Recognition of youth: Timothy Awards presented to 160 diocesan teens
By James McEvoy
Staff Writer
SKILLMAN — It is often said that the youth are the future of the church. At the second annual Diocesan Youth Ministry Awards Mass, the diocese recognized young people for their work in the present.
Approximately 160 youth from parishes and Catholic schools throughout the diocese were each presented with a Timothy Award Oct. 5 at St. Charles Borromeo Parish.
The award recognizes members of youth and young adult ministries for their work at their school, in their parish or for the community at large.
In his homily, Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski, principal celebrant of the Mass, reflected on the Gospel reading (Mt 21:33-43) in which Jesus Christ told the parable of tenants who murdered their landowner’s son to acquire his inheritance.
Bishop Bootkoski drew parallels between the parable and the journey all Catholics travel.
“The landowner is God and the tenants are each one of us,” he said. Each young person, Bishop Bootkoski said, had become a tenant of God through their baptism and through living out their baptismal promise.
Just as the tenants of the parable, each of God’s tenants has a choice: to be good workers and produce fruit or to become self-centered and reject God’s love.
Bishop Bootkoski said he was happy to announce that the youth being recognized as well as all those in attendance had chosen to bear the fruit of God.
“In reaching out, we find fulfillment. Many you here today are recognized because you have reached out,” he added.
Bishop Bootkoski said he believed that the parable would have had a very different ending had the youth of the church as well as those in attendance been the landowner’s tenants.
He also praised the youth for hearing and heeding the call of Christ and allowing the living word of God to speak to them.
“Thank you for responding to that call,” Bishop Bootkoski said. “Thank you for your lives.”
Michael J. Wojcik, director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, introduced the large group of youth ministry members and emphasized the importance of their work and sacrifice.
He also said that the large number of students being recognized contradicted the idea that the youth is not actively involved in the Catholic Church.
Wojcik also wanted to congratulate parents and families who “fostered faith” in their children who as teenagers and young adults have been “putting faith in action.”
He also identified some specific roles and actions that the youth have undertaken to be recognized. The impressive list included serving at the altar, working at soup kitchens and participating at pro-life rallies.
“I think I’ll stop at this point,” Wojcik said after listing nearly 20 roles and projects that youth were involved in. “You get the message.”
Deacon Mickey Coppola, St. Anthony of Padua, Port Reading, who assisted at the awards Mass, said the youth “understand what it means to be a disciple.”
Deacon Coppola added that seeing all the youth and their accomplishments brings him hope for the future of the church and also wanted to dispel the myth that youth are not active members of the church.
“These are the ones you don’t hear about,” he added.
Many of the youth were humbled by the recognition, including James Mccaffery, St. Matthew the Apostle, Edison.
“I feel very honored,” he said.
Mccaffery was presented with the Timothy Award for the second year in a row because of his contributions to his parish as choir member and alter server as well as other volunteer work.
Michelle Penny of Bishop George Ahr High School, Edison, is a member of the school’s Christian Social Action Club and had mixed emotions of pride and humility when being presented with the award.
“I was really excited, but also kind of nervous,” she said.
Anthony Competello of St. Anthony of Padua, Port Reading was another Timothy Award recipient. He also proclaimed Scripture at the awards Mass.
“It’s always a big honor representing the youth,” he said, adding he was very proud to read in front of his peers.