Practitioners of thousands of random acts of kindness, 61 high school seniors and six secondary teachers were honored at the 2004 Christian Service Awards March 11 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.

Archdiocesan superintendent of secondary schools Nancy Coonis welcomed students, parents, friends and faculty members to "one of the most important events" of the school year celebrating "those who have taken to their heart the call to serve others."

The student awardees, representing all of the Catholic high schools in Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara, were chosen by their respective schools for volunteer services to a variety of organizations and charities. Several students averaged 100 hours a year over a four-year period during their high school career.

"You can teach all of us multi-tasking," declared San Gabriel Bishop Gabino Zavala in his homily at the mid-morning Mass. Calling the honorees "prophets who do good" in a self-absorbed world, Bishop Zavala said they reflected God's own mercy and love.

Following the liturgy, Holy Faith Sister Angela Hallahan, event coordinator, complimented the awardees for bringing "health, love and joy to people less fortunate." As Sister Hallahan announced the name of each honoree, they came forward to receive their award from Bishop Zavala.

Damien High School recipients Gaspar Batres, Andrew Boylan and Daniel Corsaro, who each served over 400 hours of Christian service, told The Tidings that their experience building homes in Tijuana, Mexico and volunteering at their parish was inspiring.

"It gave me an opportunity to see another side of faith that goes across cultures," said Boylan. According to Batres, his service at St. Joseph Church in Pomona, was a wonderful experience, which illustrated "how we can reflect God's love to each other."

Notre Dame High School's Tatiana Gabriela Militello said her volunteer work with families during an immersion trip to a poor neighborhood of San Jose was an "amazing" experience. "It was great seeing smiles on the people's faces," said Militello.

Honoree Mary Ellen Rausch, Notre Dame religion and social justice teacher, said she appreciated recognition for her work. "I'm just committed to what I'm doing," said Rausch.

Scott Bandler, of Chaminade in West Hills, said his work helping to build a home in Mexico with the organization Corazon broadened his perspective on what conditions are like "in part of the world next door." According to the Yale-bound student, "I felt empowered to make a difference."

Dolores Mission parish youth minister Richard Garcia attended the event to personally congratulate Loyola High School students George Bahamondes and Joel Ulloa for their commitment to the Boyle Heights parish's after-school "Underwing" mentoring program.

"Joel and George have absorbed the ultimate Jesuit education: to be a man for others," said Garcia.

Among the six teachers honored at the event were Mary Ann Bernardo from Chaminade College Preparatory in West Hills; Jack Hastert, St. John Bosco (Bellflower); Chris McGuiness, Alverno (Sierra Madre); Mary Ellen Rausch, Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks); Dennis Ryan, Bellarmine-Jefferson (Burbank); and Eileen Yuhas, St. Joseph (Santa Maria).

Christian Service Awardees for 2004 included: Susana Capra, Alverno High School; Charleen Sanchez, Bellarmine-Jefferson; Tricia Brown and Randy Duarte, Bishop Alemany; Erica Danielle Granados and Nathan M. Kamel, Bishop Amat; Trenece Nicole Crawford-Smith, Bishop Conaty-Our Lady of Loretto; Serena Romero, Bishop Garcia Diego; Isabel Cueva and Stephen Michael DeGuzman, Bishop Montgomery; Adrien Anthony Lopez, Bishop Mora Salesian; Irma Lizardi, Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary; Angel Jesus Martinez, Cathedral High School.

Scott Bandler and Amanda Marshall, Chaminade College Preparatory; Marco C. Rufolo-Roger, Crespi Carmelite; Gaspar F. Batres, Andrew Boylan and Daniel Corsaro, Damien; Alex Perez, Daniel Murphy; Travis Clark and Sean Menangatti, Don Bosco; Elizabeth Rose Freeman, Flintridge-Sacred Heart Academy; Erin Jimenez, Holy Family; Stephanie Rose Belzunce, Immaculate Heart; Dominique Akens, Junipero Serra; Colleen Fisher, La Reina; Lindsay Anne Van Leeuwen, La Salle; Krystle Lee, Louisville; George Bahamondes and Joel Ulloa, Loyola.

Sean Maricich, Mary Star of the Sea High School; Deborah Gantz, Marymount; Jennifer Sunae Park, Mayfield; Brianne Christine Pavacik, Notre Dame Academy (West Los Angeles); Christopher J. Duerr and Tatiana Gabriela Militello, Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks); Daniel Vernor, Paraclete; Kimberly Anne Hammond, Pomona; Jenny Farah, Providence; Elizabeth M. Villarreal, Ramona Convent Secondary; Elizabeth Montes, Sacred Heart; Jessica Bujan, San Gabriel Mission High; Angelica Ong, Santa Clara; Monica Gonzalez, St. Anthony; Sergio G. Esparza, St. Bernard; Lisa Pike, St. Bonaventure; Rodrigo Berrios, St. Francis.

Evegall M. Andal, St. Genevieve; Joel Aguinaldo and Alejandro Roque, St. John Bosco; Talene Montgomery, St. Joseph (Lakewood); Andrew Moya, St. Joseph (Santa Maria); Kristel Bou-Lahoud and Jennifer Haddad, St. Lucy's Priory; Monica Newman, St. Mary's Academy; Margie Perez, St. Matthias; Jonathan Lee-Chin, St. Monica; Jessica Santoyo, St. Paul; Mariano Alejandro Gomez Calva, Verbum Dei; Nathan P. Langelier, Villanova Preparatory.