The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis’ chancellor for civil affairs was honored with the Heartbeat Award Sept. 25 for his pro-life work with Cradle of Hope, a Roseville-based nonprofit that provides financial aid to women in crisis pregnancies, especially those who might not choose life because of financial pressures.

Joseph Kueppers, who was a partner in a Minneapolis law firm before taking the chancellor position in 2012, has been on Cradle of Hope’s board of directors for 30 years, the first 14 of them as president and since then as vice president. He also offers his legal expertise to Cradle of Hope. The nonprofit’s Heartbeat Award honors people who demonstrate years of dedication and devotion to helping pregnant women choose life. For the past 21 years, Kueppers also has led the rosary at the archdiocese’s May Day Family Rosary Procession.