Herald Staff Report
(From the issue of 2/26/04)

Dr. Eduardo Azcarate, founder and director of Youth Apostles for the past 25 years, recently announced that he will resign his position, effective March 1. Father Jack Peterson, chaplain at Marymount University in Arlington and assistant director for clerics of Youth Apostles, will serve as acting director until a new director is elected by the community in June.

"I thank God for the daily opportunities I have had to serve young people, my community, and the Church as the founder and director of Youth Apostles," Azcarate wrote in the February edition of The Apostle, the community’s monthly newsletter. "The graces I have received and the experiences I have had constitute an incredible gift that has benefited my family and me over the years."

Azcarate said that at this point in the life of Youth Apostles, the community needs new leadership to continue to grow in its mission to serve young people. "As our community has grown and expanded, our work has become more complex," he said. "The demands of the consecrated and clerical life have been particularly delicate and have required considerable amounts of time and effort."

In addition to Father Peterson, there are five other priests serving Youth Apostles: Fathers David Sharland and Peter Nassetta in Arlington and Mike Kuhn, Hernando Herrera and Ramon Dominguez in Fall River, Mass.

Youth Apostles is sponsoring a 25^th anniversary annual golf tournament on April 26 at Stonewall Golf Club at Lake Manassas. For additional information, contact Eric McDade, John Nagy or Father Peterson at 703/556-0914.