopher and Courtney and 5 grandchildren.
 

Krystal Romero

Krystal Romero is a well-known pro-life advocate, nurse, and native of Acadiana. She is passionate about protecting the most vulnerable. After the passing of her daughter, Gracey Claire, she dedicated her life
to helping babies by helping their mothers in memory of her daughter. Focusing on helping others helped her cope with her grief. She worked for several years at the DesOrmeaux Foundation, caring for pregnant women in the maternity home, and currently serves on its Board of Directors. Her journey at the DesOrmeaux Foundation began as a volunteer and advanced to Executive Assistant.

Krystal was previously the Acadiana Director for Louisiana Right to Life. During that time she hosted monthly pro-life lunches, brought the adoption education program “Option Hope” to public schools in the area, organized the Keep Louisiana Pro-Life RV tour, worked to have the city of Lafayette recognize “Celebrate Life Day” in recognition of the overturning of Roe v. Wade and was involved in many pro-life fundraising efforts. In 2023, she worked closely with state senators and representatives to pass important legislation that provides a tax credit to those who donate to pregnancy resource centers.

Krystal has three children. Her oldest, Gracey Claire, passed away in 2009. She has two children currently living, Emma Grace and Grayson. As a mother to a son with Digeorge Syndrome, she can relate and understand everyday challenges faced with having a special needs child. Words can't express how grateful she is for her son and the everlasting impressions that he has left on her soul. She believes every life is precious in the eyes of God and life begins at conception.
 

Dr. Maurice Faugot

Dr. Maurice “ Mo” Faugot was born and raised in Lafayette, LA and settled in New Iberia upon the completion of his pediatric training. He practiced there for over 40 years and believed his career was a vocational calling to serve the children and parents in his care. His practice was guided by the standards of his Catholic Christian faith. Last year he testified before the LA legislature concerning the harmful effects of gender transition treatments in children.

Dr. Faugot was a founding board member of the Unexpected Pregnancy Center in New Iberia which opened in 2018 and he serves as its Medical Director. Presently he is working with two other local physicians, Dr Tyler Hebert and Dr. Damian Delhomme, to implement an Abortion Pill Rescue program at the center.  This program can help mothers who regret taking the abortion pill and want to continue their pregnancy by administering a medication that reverses the effects of the abortion pill. He is also working as the chairman of the Building Committee for the Unexpected Pregnancy Center which is in the final architectural design stages for beginning the construction of a much needed new facility.

Dr. Mo has served as a captain of the New Iberia men’s retreat program at Our Lady of the Oaks for the last 20 years, having the goal of bringing men to Christ through retreats. Additionally, he was a founding member of the That Man is You program, a men’s spirituality program at St. Peter Church and he has been a part of several medical mission trips to Mexico.

He and his wife, Ellen, just celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary. They have three children; Garret Faugot, Bridget Helm and Dr. Allison Faugot Kolwe, along with 15 amazing and wonderful grandchildren.

The nomination period for 2024 recipients has closed. However, we accept nominations throughout the year.
 
Do you know someone who has dedicated their life to the pro-life cause? Nominate them for the 2024 Champion of Life Awards. Nominees might assist in pro-life education efforts, at pregnancy resource centers, with the care of the elderly & dying, by meeting the needs of those experiencing homelessness, hunger or poverty, with foster care or adoption or any other activity that promotes the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death. For more information you may contact the Office of Pro-Life Apostolate at 337-261-5607 or bishopsdinner@diolaf.org. 
 

Or Fill out the online form below: