20 January 13, 2011TH E E VA NG E L I S T

YOUNG FAITH

THE UPSIDE OF WINTER

TEEN PROFILE

Catholicstudent,publicschoolBY HOLLY MCKENNAC O R R E S P O N D E N T

Maeve Toomey is a Catholicteen in a secular world.

As a senior at Averill ParkHigh School, she talks aboutservice projects and encouragesfriends to join her. The 17-year-

old attended St. Jude theApostle School in Wynantskillbefore moving on to a publicmiddle school and then AverillPark High.

Maeve’s faith has been fos-tered through the youth min-istry program at her parish, St.Henry’s in Averill Park. She saidshe brings many friends to pro-gram events, noting: “Some ofthese friends are in youth min-istry and understand what’sgoing on and what I do; otherslisten and ask questions.”

Maeve claims she’s strong inher faith because the youth min-istry program has three areas offocus — social, spiritual and serv-ice — and activities to match.She also credits her family’sexample; even extended family

are involved at parishes likeMater Christi in Albany.

One activity for whichMaeve’s peers tagged along wasSt. Henry’s pig roast and fleamarket in October. Since she isthe only youth ministry memberwho can drive, she took leftoversfrom the event to Joseph’s Housein Troy. Maeve also assists withmaking care packages for col-lege students who grew up in St.Henry’s parish.

In the spring, Maeve coordi-nates the parish’s “Belle of theBall” dress and accessories sale.Her older sister, Faith, ran theevent when Maeve got involvedtwo years ago; today, Maeve isthe one gathering gently usedprom dresses, shoes, jewelry andpocketbooks in the basement of

the church. She sorts through the items

and sells them to girls whoeither can’t afford store-boughtclothes or choose not to over-spend on clothes for one occa-sion.

“Last year, we raised $1,000and used half of the money topay for youth ministry activitiesand then donated the other halfto a charity,” said Maeve — whoalso serves on the prom commit-tee at school, where she pro-motes the dress sale.

“My public school friendshelp with the dress sale,” sheadded. “I’ll share my experienceswith them and they get involved.My friends are awesome.”

Maeve is also a class officerand rows crew at school,

although recent surgery side-lined her from the latter for awhile. She has attended theNational Catholic YouthConference and the AlbanyDiocese’s Christian LeadershipInstitute, where she has madefriends who encourage her faith.

The senior recently applied tofive colleges, including CatholicUniversity in Washington, D.C.,which is her second choice.Alfred University in Rochesteris her first; she wants to studybiomedical engineering.

Of college, Maeve said, “I willbe going all by myself.” But she’salready looking forward to mak-ing even more friends.

ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER parish in Richfield Springs/West Winfield made thebest of a chilly situation last weekend by sponsoring a “Boyz Snowball Party.”Fathers, sons and priests joined in sledding, building a campfire and roastinghotdogs. Top, Larry S. Kroon leads Thomas Fallon and Dillon Donley on atoboggan ride, while Chris Demme and Larry J. Kroon share a moment ofanticipation before sledding; above, Jack Scherer demonstrates “no-hands”moves as Caleb Scherer roasts a hotdog and the whole group joins in.