Awards given to exemplary youth and their leaders

Archbishop Gregory Aymond bestowed the St. Timothy Award April 9 on five teenagers for exemplifying the ideals of Christian service, Catholic leadership and good moral standards.

The St. Timothy Award is considered the highest award that the Archdiocese of New Orleans can present to a young person. It takes into account the teenagers’ contributions to their parish CYO, school and community.

The archbishop presented the awards during the Annual Leadership Celebration of the CYO/Youth and Young Adult Ministry Office, held at Transfiguration of the Lord Church in New Orleans.

Here are profiles of the five St. Timothy Award winners:

™༏ Ethan Cassara, St. Angela Merici, Metairie: Ethan has been a board member of the parish CYO since eighth grade and is a member of Teen CROSS. He helped create the Rose Rally for Life event. “If there is an opportunity to serve others, particularly without any extrinsic award, Ethan is always willing to offer his time in service of others,” a teacher at Brother Martin High School said.

™ Baileigh Goines, St. Joseph the Worker, Marrero: Baileigh serves as a student ambassador at St. Mary’s Dominican High School and is a member of Teen CROSS. She is president of her parish’s youth ministry. “Baileigh is a hard-working and conscientious student who exemplifies service in the community,” a teacher at Dominican said.

™ Monica Cabes, St. Dominic, New Orleans: Monica has served as a board member of her CYO since eighth grade and attended the Catholic Leadership Institute. She is involved in campus ministry, spiritual programs and other liturgical ministries at St. Mary’s Dominican High School. “(Monica) is Christ-like not only in her charity and passion but also in her ambition to spread the truth,” a theology teacher at Dominican said. “She, no doubt, has done and will go on to do great things.”

™ John Price, Mary Queen of Peace, Mandeville: John is a member of his parish’s youth ministry and peer ministry team. He teaches second-grade sacramental preparation classes for the Parish School of Religion and served as a missionary on a Catholic Heart Work Camp mission trip. “His faith does not stop at the church doors,” his youth ministry director said. “He brings it with him everywhere he goes.”

™ Nate Walker, St. Anselm, Madisonville: Nate is a battalion leader for his high school ROTC program and has been members of the peer ministry team at the parish. He has attended the March for Life in Washington, D.C. “He is inquisitive, compassionate and always willing to help others,” said the director of religious education at St. Anselm.

The archbishop also gave out Adult Service Awards, Outstanding Parish Youth Leadership Awards and the Matt Hill Award for outstanding athletic achievement and leadership.

™듿 The Matt Hill Award went to Maximilian Gervais of St. Peter in Covington.

™ The Adult Service Award (for five or more years of service) went to Melinda Bran, Holy Guardian Angels Mission; Hoa Thi Nguyen and Joseph Nguyen, St. Agnes Le Thi Thanh; Carolyn Burns Allen, St. Anselm; Michelle Johnston and Melissa Rousset, St. Edward the Confessor; George Hemelt and Susan Hemelt, St. John the Baptist, Folsom;

Cabrini C. Johnson and Cheryl Carter, St. Joseph the Worker; Kim Denley, Micah Pineda and Rob Wedge, St. Luke the Evangelist; Tiffany Braud, St. Maria Goretti; Barbara Carr and Mo Carr, St. Matthew the Apostle.

™༏ The Outstanding Parish Youth Leadership Award went to: Tuyet-Nhung Ashley Nguyen, Assumption of Mary; Victoria Stephens, Divine Mercy; Brady Dufrene, Aidan Hidalgo and Samantha Todaro, Holy Family, Luling; Joshua Bran, Holy Guardian Angels; Anna Bouton, Grace Burns and Nate Walker, Mary Queen of Peace;

Eric Dobson and Amelia Jacket, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Belle Chasse; Mary Miller, Our Lady of the Rosary; Sadie Rochelle, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Norco; Hien Dieu Nguyen and Thanh Truc Kayla Thi Nguyen, St. Agnes Le Thi Thanh; Sam Liljeberg, Hayden Nugent, Kayla Story, St. Angela Merici;

Andrew Cooper and Gannon Garfin, St. Ann; Cameron Kurucar, Caroline Kurucar and Claire Kurucar, St. Anselm; Morgan Gaudet, Carter Killian and Zoey Valley, St. Benilde; Madeline Kerber and Jack Walker, St. Catherine of Siena; Addison Ferreras, Addison Ory and Nicholas Villarubia, St. Charles Borromeo;

Alex DiLorenzo, Diego Molina and Abigail Spreen, St. Clement of Rome; Sammy Mavromatis and Sophia Zelaya, St. Cletus; Bradley Hughes, Merrick Rotolo and Madison Trauth, St. Dominic; Andrew Cavignac, Tim Ladner and Grace McDowell, St. Edward the Confessor; Katie Kern, Caroline Lacoume and Shelby Friedrichs, St. Francis Xavier; Reagan Ardoin, Carly Montz and Claire Uhlich, St. Jane de Chantal;

Sophia Clement and Brett Mader, St. Joan of Arc, LaPlace; Paige Johnson, St. John the Baptist, Edgard; Katie Mahl, St. John the Baptist, Paradis; Emerson Quaglino, St. Joseph, Gretna; Eryn Goines, Payton Jasmin, Imri Williams, St. Joseph the Worker; Gregory Binder, St. Louis King of France; Jordan Bourgault, Macie Rodriguez and Yamil Calderon-Yanar, St. Luke the Evangelist;

Brooke LeBreton, Kathryn Mayeaux and Gabriel Veazey, St. Margaret Mary; Michael Braud, Anthony Haynes and Leilah McCallister, St. Maria Goretti; Hoby Comardelle, Abigail Miguez and Sydney Troxler, St. Mark; Zachary Ward, St. Mary Magdalen; Annie Carr, Corinne Lobell and Logan Millet, St. Matthew the Apostle; Erin Glynn, Joshua LeBlanc and Maggie Wright, St. Peter, Covington; Ria Frazier, Tank Nelson and Tiffany Williams, St. Peter, Reserve; Rocco Lovecchio and Veronica Rodriguez, St. Pius X; Kaiden Fury and Rachel Toups, Visitation of Our Lady.