Nominate youth for Eagle of the Cross award

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

High school juniors or seniors who are active in their parishes and/or diocesan Catholic schools and exemplify Christian leadership may be nominated for the 18th annual Eagle of the Cross awards.

Nominations must be postmarked by Feb. 17 or delivered to the diocese by 3 p.m. Feb. 19. Nomination forms can be downloaded from the office website at: http://youngstownoyyam.weebly.com/eagle-of-cross-awards.html.

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

It is the highest honor the Diocese of Youngstown presents to youths 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 will also 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.

Nominators must obtain the signature of the nominee’s pastor for county nominees, or high school principal/president for Catholic school nominees prior to submission.

Nominees in the Catholic high school category must attend one of the six Catholic high schools within the six-county diocese

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

Thus far, 441 youths have received the Eagle of the Cross Award over the 17 years of the program, including a few who have gone on to become priests, seminarians, postulants, parish ministers, parents and outstanding Catholic witnesses in their college and work lives.

A listing of previous recipients is posted at http://youngstownoyyam.weebly.com/eagle-of-cross-awards.html.

The Eagle of the Cross Awards liturgy and banquet will take place April 14.

The 6 p.m. liturgy is open to the public with the banquet by invitation only.

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