Bishop celebrates Liturgy for volunteers who give back in extraordinary ways
Teens and adults who give back were honored last weekend by the parishes and schools that have benefited from their charity.
“Taking time to recognize and honor the young people and adults that give their time and talent to further the life and mission of our many parishes and schools at this ceremony is just one of those ways we try to support our youth ministry leaders,” Rich Donovan, Associate Director for the Office for Youth and Young Adult Ministry said. “We are committed to helping form and empower the youth ministry leaders in our parishes and schools that walk with young people in the Church.”
On Sunday, Dec. 4, at the Cathedral Basilica in Newark, 62 youths and 20 adults from parishes and schools throughout the archdiocese were recognized by the Office for Youth and Young Adult Ministry for their “authentic, credible, and competent witness to the Gospel in their communities,” Donovan said. The teens and adults were honored with a special Liturgy celebrated by Bishop Michael A. Saporito.
The awards presented at the recognition ceremony included the Archdiocesan Parish/School Youth Discipleship Award, the Archdiocesan Parish/School Adult Light of the World Award, the Saint Joseph the Worker Award, the Monsignor John J. Kiley Award, and the Saint John Paul II Award.
The Saint John Paul II Award is presented to a layperson who serves their parish youth ministry program and “demonstrates the qualities of our late Holy Father, which endeared him to many – love for youth, patience, gentleness, and humility.” Saint Joseph “The Worker” Award is presented to someone who “unselfishly gives of their time, talent, and treasures” in support of the Office for Youth and Young Adult Ministry and the St. John Paul II Youth Retreat Center. The Monsignor John J. Kiley Award is named after the first priest to bring the concept of youth ministry to the Archdiocese of Newark, according to Donovan.
“We are proud to carry on Msgr. Kiley’s vision. This award is the highest recognition the Archdiocese of Newark confers on religious men and women for Youth Ministry,” Donovan said.
The Discipleship Award “is presented to a youth who responds to the call to discipleship through service or ministry to their parish or school community,” according to the Office for Youth & Young Adult Ministry. This year’s award recipients included students who have volunteered many hours to organizations for children with special needs, such as the American Special Children’s Pilgrimage Group. While another teen was awarded for her classes on Ukrainian culture after the war began. With the help of fellow students, she also collected hundreds of boxes of supplies to send to Ukrainian citizens in need.
The Adult Light of the World Award “is presented to adults to express appreciation and gratitude to adults who have demonstrated a commitment to young people and youth ministry in their parish or school.” This year’s award recipients included catechists who have served in their parish ministry for over 25 years, Catholic school staff who worked tirelessly to create meaningful programming for students following the pandemic lockdowns, and adults who have volunteered their time each week for multiple years to prepare children to receive sacraments.
This year’s award recipients included catechists who have served in their parish ministry for over 25 years, Catholic school staff who worked tirelessly to create meaningful programming for students following the pandemic lockdowns, adults who have volunteered their time each week for multiple years to prepare children to receive sacraments, and one adult who has been volunteering with her parish since her teenage years as a catechist and on the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council for her parish and founded an entire youth ministry within her community dedicated to service, activities, and fundraising.
The awards are made available through the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM). This national organization focuses on supporting and strengthening those who accompany young people as they encounter and follow Jesus Christ. Award recipients received a certificate of recognition and a ceremonial pin from the NFCYM, which Bishop Saporito placed on each recipient during the ceremony.
Each parish and school of the Archdiocese was encouraged by the Office for Youth & Young Adult Ministry to nominate up to two teens and one adult for the various awards. Schools and parishes were also encouraged to recognize the nominated youths with special Masses within their communities.
The Youth Ministry Award Ceremony is an annual event hosted by the Office for Youth and Young Adult Ministry. Following feedback from the Synod on Synodality earlier this year, the Office for Youth and Young Adult Ministry has amped up its efforts to engage youth in the faith community.
In addition to the Youth Ministry Award Ceremony hosted on Dec. 4, the ministry will be hosting a CALLED Rally on Jan. 28, an opportunity for all archdiocesan teens who are preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation to gather, have fun, meet new friends, pray, learn, laugh, and grow in their faith.
Teens and adults from all four counties within the Archdiocese were honored at the Dec. 4th Liturgy. Awardees included parishioners and volunteers from St. Catharine in Glen Rock, St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Bloomfield, St. Pius X in Old Tappan, St. Henry in Bayonne, St. Gabriel the Archangel in Saddle River, St. Francis de Sales in Lodi, St. Casimir in Newark, St. Teresa of Avila in Summit, St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Hackensack, St. Peter the Apostle Parish in River Edge, St. Joseph in Oradell, Saint Elizabeth of Hungary R.C. Church in Wyckoff, Sacred Heart in Rochelle Park, St. Helen in Westfield, Our Lady Queen of Peace in Maywood, Our Lady of Peace in New Providence, Our Lady of Mount Virgin in Garfield, Our Lady of Mercy in Park Ridge, Our Lady of Fatima in North Bergen, Mother Seton Regional High School in Clark, Most Holy Name Church in Garfield, Immaculate Heart of Mary in Scotch Plains, Guardian Angel Church in Allendale, Church of the Madonna in Fort Lee, Christ the King in Hillside, St. Charles Borromeo in Newark, Oratory Prep in Summit, St. Stephen in Kearny, and St. Michael in Cranford.
This year’s awardees include:
Youth Discipleship Award
Mirielle Adamo
Geraldine Anunugni
Emily Azzolino
Robert Bajkowski
Alana Beardsley
Andrew Benoit
Mika Bidiak
Olivia Bufkin
Emma Burgess
Nicholas Cacas
Kiera Caslin
Carina Chica
Marron Cometa
Ryan Cortez
Mia Diaz
Natalie Dominguez
Joseph Drefko
Mikael Fernandez
Abigail Finan
Benjamin Fiscelli
Kenneth Josepp Francis
Emily Garcia
Jane Howlett
Eliot Jablonski
Daniala Jasko
Jairus Joseph
Phoebe Keyser
Jakub Khan
Angela Khawam
Alex Yoobeen Kim
Julia Marianna Kolenda
John Kubowicz
Derek Lam
Meaghan Laniewski
Kaitlyn LeSuer
Ryan Matulonis
Neil McGovern
Mikalah Merizalde
Jillian Miele
Luis Morocho
Belen Munoz
Daniel Musa
Teresa Nole
William Olohan
Patrick O’Neill
Maria Fernanda Pistoia
Aila Riera
Charlotte Riley
Jayne Ritter
Tomasz Sadowy
Matthew Sammarco
Emilio Santiago
Christian Schwarzbeck
Aidan Solinas
Raymundo Sotelo
Mary Stoker
Ram Tarrega
Catie Terminello
Kayleigh Turner
Vanessa Uzhca
Marcelo Vidal
Genevieve Watson
Adult Light of the World Award
Robert Argasinski
Patricia Bajkowski
Jennifer Ballanco
Annerys Burgos
Dan Ferrari
Michelle Gribbin
Suzanne Klatt
Mariliza LaCap Tong
Tony Levorse
Jane McConlogue
Carla Moschetto
Yalila Murillo
Debra Nole
Nina Pazymino
Steve Prato
Carolan Prisco
Joanne Rinkus
Jossenny Sanchez
Keith Santulli
James Slater
The Saint John Paul II Award
Patti Gardner, Youth Minister at the Parish Community of St. Helen in Westfield
The Saint Joseph “The Worker” Award
Andrew P. Schafer, Executive Director of Catholic Cemeteries for the Archdiocese of Newark
The Monsignor John J. Kiley Award
Reverend Paul Houlis, Chaplain at Gate of Heaven Cemetery for the Archdiocese of Newark
Reverend Peter T. Sticco, Pastor of Our Lady of Grace Church in Fairview
