St. Maria Goretti Distinction

On the Diocese of Evansville website, the St. Maria Goretti Youth Distinction is explained as recognizing “adolescents for their outstanding contribution to the life, mission, and ministry provided to their family, parish, school, and community.”

In his March 1 remarks to the honorees, and their friends and families, Bishop Charles C. Thompson made sure they understood that the honor focused on traits founded in their faith.

“Everyone has gifts and talents,” he said. “We’re honoring you because you have the courage, humility and generosity to put those gifts and talents to use – for your parish, for the glory of God, and for the sake of your brothers and sisters.”

Those young people and their guests gathered March 1 at St. Benedict Cathedral for a Mass Bishop Thompson concelebrated with their pastors.

He discussed the day’s readings, for the Second Sunday in Lent, which included the gospel account of the transfiguration. He explained that Jesus wanted to reveal Himself to Peter, James and John as the Messiah they had been expecting – but that his journey of faith had to include the cross.

“In our journey of Faith,” Bishop Thompson said, “there will always be the cross. There’s no way around that. If we are to share in the crown of Jesus’ victory, then we must share in His cross. We must suffer; we must sacrifice.

“And if you’re receiving this award today, at some point along the way you’ve made sacrifices to be here,” he added. “That’s what it means to take up our cross … daily. We don’t just do that once and for all, we do that time and time again.

“You didn’t do it to get this award; I know that,” he said. “You did it because of your love for God and your neighbor. We as a diocese want to bestow this award on you to show you our appreciation, and also to reflect the witness you give in in the Diocese of Evansville.”

Bishop Thompson concluded by noting that the honorees were living a call Pope Francis has made. “Pope Francis tells us that to be Christian we can’t merely accept, but we have to embrace the gospel,” he noted. “And we honor you today for embracing the gospel.”

St. Maria Goretti Youth Distinction recipients

By Anna Schulten

The Message intern

“The purpose of the St. Maria Goretti Youth Distinction is to recognize adolescents for their outstanding contribution to the life, mission and ministry provided to their family, parish, school and community,” said Steve Dabrowski, director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry.

Up to two high school students from each parish are recognized on a yearly basis through the St. Maria Goretti Youth Distinction. These students are nominated by their parish. During the ceremony, they each received a plaque and a binder containing their letters of recommendation.

The recipients of the award for 2015 are as follows:

• Torrey Alumbaugh, Holy Trinity, Evansville;

• John Joseph Anderson, Sacred Heart, Vincennes;

• Rachel Barry, St. John the Evangelist, Daylight;

• Catherine Bell, St. Joseph, Jasper;

• Austin Bromm, St. Anthony , St. Anthony;

• Anna Buechler, Precious Blood, Jasper;

• John Cassidy, Holy Trinity, Evansville;

• Ellen Church, Annunciation, Evansville;

• Jessica Coleman, Corpus Christi, Evansville;

• Peyton Joseph Cummins, St. Francis Xavier, Vincennes;

• Kara Dilger, St. Martin, Chrisney;

• Zachary Allen Dillon, St. Philip Neri, Bicknell;

• Jaelyn Brooke Dunn, St. Joseph, Princeton;

• Claire Egler, St. Mary, Ireland;

• Adam Fierst, St. Joseph, Jasper;

• Bailey Goff, St. Philip Neri, Bicknell;

• Nathan Guth, St. Bernard, Rockport;

• Cecilia Hall, Holy Cross, Fort Branch;

• Benjamin Hayden, St. John the Evangelist, Daylight;

• Jennifer Heltzel, St. Martin, Chrisney;

• Haley Hoffman, Sacred Heart, Schnellville;

• Emma Hurst, St. Anthony, St. Anthony;

• Natalie Jacob, Sacred Heart, Schnellville;

• Aaron Keepes, Sts. Peter and Paul, Petersburg;

• Gabrielle Kempf, St. Philip, Posey County;

• Abraham Kiesel, St. James, Haubstadt;

• Magdalena Lara, St. Joseph, Dale;

• Trevor Leuck, St. Mary, Ireland;

• Sara Mehringer, St. Raphael, Dubois;

• Nicholas Morgan, Jr., St. Mary, Sullivan;

• Takumi Mundy, St. Raphael, Dubois;

• Shane Murphy, Holy Cross, Fort Branch;

• Benjamin Niehaus, St. Francis Xavier, Vincennes;

• Mikail Parkinson, St. Philip, Posey County;

• Alexander James Paul, St. Joseph, Princeton;

• Noah James Phipps, St. Benedict Cathedral, Evansville;

• Kevin Pratt, St. John the Baptist, Vincennes;

• Megan Pritchett, Corpus Christi, Evansville;

• Samantha Rae Puckett, Good Shepherd, Evansville;

• John Rock, Annunciation, Evansville;

• Emily Maria Rodgers, St. Bernard, Snake Run;

• Levi Roth, St. Benedict Cathedral, Evansville;

• Noah Rydberg, Precious Blood, Jasper;

• Caleb Scherzinger, St. Peter Celestine, Celestine;

• Max Scheu, Holy Rosary, Evansville;

• Allison Schroering, St. Peter Celestine, Celestine;

• Joshua Allen Schulz, St. Theresa, Evansville;

• Mary Jane Schulz, Holy Rosary, Evansville;

• Benjamin Alois Sermersheim, Good Shepherd, Evansville;

• Delaney Spindler, Sts. Peter and Paul, Haubstadt;

• Kara Elizabeth Varble, St. Bernard, Rockport;

• Carly J. Waggoner, St. John the Baptist, Vincennes;

• Laura Ann Wahl, St. Theresa, Evansville;

• Rachel Weiss, St. James, Haubstadt;

• Maeve Wurster, Holy Family, Jasper;

• Travis Ziegler, Sts. Peter and Paul, Haubstadt;

• Caleb Ziliak, St. Bernard, Snake Run.