Outstanding parish teens earn St. Timothy Award

    On April 29, the Catholic Youth Organization/Young Adult ministry acknowledged Catholic youth for their outstanding service to the archdiocese. Among the awards was the national St. Timothy Award, the highest award the Archdiocese of New Orleans can bestow upon a high school senior for his or her “exemplary Christian service, Catholic leadership and good moral standards.” Archbishop Gregory Aymond gave out the awards at St. Louis Cathedral.
    The St. Timothy recipients were:
    ➤ Peter Newton, St. Luke Parish, Slidell. “I hope one day God lets me be someone else’s crutch, because I am grateful for who he made me to be and what he has given me,” he said. Newton is a youth group officer, confirmation retreat team member, senior citizen outreach coordinator, pro-life ministry leader and CCD assistant instructor.
    ➤ Jason Britsch, St. Rita Parish, Harahan. “The best leaders are those who are the best servants, those who put others before themselves,” he said. Britsch is a retreat team and peer support leader at school, a coordinator of pro-life outreach that includes a prayer group at the Metairie abortion facility, and extraordinary minister of holy Communion.  
    ➤ Margaret Randall, Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Waggaman. “Leadership is a call to do God’s work,”
Randall said. “He has a role for all of us. Sometimes it isn’t major in the eyes of man, but in the eyes of God all of it is important because it leads to him.” Randall is in pro-life outreach, liturgical ministries, and parish CYO officer.
    ➤ Madeline Janney, St. Philip Neri Parish, Metairie. “It’s just as important to be a leader when you think no one is watching as it is when you’re at church or school,” Janney said. She leads pro-life initiatives including a March for Life group, is parish youth group president and on the campus ministry team.
    ➤ Olivia Naquin, St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Destrehan. “Christian leadership is following Jesus Christ yourself and praying that others will follow you in following him,” she said. Through service on the confirmation retreat team, mission trips to Mexico, praise and worship ministry, and service on Teen CROSS, she has tried to live those words.
    ➤ Emily Koehler, St. Edward the Confessor Parish, Metairie, realized after Confirmation that, “my faith calls me to be a soldier for Christ and spread his Gospel.”  She is in the pro-life ministry, music ministry and uses her CLI skills as parish youth ministry president.
    ➤ Nicole Thonn, St. Luke Parish, Slidell,  has been willing “to lose friends who did not support her choices to live as a disciple of Christ.”  She is a youth ministry board member, homeless outreach coordinator, pro-life rally team member and retreat ministry leader, along with other accomplishments.
    ➤ Erica Reed, St. Raymond-St. Leo Parish, New Orleans. “Leadership is about recognizing the God-given gifts and talents of others.” She is a member of the Habari Gani team, music and liturgical ministry and performs youth group service projects.  
    ➤ Daniel Gruner, St. Peter Parish, Covington, believes that  leadership is about “using one’s gifts to build up others in their faith and to encourage them to apply their gifts through service.”  Leadership in music ministry, the parish Festival of Life and retreat teams are hallmarks of his Christian service.  
    ➤ Jacqueline Saunee, St. Angela Merici Parish, Metairie,  says she “became involved because I should use the gifts God has given me for good.  I have a responsibility to reach out to those in need.” She has excelled as parish CYO board member, delegate to NCYC (the National Catholic Youth Conference), is a pro-life advocate and service leader in the Miracle League program.
    ➤  Jean Dever, Divine Mercy Parish, Kenner, says that  leadership is “serving others, and in serving others, I have learned to see God in everyone.”  She is a campus ministry officer, Teen CROSS representative and a Vacation Bible School instructor.  
    ➤ Claire Messina, St. Andrew the Apostle Parish, New Orleans, firmly believes that “young people don’t have to wait to be adults to change the world, they can change it today.” She was a participant and then a team leader for CLI, TEC retreats, and Relay for Life, in addition to serving as her CYO president, Student Council member and campus ministry leader.    
    ➤  Emily Laurent, Ascension of Our Lord Parish, LaPlace, says that “we as Christians should live our lives by showing God’s love so others will show me God’s love.”  Extensive ministry and leadership in school and church choirs, helping restart her parish’s youth ministry program, and leading pro-life and Theology of the Body for Teens programs are some highlights of her service involvement.   
    ➤ Bradley Jouty, St. Joan of Arc Parish, LaPlace, exercised leadership according to the motto that “Christ is the perfect leader; the more I emulate him, the better leader I can be.” His work in developing junior high ministry at his parish and connecting his parish to archdiocesan programs such as CLI, the March for Life and the Joshua Leadership Institute for pro-life formation has been exemplary examples of service.
    ➤ Thomas James “T.J.” Nash II, St. Peter Claver Parish, New Orleans, says, “Being a Christian leader involves sacrifice; there is satisfaction alone of knowing that I am doing God’s work. That’s enough incentive to lead at a young age.” He is a parish youth ministry leader, extraordinary minister of holy Communion, a Teen CROSS representative and a Key Club service coordinator.  
    ➤ Nicole Delesdernier, St. Angela Merici, Metairie, advises others to “always put God first, remember the importance of acting as Christ to others, and always make choices that bring your faith to others.” She has been on the executive board of her parish youth ministry, led the school Christian Leadership Council, and spearheaded outreach for pro-life and homelessness causes.
    ➤ Lauren Westholz, St. Benidle Parish, Metairie, says that “leaders must encourage those they wish to lead through their own example, and especially their actions.” She has served on her CYO leadership board, been a representative to Teen CROSS and the National Catholic Youth Conference, served as an extraordinary minister of holy Communion and on her school’s Christian Leadership Council.