Youth from diocese recognized for service to Church at liturgy

METUCHEN — The diocese honored 41 high school students who live as disciples of Christ setting a positive example for other youth. Nominated for the St. Timothy Award, the honorees hailed from 27 parishes and high schools.

Bishop James F. Checchio presented the students with the award at a prayer service Jan. 21 at the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi.

Sponsored by the diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, the awards ceremony began with prayers and the readings on the feast day of St. Timothy. Bishop Checchio presided at the service and gave the homily.

In his homily, he told the honorees, “Jesus is communicating a sense of urgency and a need for everyone to be involved in the work of the Gospel and the mission of the Church.

“Jesus is sending you like he sent the 72 [deacons] out. You are to go ahead of Jesus and prepare the way and prepare the hearts of those you help for Jesus.”

In nominations for the award, the recipients were commended for their witness to their faith by exhibiting Catholic morals and integrity. It was also noted that they demonstrate Gospel values through service to others and exhibit Christian leadership in their parish, their schools and their communities.

Meghan Callahan, director of the diocesan Youth and Young Adult Ministry who coordinated the morning’s award ceremony said, “All the students receiving awards today are awesome. We are honoring 41 teens from the dioceses that are outstanding in their works of service, but even more importantly for their faith in God and in the ways they are seeking to live it.”

The students are striving to be models for their peers in youth ministries and campus ministries. “They really are a well-rounded group of teens who excel and stand out amongst the peers that they are surrounded by,” she said.

The St. Teresa of Calcutta Award was also given out to four of the students. “It is an award within the award.” Callahan said. “This is really getting to the core of those who are radically serving and living discipleship. They have moved to the next level.”

Those receiving the St. Teresa of Calcutta award had to follow her example by their good works and by bringing the love of Christ to the poor, lonely, sick and homeless. St. Teresa once said, said, “Faith in action is love and love in action is service.”

“She was so much more than words. It was her actions and humility which spoke volumes,” Callahan noted.

Bishop Checchio closed the liturgy by saying, “Prayer is how we know God’s will. The charge is to proclaim Jesus with our voices but more importantly with our lives. Everything begins with an effective witness, a testimony, and an example. You have done that so well. We entrust you to the care of St. Timothy and St. Theresa of Calcutta. You give us good example by living for others through service.”

Colleen McLaughlin, a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Three Bridges, received the St. Timothy Award for helping with religious education classes and teaching younger students what it’s like to share your faith in school.

She is also a lead altar server and helps with summer religious formation. Reflecting on the award, she said, “This is a really great honor and I am happy that I was nominated by the parish for my work.”

Garrett Palfy, a member of St. Luke Parish, North Plainfield, was honored for service as an altar server and teaching religious education to eighth-graders.

“I like to give the students a more youthful approach because it’s harder when an adult is teaching you. It is less relatable,” Palfy said.

His mother, Suzanne, said, “I’m very proud he is being recognized for the time and effort he puts into sharing his faith with other students because it’s difficult these days to get kids to go to church and participate and help lead a group.”

Father John Barbella, pastor, St. John Vianney Parish, Colonia, was there to support two members of his parish that he nominated for recognition -- Jeffery Trinca and Patrick Kelly.

“They are both very public about their Catholic faith,” Father Barbella said. “One of the reasons I nominated these boys is that they are public school students and it is a little more of a challenge for them to show and live their faith. They are both very intelligent young men, and they get the relationship between faith and reason.”

 

2023 St. Timothy Award Winners
 

Marina Cialdella, Blessed Sacrament, Martinsville

Sarah Nichols, Immaculata High School, Somerville

Shannon Fitzgerald, Immaculata High School, Somerville

Daniel Fischer, Immaculate Conception, Annandale

Matt Jones, Mary, Mother of God, Hillsborough

Emma Gonzalez, Mary, Mother of God, Hillsborough

Kayley Moran, Mount Saint Mary Academy, Watchung

Rebecca Ryan, Mount Saint Mary Academy, Watchung

Yadiel Rivera Colon, Our Lady of Fatima, Perth Amboy

Austin Chu, Our Lady of Mercy, South Bound Brook

John Schilp, Our Lady of Mount Virgin, Middlesex

Annie Kaczynski, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Bernardsville

Hope Kaczynski, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Bernardsville

Gabriella Pento, Our Lady of the Mount, Warren

Evelyn Salinas, Sacred Heart Chapel, Bernardsville

Elizabeth Donofry, St. Edward the Confessor, Milford

Bryan Kotlar, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Three Bridges

Colleen McLoughlin, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Three Bridges

Neddy Rossi, St. Francis Cathedral, Metuchen

Mary Kate Cummings, St. Francis Cathedral, Metuchen

Alyssa Ingram, St. Helena, Edison

Meghan McMahon, St. James, Basking Ridge

A.J. Caesar, St. James, Basking Ridge

Jordan Erz, St. John Neumann, Califon

Jeffrey Trinca, St. John Vianney, Colonia

Patrick Kelly, St. John Vianney, Colonia

Robert Ilcyn, Saint Joseph High School, Metuchen

Owen Blake, Saint Joseph High School, Metuchen

Natalie Shaughnessy, St. Joseph, Carteret

Michael Lanahan, St. Joseph, Hillsborough

Rebecca Russo, St. Joseph, Hillsborough

Garrett Palfy, St. Luke, North Plainfield NJ

Gabrielle Cruz, St. Mary, South Amboy

Nikolai Przybylski, St. Mary, Stony Hill

Gianna Savatta, St. Mary, Stony Hill

Melody Adamski, St. Matthias, Somerset

Emily Chavez, St. Matthias, Somerset

Donato Farid, St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Edison

Isabella Danner, St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Edison

Christopher Padovano, Visitation, New Brunswick

Jennifer Morales, Visitation, New Brunswick


 

2023 St. Teresa of Calcutta Award Winners
 

Shannon Fitzgerald, Immaculata High School, Somerville

Meghan McMahon, St. James, Basking Ridge

Robert Ilcyn, Saint Joseph High School, Metuchen

Gabrielle Cruz, St. Mary, South Amboy



Lector

Rebecca Russo, St. Joseph, Hillsborough



Crucifer

Patrick Kelly, St. John Vianney



(26 total parishes represented)