The second annual Youth and Campus Ministry Appreciation Dinner was held Dec. 6 at St. Joseph Church in Herndon. More than 250 youth ministers and volunteers attended the banquet. Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde began the evening by celebrating Mass with the group.

The evening included awards for more than 25 participants including youth ministers, volunteers and youths. The More Award, or the lifetime achievement award, was given to Deanna Andrew, administrative assistant for the Office of Youth Ministry. Andrew plans to retire in the spring.

"For the past 18 years, she has been the backbone of the office as directors have come and gone," said Kevin Bohli, director of the Office of Youth Ministry. When Andrew first started in the youth office, her main duty was working with the Diocesan Youth Board. She eventually was asked to chaperone a trip to the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis.

"After 34 hours in a bus with teenagers, she was hooked and hasn’t looked back since," he said.

During events, Andrew is known to wear many hats, including chef, registrar, set up and tear down. For the past 16 years, she and her husband, Gary, have spent their wedding anniversary with several hundred youths at WorkCamp.

"She has given far more than her position has ever entailed," Bohli said.

On the feast of St. Nicholas, Bishop Loverde compared the youth ministers to the beloved saint who spent his life reaching out to the lost and needy.

"You, who are so engaged in looking out for the young people, are you not in your own way a reflection of St. Nicholas?" he asked.

The youth are searching for inner fulfillment and happiness, but they do not know where to find these. The youth ministers are called to point them to that path. These goals are obtained through the person of Jesus Christ, the bishop said.

St. Nicholas also taught the fullness of the truth.

"Is it not your deepest desire that the young people come to know the Catholic faith in its fullness that they might find truth and life?" he asked. "I commend each of you to our Lord, Jesus Christ, for all you do, day in and day out, as you seek to know the young."

The bishop thanked those in attendance for their faithful service. He also encouraged the youth ministers to continue promoting multicultural programs that are welcoming to all the members of this diverse diocese.

"The reason we’re here is to praise God," said Bohli. "We can’t do a thing without the Lord." The appreciation dinner is a chance to thank the Lord for the blessings of the past year and continue to pray that the next year also be blessed.

"Every year it’s getting bigger because you’re making a difference," he said about the dinner. And when youth ministers get discouraged and wonder why they’re doing this work, Bohli told them to think of the mustard seed.

"All we’re doing is planting seeds," he said, adding that a youth minister’s job is to plant seeds that, with God’s blessing, will continue to grow.

The following is a list of the youth ministers and youths who received awards at the second annual Youth and Campus Ministry Appreciation Dinner held Dec. 6 at St. Joseph Church in Herndon.

Volunteer of the Year Award: Bill Molino, from St. Bernadette Parish in Springfield; Guiselle Segura, from the Spanish Apostolate; Kevin Mondoro, from All Saints Parish in Manassas; Caroline Tynan, from Marymount University Campus Ministry in Arlington; Tom Svercl, from the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington; Paul Bevins, from St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Arlington; Ed Higgins, from St. Francis De Sales Parish in Purcellville; David Miller, from St. Louis Parish in Alexandria; Eric McDade, from St. Mark Parish in Vienna; Judy McCloskey, from St. John the Baptist Parish in Front Royal; Paul Cicotello, from St. Mary of Sorrows Parish in Fairfax; Patrick R. Schambach, from St. John Neumann Parish in Reston; Pat Rowland, from campus ministry at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg; Linda Wieland, from Our Lady of Hope Parish in Potomac Falls; Hyung Joon Lim, from St. Paul Chung Parish in Arlington; Feliza Kepler, from St. Thomas à Becket Parish in Reston; Chip Snyder, from St. Theresa Parish in Ashburn; Barbara Novitsky, from Christ the Redeemer Parish in Sterling; Mike O’Neil, from Good Shepherd Parish in Vienna; Ed Becker, from Holy Spirit Parish in Annandale; James Bailey, from Queen of Apostles Parish in Alexandria; and Laura Gunson, from St. Leo the Great Parish in Fairfax.

Excellence in Youth Ministry Award: Christine Najarian, youth minister at Holy Spirit Parish in Annandale; Patrick Berney, Scouting Adult Leader and District Commissioner; and Gabriela Merino, coordinator of Hispanic youth ministry at Nativity Parish in Burke.

Ex Corde Award: Father Peter Nasetta, chaplain and director of campus ministry at George Mason University in Fairfax.

More Award: Deanna Andrew, administrative assistant for the Office of Youth Ministry.

Youth Apostle Awards

St. Dominic Savio Award: Mark Guillaudeu from St. Mark Parish in Vienna.

St. Maria Goretti Award: Kaitlin McCormac from All Saints Parish in Manassas.

St. John Bosco Award: Maryanne Kauffman from St. Bernadette Parish in Springfield.