New Albany Deanery CYO celebrates
40th anniversary by honoring volunteers
By Mary Ann Wyand
New Albany Deanery Catholic Youth Ministries staff members and volunteers celebrated the agency’s 40th anniversary on May 12 at Joe Huber’s Farm in Starlight by recognizing outstanding adult and youth leaders from a number of southern Indiana parishes.
Three adults and 41 teenagers were honored for Church and community service during the deanery’s annual Catholic Youth Organization awards dinner, which kicked off a series of deanery celebrations marking 40 years of Catholic Youth Ministries in southern Indiana.
During the event, more than 230 adults and teenagers affirmed these youth and adult leaders for their service to the Catholic community.
“It’s amazing to consider that literally tens of thousands of teenagers have been involved in Catholic Youth Ministries over the past four decades,” said Ray Lucas, director of Catholic Youth Ministries for the deanery.
“We are fortunate to have an event like this that gathers us as one body to recognize the examples of servant leadership displayed by our youth today,” Lucas said, “and to celebrate the programs, people and ministries that have made their mark on our community since 1965.”
Recipients of St. John Bosco Awards, the archdiocesan Catholic Youth Organization’s distinguished volunteer service award for adults, were St. John the Baptist parishioners Joe and Bonnie Huber of Starlight and St. Joseph parishioner Greg Kemp of Sellersburg.
The deanery also honored a number of exceptional teenagers for their leadership and Christian lifestyle. This year, 19 youth received the prestigious Outstanding Leadership and Service Award.
The deanery’s top youth award went to Megan Faye and Curtis Becht from St. Mary-of-the-Knobs Parish in Floyds Knobs, Carri Taylor from St. Mary Parish in Navilleton, Adam Coots from St. John Parish in Starlight, and Chris Schoenfelder, Shawn Edelen and Jonathan Kiesler from Holy Family Parish in New Albany.
Outstanding Leadership and Service Awards also were presented to Sarah Waller from St. Michael Parish in Bradford as well as Colleen Mooney, Emily Ernstberger, Audrey Molnar and Erin Ehlers from St. Mary Parish in New Albany.
Also receiving the deanery’s outstanding youth service award were Katie Andres, Chelsea Powell, Geoffrey Mooney and Leah Cissell from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in New Albany and Katie Gatz, Jimmy Cox and Brad Rogers from Sacred Heart Parish in Jeffersonville.
Three New Albany youth received $1,000 scholarships for outstanding service to their Church and community during their high school years.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help parishioner Leah Cissell received the deanery’s Dean Kramer Memorial Scholarship, Holy Family parishioner Chris Schoenfelder earned the Father Tom Stumph Memorial Scholarship and Holy Family parishioner Jonathan Kiesler was awarded the Service Above Self Scholarship.
In addition to these youth service awards, 22 teen-agers were recognized for their leadership and faithful involvement to the deanery.
Earning certificates for leadership, service and faithful involvement were Karlie Andres, Julie Berger, Heather Bowling, Lauren Cecil, Shane Cody, Brianna Combs, Danielle Cronin, Erika Cunningham, Amy Dean and Cassidy Dowdle.
Also recognized with this award were Alex Gettelfinger, Jordan Golembeski, Noelle Hadler, Jennifer Huber, Jamie Huber, Kurosh Javid, Katie Krause, Jonathan Lilly, Jarrod Pierce, Michael Singleton, Adam Steele and Caroline Wadsworth.
Sponsorship and support for the evening was provided by the Joe Huber Family and Farm, Tony and Laura Fleming-Balmer, Joyce Kraemer and Walnut Ridge Nursery.
“The dinner recognizes all that youth have done in the community and the impact we’ve made,” said youth award and scholarship recipient Leah Cissell. “It’s a nice reminder of how special our experiences with youth ministry have been.” †
