2013 Maria Gorreti Recipients Are Committed To 'changing The World'
With obvious passion in his voice, diocesan Youth and Young Adult Ministry Director Steve Dabrowski invited those in attendance at the March 3 Saint Maria Goretti Youth Distinction Mass at St. Benedict Cathedral to consider how worthy of celebration the Saint Maria Goretti honorees for 2013 truly are.
“Think about how many news stories you’ve seen since last year when we gathered here for the Maria Goretti service – stories about young people carelessly, thoughtlessly impacting the world and casting darkness on it. Heinous actions by young people,” Dabrowski said. “And yet today, more than 75 young people from 69 parishes in 12 counties across this diocese are gathered here, people who are changing the world by shining the light of Jesus Christ in every corner they touch.
“Thank you for your witness, and thank you for what you’re doing to change this world.”
The annually bestowed Saint Maria Goretti Youth Distinction recognizes adolescents (typically high school juniors and seniors) for the life, mission and ministry they provide to their family, parish, school and community. Any high school student in the diocese who “actively lives out his/her Catholic faith” is eligible for consideration.
During the afternoon Mass and ceremony at the Cathedral, Bishop Thompson – who served as the principal celebrant - told the young recipients that, “we hope you will continue to reflect upon this honor long beyond this day.”
“What great witnesses you are and how you inspire others by your own example of faith,” Bishop Thompson said. “As we honor you today, we pray that you may know always the mercy of God in your lives, and that you may always turn to God, in your needs and in your joys.”
Aimee Boyle, a Saint Maria Goretti recipient representing Holy Cross Church, Fort Branch, and a senior at Evansville Day School, characterized the distinction as “a great honor that I really didn’t expect to receive.”
“It’s an honor to receive the distinction and the Mass was really beautiful, so it was a great experience,” Boyle said. She said she especially enjoyed seeing and talking with priests from throughout the diocese, many of whom joined Bishop Thompson in celebrating the Mass.
Ben Dahlqiuist, a Castle High School senior and parishioner of Holy Trinity, Evansville, said receiving the distinction meant he was “recognized for being active and for having a good attitude about the faith.”
“It’s an honor, and now I know have to live up to it,” Dahlquist said.
One of the Catholic Church’s youngest canonized saints, Maria Goretti died in 1902 at the age of 11 from multiple stab wounds inflicted by an attempted rapist to whom she refused to submit. Goretti forgave her assailant on her deathbed, and he later attended her canonization ceremony.
The following is the complete list of 2013 Saint Maria Gorretti Distinction recipients in the Diocese of Evansville.
Blessed Sacrament, Oakland City
Erica Memmer
Anthony Sforza
Christ the King, Evansville
Joshua Small
Good Shepherd, Evansville
Mikhaila Hamilton
Logan Montgomery
Holy Cross, Fort Branch
Aimee Boyle
Nick Kiesel
Holy Family, Jasper
Lee Knies
Madeline C. Messmer
Holy Redeemer, Evansville
Amanda McCandless
Rachael Riedford
Holy Rosary, Evansville
Remington Colbert
Anna Zimmermann
Holy Trinity, Evansville
Mathew Cassidy
Benjamin Dahlquist
Mary Help of Christians, Mariah Hill
Kandace Buechler
Emily Kern
Rebecca Mehling
Our Lady of Hope, Washington
Hannah Emmons
Ellie Jarrett
Precious Blood, Jasper
Kari Keeley
Ryan Uebelhor
Resurrection, Evansville
Adam Berendes
Sacred Heart of Jesus, Schnellville
Jessica Hopf
Brayden Schuetter
Sacred Heart of Jesus, Vincennes
Fletcher Kitchell
Andrea Phegley
St. Anthony, Evansville
Taylor Dunlap
St. Anthony of Padua, St. Anthony
Bethany Boeglin
Drew Messmer
St. Benedict Cathedral, Evansville
Emily David
Jake Essary
Jessica Voyles
St. Bernard, Rockport
Mark Lasher
Kyle Varble
Riley Wilson
St. Bernard, Snake Run
Andrew Rodgers
Andrew Ziliak
St. Peter Celestine, Celestine
Zachary Schepers
Matthew Wagner
St. Clement, Boonville
Tanner Weisheit
St. Ferdinand, Ferdinand
Lori Uebelhor
Kayla Brahm
St. John Chrysostom, New Boston
Julie Heltzel
St. John the Baptist, Newburgh
Marisa Boris
Sarah Williams
St. John the Baptist, Vincennes
Alex Purcell
Allyson Wehrheim
St. John the Evangelist, Daylight
Jacob Titzer
St. Joseph, Evansville
Melissa Blythe
Jonathon Wink
St. Joseph, Jasper
Ashley Brinkman
Kyle Freyberger
Ryan Betz
Cassie Heeke
St. Joseph, Princeton
Jordan Koberstein
Brandi Wagner
Justin Wildt
St. Martin, Chrisney
Danielle Howard
Sarah Kramer
Emily Kramer
St. Mary, Ireland
Kendra Egler
Jordan Hartley
Landen Weidenbenner
St. Mary, Sullivan
Jacob Foster
St. Philip Neri, Bicknell
Betsy Grove
St. Raphael, Dubois
Taylor Hopf
Lucas Schulthies
St. Theresa, Evansville
Jeremy Barnes
St. Thomas the Apostle, Vincennes
Jeremy Lane
Nathaniel Sterling
St. Vincent de Paul, Vincennes
Zachary Shots
Colin Vieke
Sts. Peter and Paul, Haubstadt
Kortney Schmitt
Emily Wallace
Sts. Peter and Paul, Petersburg
Austin Cumba
