Submit names for youth award

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The deadline is approaching for high school juniors and seniors active in their parish or diocesan Catholic schools to be nominated for the 17th annual Eagle of the Cross awards.

Nominations must be posted by Feb. 11 or delivered to the diocese by 3 p.m. Feb. 13.

The nomination form can be downloaded from the office website at youngstownoyyam.weebly.com/eagle-of-cross-awards:html.

The Eagle of the Cross award was originally created by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM).

It is the highest honor the Diocese of Youngstown presents to youth who show particular zeal for the improvement of their parish youth ministry program, high school ministry teams or other ministries within the diocese.

The nominees must be practicing Roman Catholics and exemplify the qualities of moral integrity, prayerful/spiritual life, personal outreach to church and community, contribution to parish and/or school programs, and Christian leadership. Involvement in diocesan programs also will be considered.

Nomination for the Eagle of the Cross Award can come from any adult, including parish staff members, high- school personnel and parishioners.

Each nominator must complete short essay questions regarding the nominee’s participation in parish and/or Catholic high school youth ministry programs, as well as providing specific examples of the qualities mentioned above.

The award is not geared toward quantitative services hours, but to the integrity of the individual and how well she or he is perceived as an outstanding Catholic Christian.

Nominators must obtain the signature of the nominee’s pastor for county nominees, or high-school principal/president for Catholic- school nominees. Nominees in the Catholic high-school category must attend one of the six Catholic high schools within the six-county Diocese of Youngstown.

During the 16 years of the program, 411 youths have received the Eagle of the Cross Award. Some have become priests, seminarians, postulants, parish ministers, parents and Catholic witnesses in their college and work lives.

The Eagle of the Cross Award Liturgy and banquet will take place April 28. The 6 p.m. liturgy is open to the public with a banquet by invitation only.

For more information, contact Cindee Case in the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry by email to ccase@youngstowndiocese.org or call 330-744-8451, ext. 280.