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St. Timothy Awards presented to 16 teens
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Archbishop Gregory Aymond presented the national St. Timothy Award on April 20 to 16 young persons in the Archdiocese of New Orleans for their leadership, service and good moral standards exhibited through their work with church parishes and the archdiocesan community.
The CYO Youth and Young Adult Ministry sponsors the annual awards ceremony, which also honors parish youth leaders and adult mentors.
The 2024 St. Timothy Award winners are:
Joseph Mire, Most Holy Trinity, Covington: Joseph, a National Merit finalist, is the altar server captain and participates in youth ministry and the Living Stations of the Cross. “Joey is a very gifted individual, who shares his gifts generously,” said his pastor, Father Rodney Bourg. “He demonstrates the meaning of servant leadership and concern for his fellow man by his many activities assisting others.”
Catherine Glory, Our Lady of Lourdes, Slidell: Catherine is active in peer ministry and assists with the special needs Mass. She also serves as an extraordinary ministry of holy Communion at Pope John Paul II High School. “She is kind, she is gentle, she is not a follower when that is the easy way,” said her parish’s director of faith formation. “She is faithful to God even when it is difficult.”
Christian Tullis, Our Lady of Lourdes, Slidell: Christian, who died in an automobile accident in November 2022, was an altar server at Our Lady of Lourdes, and a varsity letterman of the volleyball, football, basketball and swim teams at Pope John Paul II High School. His work ethic and love of volleyball earned him a chance to play college volleyball at Penn State. “Christian is someone who always put a smile on others’ faces in our school through his humor and joy,” said Pope John Paul II’s campus minister. “He was a dedicated teammate, friend, brother and son. Christian’s quiet faith was an inspiration to those who were blessed to know him.” Christian’s sister, Ali Tullis, received the award on his behalf.
Joseph Whitehouse, Our Lady of Lourdes, Slidell: Joseph is active in peer ministry at his parish and high school, and he was named Altar Server of the Year for Our Lady of Lourdes. He served as an extraordinary minister of holy Communion at Pope John Paul II High School. “If there is something in our faith community, he is there, helping and serving,” his parish’s director of faith formation said. “He is an accomplished student and athlete but keeps his eyes focused on God.”
Jacob Strecker, Our Lady of the Lake, Mandeville: Jacob is active in altar serving and youth ministry at the parish. He attended the archdiocesan pilgrimage to the National March for Life in Washington, D.C., and served as a member of Teen CROSS. “Anyone can tell that he has a heart for helping people foster a relationship with God,” his youth minister said. “He has grown into a young man who desires sanctity for the sake of doing what God wants, not trying to uphold an image with his peers.”
Morgan Gaudet, St. Benilde, Metairie: Morgan is a board member for her parish youth ministry and served on the campus ministry team at Archbishop Chapelle High School. She served as a member of Teen CROSS. “The depth of Morgan's relationship with Jesus sets her apart,” her campus minister at Archbishop Chapelle said. “She has gone to a level of prayer, trust and confidence in God that I do not see in most high school students.”
Joshua Cook, St. Catherine of Siena, Metairie: Joshua is a leader in his parish youth ministry and CYO sports and earned his parish’s Altar Server of the Year award. He attended the archdiocesan pilgrimage to the National March for Life in Washington, D.C. “The Lord blesses each one of us with countless gifts, and he has also blessed Josh with the strength to realize those gifts and to share them with other people, his campus minister at Brother Martin High School said. “Josh does not bury his talents; moreover, he is a good and faithful servant.”
Abigail Fortado, St. Catherine of Siena, Metairie: Abigail was a member of Teen CROSS and attended the archdiocesan pilgrimage to the National March for Life in Washington, D.C. She also served on the campus ministry team at Archbishop Chapelle High School. “She is passionate about the Gospel and is quick to work to evangelize those around her,” her campus minister at Archbishop Chapelle said. “I see her go after the lost sheep, the outsiders, the lonely. She befriends them, meets them where they are and loves them there.”
Meghan Drouant, St. Charles Borromeo, Destrehan: Meghan is a member of the ROTC at her high school and active in various ministries and service outreach in her parish. She served as a member of Teen CROSS. “Meghan serves as an example to other students of how to behave and show respect to all who are around her,” one of her teachers said. “She is responsible, organized, dedicated and a very hard worker.”
Rachel Clark, St. Dominic, New Orleans: Rachel is a peer ministry leader in the parish's youth ministry and serves as president of the CYO. She is also active in peer ministry at Mount Carmel Academy. “While many teenagers may think that church involvement is not a popular thing to do, Rachel is willing to be a witness to her faith, regardless of what her peers may think,” her parish youth minister said.
Eryn Goines, St. Joseph the Worker, Marrero: Eryn is president of her parish youth ministry and active in peer ministry at the Academy of Our Lady. She is an extraordinary minister of holy Communion at both her parish and high school. “Eryn is very passionate about the things she commits to and has always been a young person you can call on to step in and assist with any task,” her parish youth minister said. “She has a love for Christ, a giving heart, a willingness to always lend a hand and an overall sweet, kind demeanor.”
Isabella DesOrmeaux, St. Luke the Evangelist, Slidell: Isabella is involved in her parish’s youth ministry and served as a member of Teen CROSS. She attended the archdiocesan pilgrimage to the National March for Life in Washington, D.C. “Bella stands out to me because she is not afraid or hesitant about sharing her faith,” one of her adult leaders on Teen CROSS said. “She is not afraid of what her peers will think of her, and she is active in guiding others and helping them in their own faith journey.”
Lauren Hidalgo, St. Luke the Evangelist, Slidell: Lauren is a peer ministry leader for her parish and a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at her high school. She served as a member of Teen CROSS. “Lauren has embraced her gifts given to her by the Holy Spirit to be a true disciple of Jesus and to deepen her prayer life to know God’s unconditional love,” her parish youth minister said.
Carissa Washington, St. Maria Goretti, New Orleans: Carissa served as a member of Teen CROSS, is active in her parish youth ministry and is involved in campus ministry at St. Mary’s Academy. “I saw her learn to use her quiet and unassuming nature to empower others in their walk with God,” said Father Daniel Green, St. Maria Goretti pastor. “She has a heart of service, a desire to express her faith and a willing spirit.”
Miriam Simpson, St. Peter, Covington: Miriam served as president of her parish CYO and attended the archdiocesan pilgrimage to the National March for Life in Washington, D.C. “She takes initiative in leading others by her enthusiasm for youth ministry,” her parish youth minister said. “Her love for Christ in the sacraments and eucharistic adoration is an example to those around her of a lived faith. She is always willing to share her faith with others.”
Camille Truxillo, St. Pius X, New Orleans: Camille served as president of her parish’s youth ministry and was active in campus ministry at St. Mary’s Dominican High School. She attended the archdiocesan pilgrimage to the National March for Life in Washington, D.C. “Being part of this church community is an important part of her life, and she has grown as a person through her CYO involvement,” her parish youth minister said. “Our members look to her as an example of dedication and hard work as she strives to involve others and serve the community.”
Demi Catalano, St. Rita, Harahan: Demi was an altar server and involved in youth ministry at her parish. She served as a member of Teen CROSS and attended the archdiocesan pilgrimage to the National March for Life in Washington, D.C. “I can’t remember the last time I met a teenager so on fire for her faith, to learn it, teach it and live it,” the parochial vicar at her parish said. “Demi inspired her own father to become more serious about his Catholic faith, a fact which he shared during a very touching moment in front of Demi and our entire CYO.”
Adult service awards
The CYO also presented Adult Service Awards to adults who work and/or volunteer for their parish in youth ministry: Monica Roberts, Miranda Rogers, Laurie Smith, All Saints; Oscar Escoto, Divine Mercy; Jamie Ragas, Holy Family (Franklinton); Katy Thomas, Holy Family (Luling); José Bran Sr., Holy Guardian Angels; Martha Creecy, Tracy Watson, Our Lady of Grace; Ann Cook, Pam Lisotta, Tiffanie Sandoz, Our Lady of Lourdes (Slidell).
Brian Liggio, Our Lady of Prompt Succor (Chalmette); Mary Anne Adorno, Mary Carriere, Egypte Philip, Our Lady of the Angels; Matthew Keller, Samantha Keller, St. Benilde; Claire Brauninger, Donna Mahler, St. Charles Borromeo; Lauren Breaux, Linda Carlin, St. John the Baptist (Folsom); Sharon Bodley, Carolyn Haas, Erin Parquet, St. Joseph the Worker.
Theresa Hidalgo, Daryn Hope, Gregg Paretti, St. Luke the Evangelist; Kaitlyn Vicari, Ellie Wright, St. Peter (Covington); Denise Lea Miller, St. Pius X (New Orleans); Pam Catalano, Connie Frost, Carrie McDonald, St. Rita (Harahan).
Blessed Giorgio Award
The Blessed Pier Giorgio Award, given to a young adult who has been significantly active in ministry, was presented to Noella Small of St. Ann Church and Shrine in Metairie.
Matt Hill Awards
The Matt Hill Award, given to young people who have excelled in the CYO/Youth Ministry Athletic Leagues and also exhibited leadership qualities was presented to Julia Badinger, St. Pius X, New Orleans; and Christian Lang, St. Dominic.
Leadership Awards
The 2024 Outstanding Parish Youth Leadership Award was given to Chance Williams and Shomari Norwood, All Saints; Caylee Drexel, Ascension of Our Lord; Aaliyah Marie Gaines, Destiny Marie Gaines and Lauren Whitney, Blessed Sacrament-St. Joan of Arc; Leo Lee, Divine Mercy; Anne Marie and Layla McMillan, Holy Family (Luling); Joshua Bran, Holy Guardian Angels; Anthony Prados, Holy Name of Jesus; Carson Dalton, Immaculate Conception (Marrero).
Adam Charbonnet, Jack Evans and Rebecca Ferrara, Most Holy Trinity; Kaylee Bosier and Randi Joseph, Our Lady of Grace; Wilton Chavez and Christian Hodges, Our Lady of Guadalupe; Julia Cook, Kallen Huth and Angela Kelley, Our Lady of Lourdes (Slidell); Emily Collins, Our Lady of Prompt Succor (Chalmette); Jaden Hoang, Jayde Reynolds and Preston Tassin, Our Lady of the Angels; Kaiden Klebba, Samantha Levy and Jacob Strecker, Our Lady of the Lake.
David Roy, Sacred Heart of Jesus; Marguerite Hopkins, St. Andrew the Apostle; Matthew Fanelli, Abbi Kelley and Spencer Mouledoux, St. Angela Merici; Molly Dunn, Grace Guidry and Rachel Linder, St. Ann; Riley Burdett, St. Anselm; Claire Dufrene, Sarah Edwards and Crystal Rechen, St. Anthony of Padua (Luling); Cristian Apostolakis, Remy Marshall and Christopher Monistere, St. Benilde.
Mark Brown, Maddie Millet and Lola Overstreet, St. Catherine of Siena; Allie Lacoste, Michael Romaguera, Olivia St. Martin, St. Charles Borromeo; Leah Gilmore, James Robertson and Abby Wilson, St. Clement of Rome; Kameron Callahan, Jackson Freaner and Quinn Rosenstein, St. Dominic; Matthew Cavignac, Kaleb Monroe and Vinny Speziale, St. Edward the Confessor; Melanie Albano, St. Francis Xavier; Douglas Carey and Dominic Hornsby, St. Gabriel the Archangel; Fernanda Galan, Karla Galan and Max Meyer, St. John the Baptist (Folsom).
Luke Monier, St. John Bosco; Gavin Rauch, St. Louis King of France; Matthew Descant, Skyler Haab and Elizabeth Johnsen, St. Luke the Evangelist; Annie Schneidau and Katherine Veazey, St. Margaret Mary; Danielle Beard, Ja’Niya Boyard, Mariah Cador and Carissa Washington, St. Maria Goretti; Abigail Miguez and Molly Zeringue, St. Mark; Vivian Cerruti, St. Patrick (New Orleans); Mariela Rodriguez and Logan Scalise, St. Peter (Covington); Maria Fernandez and Houston Remondet, St. Peter (Reserve).
Hallie Winters, St. Peter Claver; Peter Favalora and Derek Kruebbe, St. Philip Neri; Julia Badinger, Mia Bavido and Eyan Calico, St. Pius X (New Orleans); Jonathan Ashford and Xander Brady, St. Raymond and St. Leo the Great; Ela Cavdar, Brady Gill and Ryan McDonald, St. Rita (Harahan); Taylor Rotolo, St. Rosalie; Abby Deeke, Maddalena Goyette and James Johnson, Visitation of Our Lady.