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YOUNGSTOWN -- It is time once again to nominate high school juniors and seniors in the six-county Youngstown Diocese who are role models of Christian leadership for the 23rd annual Eagle of the Cross award.
Cindee Case of the Youngstown Diocese Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry said the nominees must be practicing Roman Catholics and exemplify the qualities of moral integrity, prayerful/spiritual life, personal outreach to church and community, contribution to parish and/or school programs and Christian leadership. Involvement in diocesan programs also will be considered.
Nominations must be postmarked by Feb. 10 and delivered to the diocese no later than 3 p.m. Feb. 12. The nomination form can be downloaded from the office website at: http://youngstownoyyam.weebly.com/eagle-of-cross-awards.html.
Diocesan officials said the Eagle of the Cross award originally was created by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry and is the highest honor the Diocese of Youngstown presents to youth who "show particular zeal for the improvement of their parish youth ministry program, high school ministry teams or other ministries within the diocese."
Teens are nominated by adults who complete short essay questions regarding the nominee's participation in parish and/or Catholic high school youth ministry programs within the Diocese of Youngstown, as well as providing specific examples of the qualities mentioned above.
All nominators must obtain the signature of the nominee's pastor / administrator as well as the high school principal / president for Catholic school nominees prior to submission. Nominees in the Catholic high school category must attend one of the six Catholic high schools within the six-county Diocese of Youngstown: Ursuline and Mooney in Youngstown, Warren JFK upper campus, Ashtabula St. John, St. Thomas Aquinas in Louisville and Canton Central Catholic.
The award is not geared toward quantitative service hours, but to the integrity of the individual and how well she or he is perceived as an outstanding Catholic Christian.
Since 1999, 583 youth have received the Eagle of the Cross Award, including a few who have gone on to become priests, seminarians, postulants, parish ministers, parents and outstanding Catholic witnesses in their college and work lives. Lists of previous recipients have been posted at http://youngstownoyyam.weebly.com/eagle-of-cross-awards.html.
Case said because of COVID-19 and safety protocols, a plan for conferring the awards will be announced in the spring, with an April 14 target date. For information, contact Case by email, ccase@youngstowndiocese.org or call her at 330-744-8451, Ext. 280.
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