23 teens to receive Eagle of Cross prizes

High school juniors and seniors will be honored at a special liturgy.
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Diocese of Youngstown's Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry will present the 2007 Eagle of the Cross Award to 23 teens Thursday.
A special liturgy will be at 6 p.m. at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, 343 Via Mount Carmel, followed by the banquet. The events are open to the public.
The Eagle of the Cross, created by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry and introduced to the diocese in 1999 by Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, is given each year to a group of high school juniors and seniors who exhibit dedication, integrity, values and promise for church and society.
The award is presented to youths in Ashtabula, Columbiana, Mahoning, Portage, Stark and Trumbull counties of the Diocese of Youngstown who model Christian discipleship and exemplify the qualities of moral integrity, prayer, good works and Christian leadership in their school and parish communities.
Chosen from 87 nominations
This year's candidates for the Eagle of the Cross Awards were chosen from 87 nominations that highlighted parish, school, and community involvement of 75 youths.
A maximum of two Eagle of the Cross Awards are presented for each of the six Catholic high schools and each of the six counties of the diocese. The recipients of 2007 Eagle of the Cross Award and the nominees are commended for their witness to their Catholic Christian faith and the value of youth involvement in parish, school and community.