Diocese honors youth for service to parishes, Church at annual liturgy

METUCHEN — Possessing spiritual résumés the envy of any Christian decades older, the 42 young men and women seated in the front pews of the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi Jan. 26 represented the 2022 class of St. Timothy Award winners from the diocese.
 

Their shepherd, Bishop James F. Checchio, presided and gave the homily at a Mass in which the accomplishments of these high school students who had taken to heart the mission of Jesus were recognized.
 

“Everything begins with an effective witness, a testimony, an example,” the bishop said in his homily on the Gospel [Luke 10:1-9], in which disciples were sent out two by two by Jesus to proclaim the Good News. “You’ve done that. We recognize and thank you for loving God and neighbor. You give us good example by living for others through service.”
 

Noting prayer was essential in the life of any disciple, the bishop encouraged the honorees to “work with the best of intentions.”
 

“Prayer keeps us focused on our purpose… without prayer we run the risk of doing what we think is important rather than what God thinks is important…Only through prayer do we know God’s will,” the bishop continued.
 

“My young brothers and sisters in Christ, we honor you this evening. We are grateful for what you’ve accomplished … You have taken active roles in your parishes and schools, in the liturgy, youth ministry projects, instructed altar servers, conducted Bible camps, virtual prayer service and retreats. You have shown yourselves to be reliable and enthusiastic, to go above and beyond what has been asked of you.”
 

The bishop related a conversation he had with Pope Francis during which he said the diocese has the best youth in the United States. The pope told him in return to advise the youth not to be afraid to give themselves to Jesus. Jesus wants nothing from them, the pope added, only to accompany them, to assist them through their ups and downs, to fortify and strengthen them.
 

“It is through prayer we know God’s will,” Bishop Checchio said. “Today is an opportunity to thank God for you and rededicate ourselves to prayer. May these awards strengthen us all to be people of prayer.”
 

Megan Vantslot, director, diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, presented to Bishop Checchio the 42 teens who had been named this year’s St. Timothy Award winners. The high school students had been nominated by their pastors, principals and catechetical leaders, who detailed the ways they exhibited Christian leadership and set “a positive example for other youth, witness their faith by exhibiting Catholic morals and integrity, demonstrate Gospel values through service to others and exhibit Christian leadership in parish, school and or community settings,” Vantslot said.
 

Four of the award winners —students at schools in the diocese — were bestowed with an additional honor: the St. Teresa of Calcutta Award for following the saint’s example by their “good works of bringing comfort to the poor, the lonely, the sick, and the homeless,” Vantslot continued. The award winners were: Lauren Antonacci, Immaculata High School, Somerville; Miguel Castro, St. Matthew the Apostle Parish, Edison; Robert Gronwald, Saint Joseph High School, Metuchen, and Immaculate Conception Parish, Annandale, and Bridget Mooney, Mount Saint Mary Academy, Watchung.
 

Students held aloft their crucifixes and rosaries for the bishop’s blessing, and he recognized the support and spiritual example of their proud parents, parish and school representatives, thanking them and noting, “Faith doesn’t easily grow in a vacuum.”