DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH GIVES SAINT TIMOTHY AWARDS

PITTSBURGH – The Secretariat for Education in the Diocese of Pittsburgh is honoring Catholic young people from across the diocese for exemplifying qualities of moral integrity, good works, and Christian leadership at the fifteenth annual Saint Timothy (formerly Eagle of the Cross) Awards. Bishop David A. Zubik will present the awards during a prayer service at the Student Union of Duquesne University at 7 p.m.on Monday, May 12.

Changing the name of the award had been discussed at the national level because of its confusion with the Eagle Scout award. Saint Timothy, who was a young missionary with Saint Paul, is regarded as a patron saint of youth, and the scripture verse from 1 Timothy 4:12 is frequently used in youth ministry: Let no one have contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.

Sponsored nationally by the National Foundation for Catholic Youth Ministry based in Washington, DC, the Award is given annually to high school juniors or seniors from each of the diocese’s deaneries and 12 Catholic high schools who have shown exemplary leadership skills, service, spirituality and involvement in their youth ministry programs, parishes and/or schools. The winners were nominated by their pastors, youth ministers, catechetical administrators and principals.

Father Kris Stubna, diocesan Secretary for Education, will deliver the opening prayer and welcome. Father Stubna believes that the extensive participation and number of nominations every year show how much young people contribute to the Church and to their families and communities as a whole.

“The awards ceremony gives us an opportunity to thank these outstanding young people in our local Church and highlight the numerous ways they make a difference in the lives of so many people across the six counties of the diocese,” Father Stubna said. “Their efforts continue to create a world that shows forth the love, peace, justice and truth of the Kingdom of God.”

Students who were nominated but not receiving the award will receive a certificate of recognition. The 2008 Saint Timothy Award Winners are listed below, with winners from each deanery first, then winners from each high school.

For the fourth time, the Department for Youth and Young Adult Ministry also nominated a recipient, and the award was presented to Joseph Palko, Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Parish, Pleasant Hills.

2008 St. Timothy Winners List

• Allegheny Valley, Anne Mueller, St. Alphonsus, Springdale
• Beaver Deanery, Perrie Bell, St. Frances Cabrini
• Butler Deanery, Daniel Sheehan, Mater Dolorosa
• Central Deanery, Justin Morgano, St. Lawrence O’Toole
• East Suburban, Dylan Bober, St. Susanna
• Lawrence Deanery, John Henley, St. James
• Mon Yough Deanery, Clifton Pearson, St. Mark
• North Side Deanery, Joseph Glassbrenner, Risen Lord
• Northwest Deanery, Meghan Curran, All Saints
• South Hills Deanery, Molly McCann, Our Lady of Grace
• South Pittsburgh Deanery, Ray Mondry, St. Wendelin
• Southwest Deanery, Brian Koger, St. Philip
• Steel Valley Deanery, James Krebs, Holy Angels
• Washington East Deanery, Maura Rodgers, St. Francis of Assisi
• Washington West Deanery, Amy Jane Matchett, St. Ann
• Aquinas Academy High School, Tyler Deschamps, St. Richard
• Bishop Canevin High Schoo, Alexis Rodgers, St. Philip
• Central Catholic High School, John Joyce, St. Maurice
• Mt. Alvernia High School, Clare Gates, St. Alexis
• North Catholic High School, Vincent Lamperski, St. Teresa of Avila
• Oakland Catholic High School, Jane Jeffries, St. Bernard
• Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School, Louie Trapizona, Holy Trinity
• Quigley Catholic High School, David Fath, Our Lady of Fatima
• Serra Catholic High School, Ryan Flaherty, St. Colman
• Seton LaSalle High School, Emily Zacchero, St. Pamphilus
• St. Joseph High School, Christine Sadowski, Holy Family
• Vincentian Academy, Jackie Cortese, St. Sebastian