More than 530 people packed into the dining hall of St. Joseph School in Herndon Tuesday night to honor the many volunteers, teachers, coaches, youth ministers and campus ministers who tirelessly labor to bring Christ to the youths of the Arlington Diocese. The diocesan Office of Youth Ministry hosted its 13th annual Youth and Campus Ministry Appreciation Dinner Dec. 13.
The night began with Mass at St. Joseph Church celebrated by newly installed Bishop Michael F. Burbidge.
“This diocese has a superb reputation across the nation,” said Bishop Burbidge in his homily. “Hopefully tonight is a night of renewal.”
He offered five ways for those involved in youth ministry to strengthen their commitment to youths: prayer, mercy, humility, charity and perseverance.
“Above all, persevere, so that we may be bearers of God’s love,” he said.
Closing in prayer, Bishop Burbidge asked for the intercessions of St. Lucy, whose feast day was Dec. 13, and St. Teresa of Kolkata, whose words “I will love” are the Office of Youth Ministry’s theme this year. Following the Mass, there was an appreciation dinner at St. Joseph School prepared by the Annandale High School culinary arts class.
Kevin Bohli, director of the Office of Youth Ministry, opened the night in gratitude to the many people who have supported youths in the diocese.
“Nobody embodies (I will love) more than you do,” he said to the attendees.
Forty-eight Volunteer of the Year Awards and seven certifications in the Apostolate of Catholic Youth Ministry were presented by the bishop.
Among the winners of the Excellence in Youth Ministry was Miguel De Angel, a former comic artist who uses his talents in illustrations to create spiritual reflections for the youths at Good Shepherd Church in Alexandria.
More than a dozen people crowded the stage from Way, the high school youth ministry, and On the Way, the middle school youth ministry of St. Charles Borromeo Church in Arlington, to receive the award of Excellence in Youth Ministry for their 16 years of Catholic formation.
Bishop O’Connell High School graduate and cancer-survivor Stephanie Salinas, received the Blessed Chiara Badano Award for her involvement and dedication to the youths of St. Ann Church in Arlington.
The final award, the More Award, was bestowed on Father Robert C. Cilinski, pastor of the Church of the Nativity in Burke. Kevin Bohli spoke about Father Cilinski’s long involvement with the diocese, from being the first chaplain of George Mason University’s Catholic Campus Ministry, building the largest church in the diocese — All Saints Church in Manassas, to his numerous acting performances in Upper Room Theatre Ministry in Manassas.
Bishop Burbidge said, “I truly believe through this event that the Lord wants you to hear the good work that you’ve done.”
Award winners
Certification in the Apostolate of Catholic Youth Ministry:
Claireen Enciso, Our Lady of Good Counsel Church
Alison Fram, Church of the Nativity
Erin Johnson, St. Veronica Church
Tim Judge, Holy Trinity Church
Alex Kubik, St. Louis Church
Ingrid Sanchez-Seymour, Church of the Nativity
Mark Stinard, St. Mary of Sorrows Church
Volunteer of the Year Award:
Ben Jacobeen, All Saints Church
David Owens, Bishop O’Connell High School
Jill Williams, Bishop O’Connell High School
Gustav Chiarello, Blessed Sacrament Church
Paul Kopp, Blessed Sacrament Church
Lorrie Brown, Cathedral of St. Thomas More
Ed Myers, Christ Redeemer Church
Courtney VanNuys, Christ the Redeemer Church
Jack and Linda Emerson, Church of the Nativity
Tony and Jennifer Gonzalez, Church of the Nativity
Arnold and Jill Lee, Church of the Nativity
William Hargenrader, Corpus Christi Church
Alexander Salmeron, Don Bosco Center
EJ Bernabe, Filipino Ministry
Nelson Gomez, Good Shepherd Church
Paul Hegele, Holy Family Church
Leslie McClellan, Holy Spirit Church
Adry Albizures, Holy Trinity Church
Sarah Hall, Marymount University Catholic Campus Ministry
Amy Winkler, Our Lady of Good Counsel Church
George Litman, Paul VI High School
Marianne Gordon, Sacred Heart of Jesus Church
Brian and Connie Frank, St. Ambrose Church
Mike Riley, St. Ambrose Church
Jenny Rowello, St. Andrew the Apostle Church
Paul Miller, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church
Jane Treado, St. Francis de Sales Church
Erin Welch, St. Francis of Assisi Church
Anneliese Lohmeyer, St. John Neumann Church
Carey Aquilina, St. John the Apostle Church
Tracy Malito, St. Joseph Church
Tom Miller, St. Jude Church
Noelle Harmon, St. Jude Church
Niamh Lowry, St. Leo the Great Church
Christine Silva, St. Leo the Great Church
Alexandra Cribbin, St. Mark Church
Gregory Smith, St. Mary Church
Lauren McCook, St. Mary of Sorrows Church
Regina Hiney, St. Patrick Church
Andrew Oh, St. Paul Chung Church
Theresa Lee, St. Paul Chung Church
Rosaria Shin, St. Paul Chung Church
Dan Rogers, St. Stephen the Martyr Church
Paul Hogan, St. Thomas à Becket Church
John Walsh St. Thomas à Becket Church
Molly Hunter, St. Timothy Church
Joseph Scali, St. Timothy Church
Nghia Tran, St. Veronica Church
Excellence in Youth Ministry Awards:
Miguel De Angel, Good Shepherd Church
Tom Marino, Sacred Heart of Jesus Church
Way & On the Way, St. Charles Borromeo Church
Blessed Chiara Badano Award
Stephanie Salinas, St. Ann Church
St. José Sánchez de Río Award
Andrew Donofrio, St. Francis de Sales Church
Ex Corde Award
Sr. Patricia Helen Earl, IHM, Marymount University
The Bishop Loverde Award
Patrick Berney, Catholic Committee on Scouting
The More Award
Fr. Robert C. Cilinski, Church of the Nativity
