‘Young disciples’ honored

Family members, youth ministry leaders and pastors gathered with the Diocese’s “young disciples” for the annual Pope John Paul II Youth Leadership Awards dinner and celebration last month at St. Francis de Sales Parish in Tucson.
Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas congratulated this year’s 79 award recipients from 25 parishes and all of the Catholic high schools.
“These young disciples who have embraced leadership responsibilities in service to others at our parishes and Catholic high schools gave beautiful witness of their journey toward selfless love,” Bishop Kicanas said after the event.
The Pope John Paul II Youth Award recognizes leadership in one or more of three categories: Catechesis and Evangelization; Community Service and Social Justice; and Prayer and Worship.
Also honored was Michelle Benzenhoefer, youth minister of Our Mother of Sorrows Parish. She received the fourth annual Pope John Paul II Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes adults who demonstrate extraordinary commitment to our youth.

Catechesis, Evangelization:

1. Valerie Smith, Our Mother of Sorrows, Tucson
2. Xochitl Monje, St. Francis of Assisi, Yuma
3. Daniel Fragoso, St. Francis of Assisi, Yuma
4. Andrea Coronado, Lourdes Catholic High School, Nogales
5. Carolina Romero, Lourdes Catholic High School, Nogales
6. Paul Mather, St. Thomas the Apostle, Tucson
7. Thi Han, Our Lady of La Vang, Tucson
8. Trini Bui, Our Lady of La Vang, Tucson
9. Renee Tran, Our lady of La Vang, Tucson
10. Kaitlynn Williams, St. Augustine Catholic High School, Tucson
11. Danny Milchak, Immaculate Heart High School, Tucson
12. Mathew Ybarra, Santa Catalina, Tucson
13. Elissa Rea Rodriguez, Blessed Sacrament, Mammoth
14. Amber Bonnette, St. Francis de Sales, Tucson
15. Sabra Holubec, St. Francis de Sales, Tucson
16. Michelle Mercado, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Tucson
17. Felicity Newton, Salpointe Catholic High School, Tucson
18. Rebecca Lakosky, St. Rita in the Desert, Vail
19. Brittany Polanco, Most Holy Trinity, Tucson
20. Katherine Krieski, St.Mark the Evangelist, Tucson
21. McKenzie Grenfall, St. Mark the Evangelist, Tucson
22. Christian Robles, Saints Peter and Paul, Tucson
23. Florizel Pelayo, San Felipe de Jesus, Nogales
24. Andrea Cameras, Our Lady of Grace, Maricopa
25. Luke Stangl, Christ the King Catholic Community, Tucson
26. Catalina J. Flores, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, Tucson

Prayer and Worship:

1. Analissa Cotsonas, Our Lady of the Valley, Green Valley
2. Alana Erchull, Our Mother of Sorrows, Tucson
3. Pablo Vergara, Sacred Heart, Tucson
4. Brianna Celez, San Martin de Porres, Sahuarita
5. Jeremiah Cardenas, San Martin de Porres, Sahuarita
6. Jennifer Miraval, San Martin de Porres, Sahuarita
7. Hunter Winsor, St. Rose of Lima, Safford
8. Phillip Hoovestol, St. Augustine Cathedral, Tucson
9. Sol Sturm, Immaculate Conception, Ajo
10. Eric Huelsman, St. Thomas the Apostle, Tucson
11. Nicholas Montanez, St. Augustine Catholic High School, Tucson
12. Joseph Mona, Immaculate Heart High School, Tucson
13. Timothy Wiley, Holy Angels, Globe
14. Chebel Sandoval, Holy Angels, Globe
15. Nesell Tovar, Santa Catalina, Tucson
16. Andres Moreno, Blessed Sacrament, Mammoth
17. Kylee Edwardson St. Francis de Sales, Tucson
18. Alina Vo, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Tucson
19. Stasha Thomas, Salpointe Catholic High School, Tucson
20. Michael Cardenas, St. Rita in the Desert, Vail
21. Maria Fernanda Velasco, Most Holy Trinity, Tucson
22. Amanda Madlangbayan, St. Mark the Evangelist, Tucson
23. Zaina Innabi, Saints Peter and Paul,Tucson, Tucson
24. Mary Guadalupe Padilla, San Felipe de Jesus, Nogales
25. Vanessa Valenzuela, San Felipe de Jesus, Nogales
26. Kevin Luna, Our Lady of Grace, Maricopa
27 Liborio Dominguez, Our Lady of Grace, Maricopa
28. Luke Stangl, Christ the King Catholic Community, Tucson
29. Liliana Buelna, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, Tucson
30. Vera Von Esse, St. Michael the Archangel, Florence
31. Raymond C. Welch, St. Michael the Archangel, Florence
32. Jonathan Christian King, St. Therese of Lisieux, Patagonia
33. Victoria Calabrese, St. Therese of Lisieux, Patagonia
34. Francisco Lares, San Miguel High School, Tucson
35. Natasha Avila, San Miguel High School, Tucson
36. Ashley DeCorse, Yuma Catholic High School, Yuma

Community Service and Social Justice:

1. Kevin Dunlap, Immaculate Heart High School, Tucson
2. Suzzet Rivas, Santa Catalina, Tucson
3. Anthony Rojo, St. Francis de Sales, Tucson
4. Nicollete Sherick-Jimenez, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Tucson
5. Briana Bracamonte, Salpointe Catholic High School, Tucson
6. Aiza Weber, St. Rita in the Desert, Vail
7. Justin Garms, Most Holy Trinity, Tucson
8. Mary Kate Barrett, Saints Peter and Paul, Tucson
9. Luke Stangl, Christ the King Catholic Community, Tucson
10. Aabinii So Litzin, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, Tucson
11. Martin Chavez, San Miguel High School, Tucson
12. Phillip Hoovestol, Yuma Catholic High School, Yuma
13. Britney Corneliusen, Our Lady of the Valley, Green Valley
14. Emmanuel Rodarte, Our Mother of Sorrows, Tucson
15. David Rodriguez, Lourdes Catholic High School, Nogales
16. Adriana Otero, St. Helen, Oracle
17. Joey Clanton, St. Thomas the Apostle, Tucson
18. Mariela Encinas, St. Augustine Catholic High School, Tucson