The diocese hosted its annual Youth, Campus and Young Adult Ministries Appreciation Mass and Dinner at St. Joseph Church in Herndon Dec. 10.
Following Mass, celebrated by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, hundreds of attendees walked to the parish hall for a reception and awards ceremony.
“The growth of this event from year to year is a testament to the growth of quality ministry to young people each year within the diocese,” said Kevin Bohli, executive director of the diocesan Office of Youth, Campus and Young Adult Ministries. “We gather to give thanks to the Lord for his many blessings this year, and then spend the rest of the evening showing our thanks and appreciation to people who have given so generously of their time to serve youth and young adults. It is always an inspiring evening to hear the level of commitment that these leaders have towards being a witness to Christ through their service to young people in our parishes, schools and campus ministries. I always go home energized.”
Toni Papp, director of youth ministry at Holy Family Church in Dale City, received the St. Thomas More Award in recognition of her 25 years of service. Bohli said that others serving young people in the diocese today do so because of Papp’s work and example.
Bishop Burbidge presented 32 Volunteer of the Year Awards and other major awards. They are as follows:
The More Award
Toni Papp, Holy Family Church, Dale City
The Bishop Loverde Award
Jude Prabaharan, St. Rita Church, Alexandria
Excellence in Young Adult Ministry Award
Mariane Staron, Basilica of St. Mary, Alexandria
Ex Corde Award
Fr. Marcus Pollard, Christendom College, Front Royal
Excellence in Youth Ministry Award
Paul Dwyer, St. Theresa Church, Ashburn
Volunteer of the Year Award
Joan Coleman, All Saints Catholic Church, Manassas
Patrick Sweeney, Basilica of St. Mary
Molly McGraw, Bishop Ireton High School, Alexandria
Kathy Frank, Bishop O’Connell High School, Arlington
Stefanie Johnson, Cathedral of St. Thomas More, Arlington
Nicole Bohnett, Christ the Redeemer Church, Sterling
David D’Andrea, Christ the Redeemer Church
Aron Forthofer, Christendom College
Trinity Yansick, George Mason University, Fairfax
Lori Dubay, Good Shepherd Church, Alexandria
Ricardo Leon, Holy Family Church
Marisa Ashwell, Holy Trinity Church, Gainesville
Charlie Chalkley, Holy Trinity Church
Cecelia Loin, Holy Trinity Church
Robert Colella, Nativity Catholic Church, Burke
Lily Mann, Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Vienna
Joanna Guzman Arias, St. Anthony of Padua Church, Falls Church
Ashley Green, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, Lake Ridge
Michell Lawrence, St. John Neumann Church, Reston
Lisa Hamilton, St. John the Apostle Church, Leesburg
Christy Williams, St. John the Evangelist Church, Warrenton
Rohan Jayaraj, St. Leo the Great Church, Fairfax
Christopher Sheedy, St. Louis Church, Alexandria
Phil Root, St. Mark Church, Vienna
Joseph Carlson, St. Mary of Sorrows Church, Fairfax
Dom Mattson, St. Mary of Sorrows Church
JP McLaughlin, St. Mary of Sorrows Church
George Litman, St. Paul VI High School, Chantilly
Jee Eun Clara Kang, St. Paul Chung Church, Fairfax
Thomas Watkins, St. Rita Church
Amanda Todd, St. Theresa Church
Bridget Pell, St. Veronica Church, Chantilly
