Honoring Leadership in Service

On Jan. 16 – four days ahead of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – Governor Mike DeWine of Ohio joined award winners from across the state for the 40th Annual Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Celebration. Among the honorees was Deacon Royce Winters, who received the 2025 Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Governor’s Humanitarian Award. Deacon Winters serves as the Director of the African American Pastoral Ministries Office for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and the Director of Evangelization at Crescent Parishes in Cincinnati.

A Humble Acceptance
“It is with much gratitude that I accept this award,” Deacon Winters told The Catholic Telegraph just days before receiving the honor. The Governor’s Humanitarian Award recognizes individuals or groups who promote the welfare of humanity through selfless service, often without recognition. Honorees embody a personal gift for activism that inspires long-term service to the community and serves as a model for others to emulate.

A Life of Service and Advocacy
Deacon Winters’ story of leadership and activism spans more than four decades. His journey includes a vocation to the diaconate, the sacred vocation of marriage, a distinguished career in public service and a heartfelt conversion to the Catholic faith. Through his ministry, he has worked to navigate systemic issues of poverty and injustice while discerning the Catholic Church’s vital role in bringing these struggles from darkness into light.

The Foundation of Integrity
Before entering the diaconate, Deacon Winters dedicated 20 years to law enforcement as a Cincinnati Police Officer. He credits his career in policing as a critical part of his ministry. “Standing up against injustice in all its forms and doing so with integrity and faith,” he said, was both a responsibility and an opportunity during his years of service.

Becoming a Deacon
Deacon Winters believes his call to the diaconate was a continuation and transformation of his earlier work in law enforcement and public service. “God gave me this landing spot not only to continue the work that I was doing, but also to call me [to be] a different kind of leader,” Deacon Winters shared. His mission as a leader and the archdiocesan Director of African American Pastoral Ministries became clear: “To [help others] participate in this lifelong faith formation, [and] to go deeper into a relationship with Jesus. At the core of that is also advocating at the archdiocesan level that African Americans are not forgotten.”

Focus on Education
A firm believer in the transformative power of education, Deacon Winters serves on the boards of CISE (Catholic Inner-city Schools Education) and Xavier Jesuit Academy, where he is a founding member. These organizations strive to change lives by addressing systemic poverty through access to high-quality education. “Their mission there is to change the lives of the young men, third through eighth grade… And how do we do that? By changing or giving access to overcome the systemic issues of poverty,” he explained. For Deacon Winters, education is not only about imparting knowledge but also forming youth in their faith and character.

Looking Ahead
As he continues his ministry, Deacon Winters is dedicated to inspiring others to take a stand against injustice. “Standing up against violence [requires] standing up and saying what needs to be said,” he stated, drawing on Dr. King’s principles of nonviolence. His goal is to encourage people to use their voices and listen to others in the pursuit of justice and reconciliation. Unity remains at the heart of his vision for the Church and society. “Sometimes we don’t see the unity aspect of who we are as a Christian people,” he reflected. “As we gather [in the Mass] and we’re transformed in the middle of celebrating… It gives us a much bigger understanding of who we are called to be and how we’re connected in various ways.” Deacon Winters’ lifelong dedication to faith, justice and service continues to inspire others to stand up for what is right. Let us celebrate Deacon Winters and his well-deserved reception of the 2025 Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Governor’s Humanitarian Award.