DYC April 17, 2016 Monitor supplement

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A Supplement of

onitor

Newspaper of the Diocese of Trenton

DIOCESAN YOUTH CONFERENCE

APRIL 17, 2016

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DYC 2016

THE MONITOR • APRIL 17, 2016

Mercy Rising 2016 DYC offers faith, fellowship to some 700 teens Story by Patrick T. Brown, Associate Editor

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n his letter to youth for the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis encouraged “a year-long celebration, in which every moment becomes a chance for us to grow in holiness...To be merciful means to grow in a love which is courageous, generous and real.”

For roughly 700 teenagers from across central New Jersey, the annual Diocesan Youth Conference was a chance to rekindle their courage, generosity and authentic love while learning what it means to “rise up” as a child of a merciful God. Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., punctuated the day’s theme in his homily at the closing Mass.

“We are the new apostles in the Church and we have a mission to live the Gospel and to spread it,” he said.

“And so, my friends: rise up! Love has triumphed and always will. Mercy has been victorious and always will be!”

The emphasis on being “Merciful like the Father,” which has been emphasized throughout the Holy Year of Mercy, was interwoven throughout the day. Words from Pope Francis’ Easter blessing - “Love has triumphed. Mercy has been victorious.” - were the conference motto, inspiring discussion and serving as a reference point for the speakers and presenters.

Other activities throughout the day included breakout sessions led by local and regional youth ministry professionals, musical entertainment, games, adoration and the opportunity to go to confession.

parish missions across the U.S. and was a keynote presenter at the National Catholic Youth Conference in 2014.

“We have a God who loves us so much that he would die on that Cross. That is mercy,” he said. “His mercy is greater than any of the things you could have done. If you learn nothing else this weekend, I hope you know that you’ve got a God that loves you so much, that no matter what you’ve done, his mercy is there waiting for you.”

Abigail Vernon, a 14-year-old in St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish, Hamilton, said Perron’s talk was “so powerful.”

“He was speaking about his children and he brought in a sense of laughter to it, which I think really connected with all of the students here,” said Vernon, who attended the day’s event with her LifeTeen group. She said the day helped build a sense of solidarity between youth from different parishes across the Diocese.

“I think some students have trouble because they want to fit in, they don’t think Catholic kids are cool, so I think DYC is great to meet so many other Catholic kids and show it See DYC • A3

 In addition to prayer and the Sacraments, attendees were given plenty of opportunities to build new friendships and strengthen old ones. Craig Pittelli photos

“If you just open yourself up, God’s Light will shine through you.”

Rising Up to Overcome Fear The day began with a keynote speech delivered by Bob Perron, the director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia.

In his opening keynote, Perron encouraged the attendees to follow the Bible’s exhortation to have the faith of a child, using stories from his own family life as an example.

“Three-year-olds have a different kind of faith,” he said.

“They have no doubts. None.”

Perron has been involved in youth and young adult ministry since 1984, serving as a parish youth minister, parish director of religious education, camp director and diocesan youth director.

He has spoken at hundreds of diocesan youth conference and

 As part of the opening session, teens were asked to “shine their light” – via their cell phone – to light up the auditorium of Notre Dame High School.

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APRIL 17, 2016 • TrentonMonitor.com

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 Youth groups from around the region piled into busses and vans to participate in the day-long festival of faith and fun. Craig Pittelli photos

DYC fills teens with spirit of faith Continued from • A2

doesn’t matter if you don’t feel like you fit in.”

Bishop O’Connell’s homily focused on authentic Christian friendship, and how it can summon all of us to transcend differences to work towards the good.

“We know that our faith in the Lord Jesus is not easy, our friendship with Christ who loves us asks things, demands things of us, both as individuals and as a community...In the Lord Jesus, our Shepherd, we are never alone,” the Bishop said.

To Jacqueline Brooks, a high school freshman in St. Veronica Parish, Howell, the year’s theme was inspiration to be brave about being a witness for Christ. “‘Rise up’ kind of means to overcome our fears,” she said.

Brooks, who entered into full communion with the Church less than a month ago at the Easter Vigil, said that her first DYC experience was helping her come to a deeper appreciation for her faith, “a better love for God and Jesus and a better understanding of what he’s done for us.”

Community and Fellowship With over 650 teenagers registered in advance, organizers estimated roughly 700 teens from the Diocese were in attendance, including last-minute additions and walk-in registrants.

Josue Arriola, director of the Diocese’s Department of Youth, Marriage and Family Life Ministries, welcomed the attendees at the start of the day.

“Today we’re going to be talking about mercy, because God is merciful,” Arriola said.

Arriola asked the group to pray an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be for the repose of the soul of the father of Rudy Gomez, diocesan youth ministry coordinator, who was with his family and unable to attend the yearly gathering. Attendees also wrote short messages of consolation and prayer that were placed in a jar to be given to Gomez.

At a workshop for adults involved in ministry to youth, Arriola described what he termed the seven phases of family life, as youth move from young adults to marriage and having children of their own, with the attendant stressors and opportunities that accompany each stage.

At a separate breakout session, Caroline Gambale-Dirkes, co-founder of 2Tim4 Ministries, told her story of becoming weaker in her faith through high school and college before returning to the Church and entering into a life of youth ministry and evangelization.

“There is no sin you could commit that he would not forgive you and extend you mercy,” Gambale-Dirkes said.

For the third year in a row, the conference featured an appearance by the Bosco Boys, two seminarians who use rap music to share the message of God’s love. Salesian Broth-

ers Steve Eguino and Steve DeMaio led the teens in attendance in prayer as well as light-hearted sessions, including a spirited lip-sync battle set to “Let It Go” from Disney’s “Frozen.”

Mark McIlvian, a 10thgrader in St. Catharine Parish, Holmdel, was returning to DYC after participating for the first time last year. He described the annual event as something of “a cross between a party atmosphere and also growing in faith with so many other people that you wouldn’t be able to connect with and deepen faith with if you weren’t here.”

While living out faith school can often be challenging, McIlvian said, DYC is a place “where you can really connect” with others and find strength in that solidarity.

“The workshops, the adoration period, the team-building, faith-growing activities that they have here...the whole day really makes you experience God in a way that you wouldn’t get to normally.”

It’s a reminder, he said, that “if you just open yourself up, God’s Light will shine through you.”

 Bob Perron, the director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of WheelingCharleston, W. Va., delivered the keynote address.

“In the Lord Jesus, our Shepherd, we are never alone.”

 Attendees had the choice of attending a number of breakout sessions, featuring speakers from around the state and region.

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DYC 2016

Selections from the homily of Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., as delivered at the 2016 Diocesan Youth Conference

THE MONITOR • APRIL 17, 2016

 Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., celebrated the closing Mass on the stage of the Notre Dame High School auditorium.

Craig Pittelli photos

In Jesus, ‘we are never alone’

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f there is one thing that young people, people your age, think about while they’re growing up it is relationships. Friendships.

And frequently accompanying those thoughts is a lot of drama. Why do we think about friendship so much? Because “nobody wants to be alone.”

To put it more positively, we all, all of us, want to be “connected” … we all want “to feel like we belong.” Now, if we are honest with ourselves, we’d say that’s true and that’s a good thing because that’s the way God made us. We read that in the story of creation in the Bible, God himself says “it is not good for the man or woman to be alone (Genesis 2:18)”…

In our Scripture today, in our readings, we hear about Paul and Barnabas. Now these two dudes were good friends. Barnabas, a follower of the Lord Jesus, met Paul, whose name was originally Saul of Tarsus before his conversion to Christianity.

Now, remember that for years Paul had persecuted the Christians whenever and wherever he found them before he became one. That’s all that people in Jerusalem knew about Paul.

That’s all they remembered, was that we was a persecutor of the believers. Barnabas, though, Barnabas reached out. He accepted him as a friend and took him under his wing to teach him

about the Lord Jesus and about the Lord’s message. They work together in the early Church for a long time. Paul eventually became the greatest preacher of the Gospel…

Barnabas saw something in Paul when the rest of the world rejected him. He showed him love.

He showed him mercy. Paul, on the other hand, responded to Barnabas’ reaching out. You know what happened? “Love triumphed. Mercy was victorious.” Together, these two friends rose up and brought many people who saw their friendship in the Lord Jesus, and brought them to God. That’s the wonderful thing about friendship: it can accomplish great things. It can also do just the opposite. Their friendship wasn’t easy. It started out in completely different directions. And there were even disagreements later on in their life. But they saw the Lord Jesus in one another and in all the possibilities that faith in him would offer.

When you reach out in friendship to one another, what are you looking for? What do you want from a friend? Just someone to hang with? Or something deeper, something more important, something that really brings you together despite the differences that exist between you?

Paul was against everything Barnabas stood for and believed. But Barnabas was on the right path, the good path, the path the Lord Jesus set before him. Paul didn’t deserve Barnabas’ friendship; he didn’t earn it. Most people of their day wouldn’t even imagine them being friends, let alone people who worked together to spread the Catholic faith…

So in this auditorium here at Mass, I want you to take a look around. Go ahead, look around.

You know what? There are a lot of Pauls and Barnabases here, friends we have known and Bishop O’Connell spoke to many of the attendees, asking for their prayers and assuring them of his own. friends we have just met.

 In his homily, Bishop O’Connell reminded the 2016 DYC attendees that “we have a mission to live the Gospel and to spread it.”

We are “all connected;” we “all belong” because the Lord Jesus has brought us together as his friends, as his flock, as his sheep, and we follow him to do what is right. The drugs, the violence, the pornography and sex, the bullying, the gossip, the bad judgment, the hatred, the name calling, the discrimination, the isolation have no place in our life of faith, have no place in our friendship with Jesus or our relationship with one another as Christians.

In the Lord Jesus, our Shepherd, we are never alone. We “hear his voice. We follow him.” Like Barnabas and Paul were, we are the new Apostles in the Church and we have a mission to live the Gospel and to spread it. And that mission is all of ours, we share that, together as friends.

And, so, my friends: rise up! Love has triumphed and always will. Mercy has been victorious and always will be!

Let me hear you say Amen. Amen!

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APRIL 17, 2016 • TrentonMonitor.com

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 Organizers estimated around 700 hundred teenagers were in attendance for the conference.

Craig Pittelli photos

 The motto of this year’s DYC was “Love has triumphed. Mercy has been victorious,” taken from an Easter message of Pope Francis.

Lessons of being open, learning who is really in charge Jerry Wutkowski, the Diocese’ assistant coordinator of young adult ministry, wrote a reflection on what he learned from his first year of being part of the team that puts on DYC. His full piece, excerpted below, is available at www.Reflections2Go.com.

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ou may be asking yourself, how does an adult learn anything new at a conference geared for youth? And with that question, I simply respond with the words “Be Open!”

There are too many of times, including my own, where I think I simply know it all, and have “been there, done that.” But that was all shattered over the weekend as God (once again) reminded me of the great gifts he continues to give!...

What was wonderful to hear were the stories of the many hearts changed as they walked through the hallway and through the Sacrament of Reconcilliation. This lesson of sacrifice and giving of ourselves pointed out that we may not see the fruits of our labor, but we know in faith that something powerful is around the corner…

One of my colleagues gave our team a powerful reminder of the reason behind the event: “Through Confession, Adoration, worship, the decor, the Mass and your smiling faces, people will meet Jesus today again or maybe for the first time. It is our God who is in charge today, not me or you.”

And with those words, I somehow found myself in the middle of the action, kneeling down in Ado-

ration in prayer with hundreds of young people.

In that short moment, I found myself just simply being a witness to the amazing God that gave me the opportunity to serve in the first place. It was the moment he told me “I will take it from here.”

The show was no longer about who was in charge and how things were getting done, it was

all about our personal encounter and testimony to God and the young people experiencing this great love for the first time. It was the moment when God reminded me, and all of us, of how he loves us and how he can use us to share his great love to the whole world. Even to a group of 600 young people that you barely know.

 Older teens and young adults, clad in grey t-shirts, served as core team members, helping the event run smoothly – and having fun while doing it.

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DYC 2016

APRIL 17, 2016 • TrentonMonitor.com

THE MONITOR • APRIL 17, 2016

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 Bishop O’Connell, who heard confessions for many DYC attendees, offers absolution to a young penitent.

“Love has triumphed.

Mercy has been victorious.”

 Salesian Brother Steve Eguino, half of the musical duo The Bosco Boys, delighted the crowd by creating an impromptu freestyle rap based on the names and interests of attendees.

 During a light-hearted moment in the hallways of Notre Dame High School, Bishop O’Connell found a familiar portrait on the wall. Photo courtesy Josh Reed

 Donna Goodwin, coordinator of the Diocese of Trenton’s Respect Life Ministry, presents 2016 Loving Life Logo contest winner Morgan Westfall, a junior in Donovan Catholic High School, Toms River, with her firstplace prize, a new MacBook computer.

Craig Pittelli photos

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hose words from Pope Francis served as a constant soundtrack of the 2016 Diocesan Youth Conference, which took place during the Extraordinary Jubilee

of Mercy. The all-day event in Notre Dame High School,

 The roughly 700 teenagers in attendance heard encouragements to “rise up” throughout the day and at the closing Mass.

Lawrenceville, brought together teens from across the Diocese to “rise up” as children of a merciful God. Keynote speaker Bob Perron, from the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, W. Va., inspired many with heartfelt tales of trust in God, while Bishop O’Connell brought smiles to many faces and an encouragement to discover the true meaning of friendship with each other and with Christ.

 Bishop O’Connell, seen in the background posing with three attendees, spent some time before Mass mingling with the teens at the 2016 DYC.

 A monstrance was placed on a wooden plinth lined with votive candles as attendees sang songs of praise.

Looking for more photos from the 2016 DYC? Visit TrentonMonitor.com for hundreds of photos from the day of prayer and fellowship, all available for purchase.

 The gymnasium of Notre Dame High School was turned into a dance floor, where attendees of all ages got in on the fun.

 2016 Diocesan Youth Conference core team leaders welcomed attendees to Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, to begin the day.

 The 2016 DYC welcomed youth from the Diocese of Trenton for a day of faith, fun and friendship.

 Bob Perron, a self-described “Stooge for Christ,” shared stories from his life as he encouraged the teens to place their trust in God when facing difficult situations.

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DYC 2016

Faith Online

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or the second year, teens, youth ministers and parents took to social media during the Diocesan Youth Conference to share their photos, videos and commentary in real time with #DoTDYC. Dozens of posts were tagged by participants, ranging from first-time attendees to youth groups who have been taking part in DYC for years.

Here are some of the best posts:

THE MONITOR • APRIL 17, 2016

DYC 2016

APRIL 17, 2016 • TrentonMonitor.com

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Nineteen teens receive Diocesan St. Timothy Awards

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ervice to God and community can be a lifelong pursuit. Just ask these teens from parishes around the Diocese, this year’s winners of the St. Timothy Award, an annual recognition of outstanding

service in youth ministry. The awards are named for St. Timothy, a young companion of St. Paul, and are given to young people who exhibit “love, faith and virtue.” In the words of those who nominated them, read how these high schoolers are “rising up” to the challenges facing them as young Catholics – and blaze a trail of service, compassion, and faith.

Veronica Archer

St. Joan of Arc Parish, Marlton Senior, Cherokee High School “Veronica has been a member of the Youth Group for three years…She is always looking to participate in all of our service activities and also enjoys having fun with her many friends. Having met her, you will never forget her enthusiasm or her smile. You will never forget her drive to finish whatever you set before her. She brings that joy and enthusiasm to everything she does…She is an example for all to follow.”

Darlene Benjamin

St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, Freehold Senior, Freehold Township High School “Through her five years of service to our youth group, Darlene has grown in and served through her faith. Darlene is our group’s president and has worked very hard to add to and enhance our youth group program. Darlene has served on the youth council and always gives 300 percent to all things…She always makes us proud and continually steps up whenever she is needed.”

Shea Blake

St. Martha Parish, Point Pleasant Senior, Point Pleasant Borough High School “Shea is an exemplary example of what this award is all about. Through her activities in church and youth ministry and the way she leads her everyday life, her vibrant and enthusiastic faith in Jesus is joyfully evident…She is a true role model to younger members of the group and always makes it a point to make newcomers to the group feel welcome….At school, she participates in many organizations, was a star of the field hockey team, and she is the senior class salutatorian, but none of this gets in the way of practicing her faith.”

Megan Casey

Holy Family Parish, Union Beach Senior, St. John Vianney High School “Megan has been an active member of the Holy Family Youth Ministry for four years...She stepped up in the aftermath of Super Storm Sandy fundraising for our St. Vincent De Paul Society always keeping those in need in her prayers. Megan has volunteered several evenings for Family Promise at St. John Methodist Church in Hazlet, spending quality time with young children. Megan shines as a member of our youth ministry, and is a true model of Catholic youth.”

Jacob Conway

St. Pius X Parish, Forked River • Senior, Lacey High School “Jacob did not grow up in a religious family, but at the age of 15 decided to sign himself up for RCIA… He truly has the heart of a servant. He plays Jesus in our Live Stations of the Cross, teaches at Vacation Bible School and volunteers with second-grade religious education…He has shared his faith with his mother and sisters and they are now in the process of receiving the sacraments. He is a role model for so many children in our parish.”

Megan Costello

St. Joseph Parish, Toms River Senior, Toms River High School East “Megan has stepped up into a leadership position over the years, often leading the group in prayer, discussion and activities. She loves to serve the Lord through service projects, including last summer’s week long immersion trip to Nazareth Farm in West Virginia. She is thoughtful, kind… and recently won a scholarship to Mount St. Vincent College based on her commitment to service and her academic achievements.”

Ariadne Cortez

Mother of Mercy Parish, Asbury Park Senior, Red Bank Catholic High School “Ariadne suffered much heartbreak as a child and when she saw others struggling with similar life events she felt the call to help. She started as an altar server at the age of 10, and now, not only is she a coordinator, but she also acts as a big sister to all the altar servers… She has many plans in the future to help others in need. She’s a great big sister to her four siblings, a great friend, an excellent daughter and a good woman in love with God.”

Devin Dragon

St. Martha Parish, Point Pleasant Senior, Point Pleasant Borough High School “Devin participates in a number of St. Martha’s events such as preparing and serving more than 800 meals every Christmas and Easter…He is an active member of the Youth Choir, and always carries himself in a positive and upbeat manner.

He volunteers [with] a program in which he helps physically and mentally disabled children…[and] constantly sets goals in order to better his character and his community.”

Brianne Dwyer

St. Catharine Parish, Holmdel Junior, Trinity Hall “Brianne is involved as an altar server, and a teachers’ assistant in the religious education summer program. Brianne has been involved in youth group for three years, and has served on the leadership board for two years… She has blossomed into an outgoing, confident young woman who is known to her loved ones by her nickname ‘Breezy.’”

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DYC 2016

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Award recipients demonstrate faith, service Continued from • A8

Francisco Garcia

Mother of Mercy Parish, Asbury Park Sophomore, Mater Dei Prep High School “Francisco started to be an altar server when he was ten years old. He not only serves in the Spanish community, but also in the English community. He recently became an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion. He is truly a disciple of God, and never fails to serve God in any way or at any time. He’s a good example for children, teens and adults of how a truly believer of God should be.”

Michael Giordano

St. Catharine Parish, Holmdel Junior, Holmdel High School “Michael is most deserving of the St. Timothy award because he is so representative of all that St. Timothy stands for. Michael has shared his God-given gift as an orator and a person of action by…volunteering his time in religious education, participating and leading youth group meetings, spending time with the elderly, and arranging this year’s DYC…Mike carries out his faith by being a role model for his brothers as his parents have been for him.”

Duncan Kelly St. Barnabas, Bayville Senior, Toms River High School South “Duncan is truly faithful and passionate person. He puts his faith, family, and friends, above all else in his life. He is a strong leader who lets his actions speak louder than words…He beautifully portrayed Jesus in our Living Stations of the Cross, and is active our Church community. Duncan feels called to serve others as Jesus did and is very proud that he is a witness to his faith. He is willing to share his faith with others through conversation and social media so that they might know God in their life.”

Emily Medwick

Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, West Trenton Senior, Ewing High School “Emily has been an altar server since the fifth grade, and has been an active member of the OLGC youth group since ninth grade. She has participated in many of the service opportunities through OLGC youth group, including preparing bagged lunches for the Lord’s table, parish clean up days, and many other activities.”

Ana Nicosia

Our Lady of Perpetual Help-St. Agnes Parish, Atlantic Highlands Senior, Middletown High School North “Ana has devoted herself to the Saints by the Sea Youth Group for several years. While balancing the hectic schedule of an honors student…Ana has participated in and led several community service activities, including Relay for Life. Ana is a wonderful role-model to all of the students in our parish. We feel that Ana exemplifies all of the wonderful characteristics of what it truly means to be a Christian.”

Alissa Papernik

St. Theresa Parish, Little Egg Harbor Senior, Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science “Alissa is involved in all fundraising, meetings, and events including retreats, mission trips, and supporting other parishes. She is very dedicated and puts her heart and faith into action through everything she does…Alissa enjoys school, taking selfies, and any song involving Taylor Swift.

Her fun and silly personality adds vibrancy to our group and parish as a whole!”

Andrea Rimmele

St. James Parish, Red Bank Junior, Middletown High School South “Andrea has been a member of the God Squad for the past few years. She attends almost every meeting and is always quick to volunteer or help. She is a true example of faith in action, whether it is with this group, serving on the altar at Mass, or giving her time and talents to community service.”

John Scott

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Whiting Senior, Donovan Catholic High School “From a very young age, John has been one of the most involved and reliable members of our church. He is a great role model for our younger altar servers, readers, and members of our youth ministry. He is one of the first to volunteer for community service, fundraising, and special events. John has a giving spirit, pleasant demeanor and positive attitude which is apparent in everything he does at the church.”

Dana Suric

St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, Freehold Senior, Freehold Township High School “Through her five years in our youth group , Dana has always been a leader. She started as our secretary for many years and now is our vice president. Dana gives 300 percent to everything she does and is a perfectionist. Dana is also part of the inter-faith group ‘Mosaic’ for several years. Dana can always be counted on to step up whenever needed.”

Gregory Wall

St. Leo the Great Parish, Lincroft Senior, High Tech High School “Gregory is one of the kindest, most caring, compassionate, helpful young men in our youth ministry. He is always ready to pitch in and volunteer. He steps out of his comfort zone to get things accomplished. He has good ideas, and works well with other team members as well as the younger teens. Greg is an active team leader who is respectful, responsible and reliable.”

DYC 2016

APRIL 17, 2016 • TrentonMonitor.com

Msgr. Phillip Lowery, staff and parishioners of St. James Church, Red Bank Offer our most sincere congratulations to

Andrea Rimmele as a recipient of the

2016 St. Timothy Award for being an excellent example of Faith in Action!

We are all so proud of you.

TheParish ParishCommunity Communityofof The St.Martha, Martha.Point PointPleasant, Pleasant, St. offersour oursincere sincerecongratulations congratulationsto to offers

SheaDragon Blake Devin Recipientof ofthe the2016 2016St. St.Timothy TimothyAward Award Recipient Foroutstanding outstandingservice service For youthministry. ministry. ininyouth Thankyou youfor forall allyou youhave havedone donefor forSt. St.Martha’s Martha’s Thank Villanova!

God Bless you as you attend Stevens!

Weare areso soproud proudof ofyou! you!

We

The Parish Family

St. Catharine– St. Margaret Parish Family congratulates

Brianne Dwyer

oFFers

To

Congratulations and blessings

Darlene Benjamin and

The Parish Family of St. Catharine– St. Margaret, Spring Lake

We are so proud of you!

To whomever I send you, you shall go…I am with you to deliver you. Jer 1:78 The parish family of

The Parish community of

Our Lady of Good Counsel,

St. Joseph, Toms River joyfully congratulates

Megan Costello

Dana Suric

Recipients of The 2016 St. Timothy Award

children and being a true example of love, faith and virtue.

Fr. Cullen, Fr. Dunlap and

oF

St. Robert Bellarmine, Freehold

2016 Recipient of the St. Timothy Award Thank you for serving as a role model to all of our parish

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West Trenton

Congratulates and offers our most sincere best wishes to

a recipient of the

Emily Medwick

2016 St. Timothy Award

A recipient of the 2016 St. Timothy Award

for her thoughtful service to our parish.

You are a wonderful example and we are thankful that you are part of our family.

May God continue to bless you!

The Parish Community of The Parish Community of St. Martha, Point Pleasant, St. Martha, Point Pleasant, offers our sincere congratulations to offers our sincere congratulations to

Devin Dragon Dragon Devin Recipient of the 2016 St. Timothy Award

Recipient of the 2016 St. Timothy Award For outstanding service For outstanding service in youth ministry. in youth ministry.

Thank you for all you have done for St. Martha’s Thank you for all you have done for St. Martha’s God Bless you as you attend Stevens!

God Bless you as you attend Stevens!

We are so proud of you!

We are so proud of you!

May God continue to bless you!

The Parish of St.

Elizabeth Ann Seton, WHITING

extends a heartfelt to

CONGRATULATIONS

John Scott on his reception of the

St. Timothy Award, given for outstanding service in Youth Ministry.

We are so proud of you and your fine example.

May God continue to bless you and your family.

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DYC 2016

THE MONITOR • APRIL 17, 2016

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Check out their video report by visiting TrentonMonitor.com

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ARE YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL THIS YEAR? Check out The Monitor’s special graduation issue, featuring highlights from commencement speeches, messages of congratulations to graduates from our Catholic schools and a chance to thank the graduate in your life.

The Monitor’s GRADUATION issue will run June 16, 2016.

USE

Join Bishop O’Connell and teens from across the state at the NJ Catholic Youth Rally at Six Flags Great Adventure & Safari, Jackson, on May 15.

The $50 admission package includes a free parking voucher, access to an all-you-can-eat buffet, a free bounce-back ticket, and a 40-percent discount on admission to Hurricane Harbor, the water park associated with Six Flags.

For information call (609) 403-7199.

The day will begin with prayer and end with Mass, celebrated by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., bookending all-day access to the adventure park.

Learn more at dioceseoftrenton.org/sixflags

Each bi-weekly issue of the Diocese’s newspaper, The Monitor, has a special section geared to Catholics in high school, exploring the events, trends and moments of faithful service occurring throughout Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean Counties. Find the Youth pages in The Monitor’s print edition, or visit TrentonMonitor.com > FEATURES > YOUTH to learn how young Catholics like you are living out their faith!