APRIL 9, 2015 • Special Section

MonitorTHE

Newspaper of the Diocese of TrentonDIOCESAN

YOUTH

NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL

SUNDAY, MARCH 22

Craig Pittelli photos

A LOOK AT THE CELEBRATION: ‘You are Mine’: the 2015 DYC S-2 • Social media plays role in fun S-3 • Loving Life Logo winner recognized S-5 • Timothy Award winners S-7, S-8

DYC 2015 THE MONITOR • APRIL 9, 2015S•2

The excitement was palpable as more than 600 teens and youth ministers from 30 parishes in the Diocese arrived at Notre Dame

High School, Lawrenceville, March 22 for the Diocesan Youth Celebration.

The theme of the celebration, “Called: I have called you by name, you are mine,” was prominent as speakers and sessions focused on what Rudy Gomez, youth min-istry coordinator for the diocesan Depart-

ment of Youth, Mar-riage and Family Life, called “‘what is God calling me to, and how does God call me?’Also, ‘what is vocation about?’ It’s not just religious life, but the vocations of single and married life, as well.”

A live band playing contempo-rary Christian music welcomed the teens who traveled from all four counties of

the Diocese for the annual one-day event. The Bosco Boys kicked off the day with

their unique style of spreading the faith through the use of music, namely rap music. Band members Salesian Broth-ers Steven DeMaio and Stephen Eguino quickly became a crowd favorite. The Salesian brothers, who are studying to become Catholic priests, had the crowd on its feet clapping and dancing in the school auditorium.

The host of the DYC was Scott Anthony, a former keynote speaker.

Anthony, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, has been involved in professional Catho-lic youth and family ministry for more than 19 years. He is in his 18th year in his cur-rent position as the director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries in St. Joseph and St. Patrick Parishes, York, Pa. He speaks at the parish, diocesan and national levels to both teens and adults.

Keynote speaker at the youth celebra-tion was Father Joseph Espaillat, who was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of New York in 2003 and currently serves as

director of the Arch-diocesan Office of Youth Ministry.

In his presenta-tion he questioned the teens on “Who do you look to for inspiration?” He re-layed the message that as Christians, “we are worth so much more and we were made for so much more.”

Father Espail-lat challenged the teens to “get excited for their faith,” and acknowledged that God should always “be our hero.”

“My God is H.E.R.O.,” he said, then ex-plained the acronym which stood for holy, Eucharist, real and one.

“My God can’t be beat,” he stated em-phatically. “He defeated death.”

Father Espaillat outlined the challenge the youth may face along their journey to holiness including what he refers to as the obstacles of dullness, dream stealers and the worldly.

Like the Bosco Boys, he too, used music to share his love for Jesus and sang an original and very personal song, “Nothing Compares to You.”

Following the keynote address, attend-ees had the opportunity to attend breakout sessions that focused on the day’s theme “Called.”

The Bosco Boys, Father Espaillat and Scott Anthony joined additional speakers who presented their discussions during the two times designated for breakout sessions.

The Bosco Boys used their unique blend

At DYC 2015, youth are reminded that they have been called by God

To view DYC gallery of

photos and videos go to

TrentonMonitor.com Multimedia

By Rose O’Connor Correspondent

“My God can’t be beat. He defeated death.”

TEAM SPIRIT • Students from Notre Dame High School are part of the ‘red t-shirt’ team of the day, taking on assorted tasks to help keep the day moving smoothly.

JOYFUL NOISE • A collaboration of Cath-olic musicians from across the Diocese, under the direction of Ken Perry, parish music minister, right, includes brother and sister artists, Sibling Rivalry, center.

HIGH ENERGY • Participants rise to their feet with an enthu-siastic response of praise and worship to keynote speaker, Father Joseph Espaillat, from the Archdiocese of New York.

WELCOME! • Rudy Gomez, diocesan coordinator of Youth Ministry, welcomes youth to DYC 2015, reminding them that they have been ‘Called.’

See Speakers • S-4

APRIL 9, 2015 • www.TrentonMonitor.com DYC 2015 S•3

By Rudy GomezSpecial Contributor

Teens and youth ministers of the Diocese of Trenton were “Called” to Notre Dame High School March 22… and they absolutely

responded. Six hundred participants from 30 parishes filled the Lawrenceville high school for the annual Diocesan Youth Celebration with the theme “Called: I have called you by name, you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1).

Participants unpacked what it meant to be called by God, despite their brokenness, to serve and love one another. When they weren’t attending workshops, they could be found in the gym, playing “junk in the trunk” or other games, taking selfies with giant cut-outs of Jesus and Popes, or dancing “Cotton Eye Joe”

Social media planning for the 2015 Diocesan Youth Celebration began with a short brainstorming session

months before the March 22 event in Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville.

Diocesan Coordinator of Youth Min-istry Rudy Gomez and diocesan Social Media Coordinator Brittany Wilson met to discuss how social media could be used effectively to promote, and then chronicle, the teen-centric day of faith and fun.

The pair established an event-specific hashtag, #DoTDYC, to serve as a catch-all for social media content coming from the event, and decided to add a contest element to entice the teens to post.

Attendees were asked to post to Instagram and include #DoTDYC and mention their parish or youth group. Those who tagged their posts correctly were entered into a drawing to win a standup, cardboard cutout of St. Pope John Paul II, which depicted the late pope don-ning Wayfarer sunglasses and a beret. @Cody9262, and Instagram user from St. Jo-seph Parish, Toms River, won the prize.

The posts ranged from selfies with cutouts of Jesus, Pope Francis and the aforementioned one of St. Pope John Paul II and videos of Filippini Sisters dancing to “Cotton Eye Joe,” to recaps of breakout sessions and reflections on the day (you can check out all the content by searching for #DoTDYC on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter).

DYC 2015: Recalling an experience of joy and hunger for God

with a group of energetic religious. The day went by in a flash, but there were a few

memories that will stay with me forever. Two parents who served as chaperones at the DYC had brought a

young daughter of about 10 years old. Holding her hand, they led her to a priest for Confessions, then walked back and knelt in prayer as their daughter received the Sacra-ment of Reconciliation.

During Adoration, keynote speaker Father Joseph Espaillat of the Archdiocese of New York pro-cessed throughout the auditorium with the Blessed Sacrament. On the way, he stopped to pray more intimately with individuals as he placed his hand, covered by the humeral veil, on the head of those he was praying with. How could

this beautiful image not remind us of the hemor-rhaging woman who found healing in Jesus after touching his garments (Mark 5:25)?

The final image I remember is one of pure joy. At the beginning of the day, musical act The Bosco Boys, accompanied by our incredibly talented house band, performed some high energy songs and got the crowd on their feet. Beach balls floated through the air and teens jumped around in the “praise pit” in front of the stage.

The smiles and sheer joy on their faces, all while praising God, will forever be a sign to me that young people are hungry for Jesus. DYC is just one of those moments that can truly feed that hunger to come to know and love Jesus in the Sacraments and in the community around them.

We hope to see everyone at the next DYC on April 17, 2016!

Gomez is youth ministry coordinator for the dioc-esan Department of Youth, Marriage and Family Life.

“You have to dare to bear or bare. Either way with Christ it will be better, no necessarily easier,” one poignant Instagrammer wrote on a photo from a breakout session.

Another tweeter remarked that “#DoTDYC is so fun!”

In all, more than 125 photos, videos and tweets were posted — not including content from Dioc-esan accounts — by dozens of DYC attendees. Those posts were then compiled by a program called Zoomph and projected on a 100-inch screen in the gym for attendees to view in real time.

A recap of the presentation can be viewed at www.DioceseofTrenton.org/DYC15social.

LET ME TAKE A SELFIE • St. Paul, Princeton, youth minister Kait Mayer, left, dons a camou-flage helmet to pose with Collin Nichols and a cutout of St. John Paul II during the Diocesan Youth Celebration. Photo courtesy of @sppym, the Instagram account of St. Paul, Princeton, youth ministry

Social media lets teens, others tell DYC story in real time

SOCIAL SHOW • More than 125 photos and tweets cycled through the #DoTDYC presentation during the Diocesan Youth Celebration March 22 in Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville. The presentation, powered by Zoomph.com, was a way for the teens in attendance to chronicle the event via social media, and was projected on a 100-inch screen in the high school’s gym.

BUST A MOVE • Filippini Sister

Shirlee Tremont, dances with some of the

600 Diocesan Youth Celebra-tion attendees

March 22 in the Notre Dame High

School gym. Photo courtesy

of @you.dot, the Instagram account of diocesan youth

ministry

INTERCESSORY PRAYER • Robert Morris, youth minister in St. Martha Parish, Point Pleasant, and his wife, Patricia, center back, kneel in prayer as their young daughter receives the Sacrament of Reconciliation.Criag Pittelli photos

WE ADORE YOU •

Holding the monstrance and covered

with the humeral veil,

Father Joseph Espaillat stops

to pray with individual at-

tendees.

DYC 2015THE MONITOR • APRIL 9, 2015S•4 APRIL 9, 2015 • www.TrentonMonitor.com S•5

of music and preaching in a session entitled, “Called to be a Saint.”

“What do you feel makes you great?” Salesian Brother Stephen Eguino questioned. “What are your faults and challenges?”

“The saints have experienced all of these same things,” Brother Ste-ven shared in the standing-room-only breakout session.

Father Espaillat facilitated a discussion entitled, “Renewed, Redeemed, Freed,” and stressed the importance of how “God uses sin-ners to make his glory known.”

“We’re not perfect,” he contin-ued, “but we are redeemable and we can be freed.”

Married couple Tracy and Joe Kociolek, parishioners of Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish, Hamilton, shared their vocation to married life in “Calling the Chosen.”

Joining the Kocioleks was Father Christopher Picollo, parochial vicar of St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Cinnaminson, and Sister Colleen Clair, a member of the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco.

Kristina Rainwater and Monica Ellebracht discussed the Salesian Lay Missioners whose vocation as detailed in their community’s mis-sion statement, is to “share in the tradition, prayer, work, family spirit, community life and educational method of the Salesian of Don Bosco, while living in community with Salesian and other missioners. SLMs work in various projects to provide an educational experience for young people and are com-mitted to be, above all, Christian witnesses.”

Kenny Wodzanowski, a youth minister from Brooklyn, encouraged the youth to listen for God’s call in his discussion, “God’s Ringtone.”

“God calls all of us to holiness,” he spoke and encouraged the teens to open their hearts to hear what God may be calling them to do.

Scott Anthony discussed the challenges that youth ministers en-counter in his adults–only breakout session, “Fully Alive.”

During the day, the teens and their chaperones had the oppor-tunity to network with one another, play games, visit with representa-tives from different organizations and simply have fun!

No youth event for millenni-als would be complete without the selfie and students could be seen snapping selfies with cutouts of St. John Paul II and Pope Francis that decorated the gym.

A screen displayed the tweets and pictures posted by the at-tendees who chronicled the day on social media using the hashtag #dotdyc.

An authentic of love for Christ was evident as the rowdy and ex-cited teens quickly quieted down for an hour of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Students also had the opportunity to attend the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Prior to the celebration of the Mass, Gomez; Josue Arriola, direc-tor of the diocesan Department of Youth, Marriage and Family Life,

and Msgr. Michael Walsh, pastor of St. James Parish, Pennington, presented the Timothy Awards to this year’s award recipients.

The Timothy Awards, which honor students in grades 10-12, “recognizes the individual’s example of putting faith into action, commit-ment to youth ministry and following in the footsteps of St. Timothy, a young companion of St. Paul.”

The teens were nominated by someone in their parish or school

To view DYC gallery of photos and videos go to TrentonMonitor.com ... Multimedia“God uses sinners to make his glory known.”

community for this prestigious award.

Donna Goodwin, coordinator of Respect Life Ministries in the dioc-esan Department of Pastoral Care, presented an Apple MacBook to Kerry Bates, a ninth grader in Red Bank Catholic High School, and parishioner of St. Mary Parish, New Monmouth. Bates was honored for her artwork in the 2015 Respect Life Ministry’s Loving Life Logo Contest.

Msgr. Walsh concelebrated the Mass with Father Espaillat and priests from the various parishes who participated in the 2015 DYC.

Msgr. Walsh spoke on behalf of Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., who is still recovering from surgery. “Bishop O’Connell wishes very

much that he could be here with you today,” he offered.

In his homily for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, Msgr. Walsh reminded the youth that “Our lowest points can be our turning points,” and reiterated that “good triumphs, love triumphs” and “God has the last Word.”

Youth minister Jennifer Karaczun of St. Thomas More Parish, Manala-pan, was pleased with the day. “I love for them to be able to have these greater connections with one another and with their faith,” she said, indicating her youth group, all clad in red shirts.

The teens, who are stereotypi-cally known for their incessant com-plaining, had nothing but praise for the DYC.

“It was not at all what I ex-pected,” Jack Mac Donald from St. Joan of Arc Parish, Marlton,

declared. “I knew it would be fun but it was also very moving.”

Fellow parishioner Alyssa Nor-cross echoed her friend’s statement and suggested that Adoration was her favorite part of the day.

“I just wanted to be present and just open up to God,” she said.

Gary Krall, a parishioner of St. Leo the Great Parish, Lincroft, and student in Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft, lauded his fellow attendees. “It’s just such a great

Continued from • S-2

Speakers, musicians engage youth at DYC

Hundreds of teens at the March 22 Dioc-esan Youth Celebra-

tion witnessed the recogni-tion of one of their own as a strong pro-life advocate. Kerry Bates, a freshman in Red Bank Catholic High School, was named winner of the 2015 Loving Life Logo contest and presented with the contest’s grand prize, an Apple MacBook, by Donna Goodwin, coordinator of Respect Life Ministry.

Sponsored by the dioc-esan Department of Pastoral Care, the annual contest had attracted artwork depicting the respect life theme from students in Catholic and public high schools across the Diocese. The Respect Life Ministry chose five finalist logos and posted them to determine the 2015 winning en-try by an on-line voting process held Dec. 9-31 last year.

Of the 1,348 total votes entered, Bates’ logo, depicting a black-and-white rendering of a mother tenderly holding her infant, had received the highest number of 494 votes, or 36.7 percent, and been announced as winner by the Respect Life Ministry Jan. 5. Her winning logo will be used in association with

all diocesan functions related to respect for life throughout the 2015 calendar year.

Bates, a resident of Belford and parishioner in St. Mary Par-ish, New Monmouth, reflected upon her logo in an earlier inter-view, asserting she truly believes what she says her logo repre-sents: how a mother’s care can help a baby, and how important it is to care for that child, wheth-er it has been born or is still in the womb.

“I think it’s important to bring awareness to life issues – how people think more on death than on life, and that abortion is a ter-rible thing,” Bates said.

Loving Life Logo winner recognized at DYC

atmosphere, everyone is so nice, and it’s great to see.”

Anna Nicosta, an 11th grade student from Our Lady of Perpetu-al Help-St. Agnes Parish, Atlantic Highlands, thought the day “had a great message” and was look-ing forward to the opportunity to “come together with others who share my faith.”

Chris Wall, also from St. Leo the Great Parish, was honored to

be named a Timothy Award recipient.

“I know some of the [fel-low recipients] and I know how great they are. It is quite humbling,” he said.

Fellow Timothy Award recipient, Ella Ahearn of St. Rose of Lima Parish, Free-hold, enjoyed her first time as a participant at the DYC. “I usually am behind the scenes so it was nice to be in the audience this year.”

“Friendships were quickly formed,” she observed and the “energy of the speakers

was awesome. I think everyone got a good vibe of the day.”

The day will be tough to top and those in attendance quickly marked their calendars and saved the date of April 17, 2016, the next sched-uled Diocesan Youth Celebration.

“What an amazing day for these teens and for the youth of the Catholic Church,” Kimberly Wil-liams, youth minister from Precious Blood Parish, Monmouth Beach, re-flected at the conclusion of the day.

PERTINENT MESSAGE • DYC host, Scott Anthony, talks about the chal-lenges youth ministers encounter. Craig Pittelli photos

SPECIAL GUESTS • A ‘selfie-station’ gave youth an opportunity for photos with life-sized images of Jesus, Pope Francis and St. John Paul II.

TEST OF SKILL • A determined youth works on building a paper tower, one of many activities available throughout the day.

‘HAPPY NUN’ • Salesian Sister Colleen Clair, who refers to herself as the ‘happy nun,’ speaks with youth during a vocation breakout session, entitled ‘Calling the Chosen.’

LINE DANCING • A spontaneous break into the Conga was a time for fun during a day of prayer, reflection, discus-sion, music and camaraderie.

INSPIRATIONAL SOUND • During the opening session of DYC, the Bosco Boys, including Salesian Brothers Steve DiMaio, right, and Steve Equino, center, are joined by fellow Salesian Rafael Vargas for some Catholic hip-hop that sparked the crowd.

HEAR THE BEAT

• Keynote speaker, Fa-ther Joseph

Espaillat, demonstrates

his talent on the conga

drums during a musical ses-

sion.

SHE LOVES LIFE • From left, Donna Goodwin, diocesan coordinator of Respect Life Ministry, presents an Apple MacBook to Red Bank Catholic High School freshman Kerry Bates for winning the 2015 Diocese of Trenton Lov-ing Life Logo contest. Bates’ logo of a mother cradling her child will adorn all pro-life materials this year.

DYC 2015 THE MONITOR • APRIL 9, 2015S•6

Each year, the diocesan De-partment of Youth, Marriage and Family Life recognizes

outstanding service in youth min-istry by bestowing the St. Timothy Award upon high school aged youth who serve as examples of love, faith and virtue.

The awards are named for Timothy, a Lystran youth who served as a young companion to St. Paul. The youth accompanied the apostle on his missionary journeys and was named the first Bishop of Ephesus before he was martyred for the faith in 97 A.D.

Timothy had been commis-sioned by St. Paul to “let no one have contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity (1 Timothy, 4:12).”

The St. Timothy Award embod-ies the words of the apostle Paul who recognized his commitment to the needs of others: “I have no one comparable to him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare (Philippians 2:20).”

Winners live as disciples of Christ, setting a positive example for other youth; witness to their

To view DYC gallery of photos and videos go to TrentonMonitor.com ... Multimedia

St. Timothy Awards“Let no one look down on you because of your youth, but be a continuing example of love, faith and virtue to believers ...” 1 Timothy 4:12

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.

This year, 17 teens earned the 2015 Timothy Award, receiving their certificates during the DYC from Msgr. Michael Walsh, pastor, St. James Parish, Pennington, and St. Alphonsus Parih, Hopewell, and episcopal vicar of Mercer County.

In addition to inspiring speakers, energetic music acts and an opportunity to sing, dance and make new friends, the DYC offered teens some much-needed quiet time to converse with their Lord. Dur-ing Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, a golden monstrance stood tall upon an altar to remind

the teens of Christ’s sacrifices, and a video screen projected words to the ancient Church hymn “Tan-tum Ergo” as youth knelt in prayer.

Craig Pittelli photos

IN RECOGNITION • John Carroll Jr., a parishioner in St. Joan of Arc Parish, Marlton, and Amy Bruno, St. Mary Parish, Barnegat, were among 17 St. Timothy Award honorees. Awards were presented by Msgr. Michael Walsh, episcopal vicar for Mercer County, and Josue Arriola, director of the Department of Youth, Marriage and Family Life. Craig Pittelli photos

Ella Grace AhernSt. Rose of Lima Parish, FreeholdShe is described as patient, attentive to others, loving and thrives on the gifts God has given her. She has dedicated much of her time to Church life and holds Christ as the center of her life. She is an active member of her parish as an altar server, choir, youth group and core team. She was a part of the Diocesan Youth Council and you may recognize her from Realfaith TV!

Joseph BiassiSt. Theresa Parish, Little Egg HarborHe is described as a pleasure to know as he displays examples of love, faith and virtue in everything he does. He is always stepping up to participate in his youth group, from fundraising tasks to teach-ing religious education at his parish. He is an asset to his youth group and well respected by his peers because of his en-thusiasm to practice his faith. He always takes on a challenge and takes pride in his accomplishments. He jumps in with both feet to volunteer.

Amy Bruno St. Mary Parish, Barnegat She has been an active member of her parish and youth group since 6th grade. Her dedication and humility are a witness to all those around her. Her youth min-ister describes her as the “unsung hero.” She is always there ready and willing to help at any time.

Sergio Buzzerio St. Catharine Parish, HolmdelHe is a humble servant of Jesus Christ. He has given back in many ways to his community and his parish. He served as a teacher’s assistant in the second grade religious education pro-gram for three years and he helped with sacramental prep for First Penance and First Holy Communion. He has been an active member of the youth group since he began high school and has served on the advisory board and the Diocesan Youth Council.

APRIL 9, 2015 • www.TrentonMonitor.com DYC 2015 S•7

John Carroll, Jr.St. Joan of Arc Parish, MarltonHe has been an example to all in his parish as to how a teen can follow Jesus. He is never looking for attention, or praise -- he simply just works. He does the work needed to be done and leads the teens by example. He is a fixture at Mass and never refuses a call for help or assistance. It is amazing to see a man so young understand and practice honor and faith -- not because he has to, but because he wants to.

Amanda DelRosiSt. Mary of the Lakes Parish, Medford

She has been involved in her parish youth ministry since sixth grade. She has hundreds of service hours under her belt. She also serves her parish as a mu-sic minister, where she shares her faith through music at many parish liturgies and celebrations.

William Downing St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, WhitingHe is intelligent, compassionate, great sense of humor and has natural skills for leadership. He has motivated other young people to participate in many ministries at our church. His attitude towards his faith is inspirational. He shows this daily by being involved in altar serving, reading and youth ministry. He shares his gift of singing and acting at our church and Donovan Catholic, Toms River. He has also served on the Diocesan Youth Council for two years and has completed countless community service hours for different organizations like Project Pride and Good Works.

Victoria HughesSt. Benedict Parish, HolmdelShe has fully immersed herself in a leadership role while serving on the ex-ecutive board in her Catholic Youth Or-ganization. She is mature, professional, compassionate and fully committed, and does it all with a positive attitude while serving her peers and exemplifying the Christian teaching of giving back to others.

Marc IpalucciOur Lady of Perpetual Help- St. Agnes Parish, Atlantic Highlands He has been described as very outgoing and able to get along with everyone. He is always helping those in need and he is very active in his parish. The list goes on and on of the ways he has served which includes lecturing at Mass and helping with St. Vin-cent de Paul Society and Circle of Hope.

See Winners • S-8

2015 Timothy Award Winners

Annalisa Leite Holy Family Parish, Union BeachShe is described as an active member in her parish. She is a reader at Mass, and she helps to organize fundraisers and participates in her parish youth group. She is always lending a helping hand in her community. She serves in many ways, including cleanup in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, The Barn for the Poorest of the Poor and Family Promise of Monmouth County. She helps with the Union Beach Drug Alliance, visiting and reciting the Rosary with the residents at a local nursing home. She is well respected by her peers and among parishioners.

Sean Manning, Jr.St. Joseph Parish, Toms River He is loyal and reliable. He is always there for anyone in need and is a great witness of the faith. This student at Donovan Catholic, Toms River, has received the Principal’s award for aca-demic achievement and is also a mem-ber of the Diocesan Youth Council and CYGNUS.

Lorenze MauraudSt. Barnabas Parish, BayvilleHe is described to be a truly faithful and compassionate person. He is an active and dedicated part of his parish’s youth ministry program, and has immersed himself in the community. He has partici-pated in every major ministry event in his parish youth ministry and has become an outstanding leader in the group and role model to his peers.

Sarah PieslakSt. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton

She is truly a humble young woman and role model to all those who cross her path. She also knows how and when to “shake it off” rather than taking all that comes her way as a personal hit on her, which isn’t so easy in the crazy teen world of today! She is an extraordinary young woman, who has stood out among her peers as a leader and role model since joining the group at the start of her freshman year. In addition to this, she has also taken on a greater role of leadership on the Diocesan Youth Council.

DYC 2015 THE MONITOR • APRIL 9, 2015S•8

Continued from • S-7

Leigh Ann Rofano St. Thomas More Parish, ManalapanShe is an active member of her parish and her youth ministry. She is described by her youth minister as faithful, reliable, caring and always eager to participate. She has helped coordinate many service projects while holding leadership posi-tions and mentoring the younger mem-bers of her group.

Jackie Rivera St. Aloysius Parish, Jackson She has been known to work hard on her academics and studies, handle lots of stress and many challenges, learn about her faith and how she would change her approach to the way she lives, and become a leader in our par-ish youth ministry. She is a great role model and wonderful big sister, always there for others and not afraid to stand up for her Catholic faith. She always treats others with kindness and respect. She enjoys playing soccer and lacrosse. She has a good sense of humor and always has a smile on her face.

Jake StengleSt. Robert Bellarmine Parish, Freehold He has been an active leader in his youth group. He has stepped up many times, and he is always willing to lend a hand, do what is asked and never backs down from a challenge. He is described by his youth leader as well-rounded, very talkative, eager to help and just an outstanding young man.

Chris WallSt. Leo the Great Parish, Lincroft He has been an active member of the CYO since seventh grade. He is always willing and ready to volunteer with a happy and willing heart. Nothing can stop this young man from serving those around him, not even a leg operation and crutches! He has been a true leader with in his parish where he helps facili-tate Confirmation retreats, encouraging the youth to pray and showing example by his own faith experience.

To view DYC gallery of photos and videos go to TrentonMonitor.com ... Multimedia