High school-age youth receiving the Discipleship Award are pictured with chancellor John Straub, ONE director Father Matt Williams and vicar general Bishop Robert Deeley at the April 30 Office for the New Evangelization of Youth and Young Adults (ONE) Awards Banquet at Lombardo's in Randolph. Pilot photo/George Martell, Pilot Media Group
RANDOLPH -- Youth and young adults received recognition for their work evangelizing for Christ in their parishes and communities, April 30, with awards presented at the Office for the New Evangelization of Youth and Young Adults (ONE) Awards Banquet at Lombardo's in Randolph.
Vicar General Bishop Robert P. Deeley spoke at the event, which honored a total of 64 middle school and high school-age youth, young adults and adults for their work in middle schools, high schools, scouting, Catholic schools, and youth and young adult ministries.
"We come together as the people of our great archdiocese and we offer the mission of the Church in service to one another. We celebrate that service this evening. I know I speak for Cardinal Seán when I tell you that we are all very grateful for the service you perform and the good deeds that are represented here this evening," Bishop Deeley said.
Middle school-age youth, high school-age youth, and adult leaders who demonstrated their faith by serving their parish and wider communities received awards that night. Adults who serve as Christ-like role models and mentors to youth and young adults in scouting and ministry also received recognition.
The archdiocese presented Father Brian Flynn, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Lynn the St. Don Bosco "Friend of Youth" Award, given annually to a priest to recognize service to high school and middle school youth.
Father Daniel Moloney, pastor at St. Columbkille in Brighton, received the Pope John Paul II Award for his ministry to young adults.
The ONE team also presented the Norm Plante Award to Victor Melo, of St. Patrick Parish in Lowell, for supporting the office in its mission and work.
Bishop Deeley addressed adults recognized at the dinner by the archdiocese.
"You are the front-line evangelists, who oftentimes with limited resources under challenging circumstances, communicate to one-another and to the next generation the beauty of truth of our faith," he said.
Other adult honorees received the Light of the World Award, the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award, and the Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Award for their work in ministry to youth.
Middle school-age youth received the St. Dominic Savio Award. High school-age youth received the Discipleship Award and the Cardinal's Youth Award.
"You young people who are here this evening, you too evangelize, through the ways in which you lead and energize the programs and endeavors for which you are honored this evening," Bishop Deeley said.
Recipients were nominated by their respective parishes or Catholic entities and selected by the archdiocese.
Chris Oravetz, 28, received the Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Award for his service to young adults.
Oravetz is a member of St. Paul Parish in Cambridge, studies at the Theological Institute for the New Evangelization in Brighton, and serves as director of Pure in Heart America -- where he works teaching youth about the virtue of chastity and the sanctity of human life.
For him, the reward for his work comes not in honor received as a result, but in the results for the young people whom he reaches.
"The reward that I have seen and experienced this past year has been participating in the growth in awareness of faith that the students I have reached out to have experienced, specifically recognizing that God the Father has a plan for them," he said
Patrick Morin-Plante, a student at St. Mary High School in Lynn, received the Discipleship Award for his work serving the needs of others. He said he volunteers with Young Neighbors in Action through his parish, St. Pius V Parish in Lynn.
"I am one person. I can't change the world by myself, but the little things I can do, that God leads me on to do, that assures that he is always there helping me," he said.
Father Matt Williams, Director of the Office for the New Evangelization of Youth and Young Adults in the archdiocese, compared the work of those honored that night to lights shining through stained glass windows, each presenting the light in a unique and unrepeated way.
"That is what I love about these nights, because we are celebrating what Jesus Christ, His Holy Spirit, is doing in and through you and because of your 'yes' to him there is more light in the world," he said.