Braving rainy weather, more than 450 parents, teachers and friends turned out to recognize the selfless service rendered by 58 high school seniors at the annual Christian Service Awards liturgy held March 20 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.
The exemplary students representing all of the Catholic high schools within the archdiocese were being honored for their many hours of volunteer service to local and international social service agencies.
A short list of the many programs benefiting from the students' volunteerism included: Adopt-A-Grandparent Program, Casas por Cristo (Juarez, Mexico), Habitat for Humanity, Knights of Columbus (service projects), Los Angeles Homeless Shelter, Sacred Heart Retreat House, Santa Teresita Medical Center and St. Vincent Meals on Wheels.
Acknowledging that several of the honorees would likely receive future awards based on high school career achievements, archdiocesan superintendent of secondary schools Nancy Coonis declared no award "will be as significant as the awards we give this morning to these young people who have taken to heart the call of Christ to serve others.
"Their achievements are remarkable because the many people whose lives have been touched by their service have experienced the love of God in very tangible ways. These young men and women are examples to us all and challenge each one of us to use our own gifts in service to others," said Coonis.
In his homily, Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Solis said being in the midst of so many teen volunteers was inspiring for everyone present since their efforts were "not simply service, but service in the name of Christ.
"When service is associated and modeled in Christ, you elevate your service to a different level and degree. Christian service is motivated not by self-glorification. Christian service is motivated by love, mercy and compassion. The Christian service award indicates that what you have done, what you have rendered to others --- contributing to the good of our society --- [is] different and qualified because you did it as Christian believers, as people who profess your faith in Christ."
He thanked the students for making themselves available "through your gifts, talents, energies and time to become active agents of change, transformation and growth." Bishop Solis also commended parents, priests and teachers who had helped guide the honorees on their Christian service journey.
Following the liturgy, five teachers received special recognition for their efforts in encouraging students to participate in Christian service: Tom Carroll, Damien (La Verne); Mercy Sister Kathleen Marie Kinney, Bishop Conaty-Our Lady of Loretto (Los Angeles); Louis Metoyer, Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary (Montebello); and Debbie Skelley and Patricia Loehr, Bishop Montgomery (Torrance).
"There are so many teachers who walk this same path I do," said Metoyer. "I'm just very humbled to have this opportunity to be in the forefront."
Bishop Alemany High School ASB president Molly Jean Casanova, 17, averaged 4-5 volunteer hours per week in a variety of activities including serving as president of the Key Club and being one of the leaders for the Alemany Amigos mentoring program for disadvantaged children. She said she enjoyed her community service.
"It's not a burden," said Casanova, a niece of Father Joe Shea, pastor of Holy Family Church in Glendale. "It's really fun for me. I think it's made me become a better leader and made me appreciate what I've been given."
Daniel Hae-Sung Kim, a senior at Daniel Murphy, said he "learned a lot of lessons" working with Chinese children in Mongolia for a month last summer. "I found the kids to be happier than the kids here. I thought that was interesting," said Kim, who also helped build traditional Mongolian huts during his stay in China.
Cathedral High senior Matthew Fontan, 18, did a lot of his community service on Los Angeles' Skid Row where a group of fellow high schoolers fed the homeless. He was also active in campus ministry as an altar server, sacristan, lector and usher. "I've really enjoyed doing community service and, after high school, I plan to continue doing it wherever I go to college," said Fontan, who is considering both St. Mary's College in Moraga or Cal State University, Northridge.
Christian Brother John Montgomery, principal of Cathedral High School, said he was proud of all Catholic school students who participate in community service programs.
"These are just a handful of students in our Catholic school who are giving service in a very profound way and on a regular basis," said Brother Montgomery. "And, it's a way they recognize that they can put their faith into action."
The 2007 Christian Service awardees:
Bianca Paraguya, Alverno; Shenandoah Fasano, Bellarmine-Jefferson; Molly Jean Casanova and Kaylah Ann Schneider, Bishop Alemany; Jeffrey C. Cara and Ana-Claudia Magaņa, Bishop Amat; Rocio Reyes Rodriguez, Bishop Conaty-Our Lady of Loretto; Elaine Galang, Bishop Garcia Diego; Lina Borgo and Carlos M. Rodriguez, Bishop Montgomery; Adrian Torres, Bishop Mora Salesian; Christina Vasquez, Cantwell-Sacred Heart; Matthew Fontan, Cathedral; Rachel D'Angelo and Kimberly Ueyama, Chaminade College Preparatory; Thomas Ryan Burns, Crespi Carmelite; Robert Everett and Michael Miller, Damien; and Daniel Hae-Sung Kim, Daniel Murphy.
Kevin Garcia, Don Bosco Technical Institute; Katelyn Bollenbacher, Flintridge-Sacred Heart Academy; Monica Pupo, Holy Family; Andrea Ortez, Immaculate Heart; Stacy Chavarria, Junipero Serra; Jacqueline Renee Martyn, La Reina; Joshua Treviņo, La Salle; Francesca Reo, Louisville; Christopher Battaglia and Charles John Piechowski, Loyola; Tiffany LeeAnn Friekin, Mary Star of the Sea; Cyra Kang, Marymount; Amanda Yamasaki, Mayfield Senior; Ryan Rebbe and Kameron Ward, Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks); Eryne Alyssa Lagman, Notre Dame Academy; Nicole Torsney, Paraclete; Veronica Sepulveda, Pomona Catholic; and Nicolas Estrada, Providence.
Megan Michelle Rodriguez, Ramona Convent Secondary; Vanessa Gutierrez, Sacred Heart; Berlynn Aguirre, San Gabriel Mission; Stephen Raab, Santa Clara; Sylvia Ukwu, St. Anthony; Christian Smith, St. Bernard; Kate Seiberlich, St. Bonaventure; David Lee, St. Francis; Suzan Lee, St. Genevieve; Christopher Saldana and Fabijan Prahovic Spralja, St. John Bosco; Theresa Hayes, St. Joseph (Lakewood); Tori Reccord, St. Joseph (Santa Maria); Megan Parodi, St. Lucy's Priory; Kendall Davis, St. Mary's Academy; Robilyn Sigua, St. Matthias; Sean Gayton, St. Monica; Jessica Rubio, St. Paul; Darnell Gill, Verbum Dei; and Jeannie R. Carrillo, Villanova Preparatory. |