Three to receive youth ministry award

October 23, 2003

One of the highlights of the upcoming Diocesan Youth Rally is the presentation of The Bishop Soens Youth Ministry Award.

According to Dr. Stephan Davis, director of youth and intergenerational ministry for the diocese, three individuals have been selected for this honor this year - one youth and two adults.

He explained that all parish leaders were invited to submit potential awardees. These are individuals who are committed to youth ministry. The Diocesan Youth Ministry Core Group selected the winners.

The youth recipient is John Sandy of St. Mary Church in Spirit Lake, a first-year college student at St. John Vianney College Seminary. The adult recipients are Stephanie Alcarez of St. Boniface Church in Sioux City and Shannon Duffy, the new DRE of the Greene County parishes.

Sandy was nominated for the award by Randy Ricklefs, youth minister at the Spirit Lake parish. Ricklefs said he submitted Sandy's name for the award for several reasons but above all was the young man's strong moral character.

"Johnny, as a I call him, has never been afraid to stand up for his faith," stressed Ricklefs. "He is a good role model and is very active in his parish life."

The youth minister described Sandy as a person of deep spirituality who effectively models and lives his faith.

Sandy is a past member of the diocesan core group. Other diocesan level involvement include Search team member, youth rally presenter, program assistant at Camp CAYOCA, as well as participant and team leader for the Christian Leadership Institute.

On a parish level he has served as a lector, musician, a member of the parish youth core group, aide for religious education programs and Eucharistic minister to the homebound in nursing homes to name some of his volunteer opportunities. He has participated in various service projects and has helped to organization confirmation retreats and assorted parish workshops.

Alcarez was nominated by the To Heaven's End core team.

In her nomination form, the youth core group described Alcarez as a prayer filled person who puts in endless hours to inspire and promote youth involvement in their faith.

"She has spoken to many youth in Sioux City about the importance of their faith, the need to have and keep God in their lives," wrote the core group in her nomination. "She stresses the power of prayer and the rosary, the necessity of Mass and attending faithfully with their families." And when their families don't go, she invites the youth to attend with her family.

The leader of the To Heaven's End Youth Group, Sam Hacker, pointed out that Alcarez's example for the youth has been even more profound as she continued witnessing her faith even after the suicide of her son Chester two years ago. Chester had been a member of the youth group.

Alcarez is a lector, Eucharistic minister, musician, greeter and teacher for the parish religious education program in addition to involvement in the To Heaven's End Youth Group. She has served as a sponsor of confirmation service projects, takes part in Bible study with the youth and serves as a translator to name of few of her activities. She promotes unity and a partnership between the To Heaven's End and Hispanic youth groups.

Shannon Duffy, new DRE for the Greene County parishes, was the second adult selected by the diocesan core group. He has been involved in youth ministry in the diocese for the number of years.

Davis commented that, "although I doubt the award was originally intended for paid youth ministers and DREs, the teen Core members know Shannon from the many diocesan events in which he has played a key role: CLI, Camp CAYOCA, Youth Rally, and the high school retreats. Shannon habitually encourages young people from across the diocese to take active roles in these events. Before I became the director of youth ministry, Shannon was a member of the diocesan Core Group for four years. He has been willing and helpful to me in my year in this youth office."

A graduate of Bishop Garrigan High School and Briar Cliff University, Duffy recently completed an M.A. in Religious Studies from the University of Dayton.

Some of Duffy's favorite quips/catch phrases about his ministry are: "To teach Catholic teens that knowing Jesus in the heart is as important as knowing Jesus in the head." "It can be cool to be Catholic." "I want them to learn to be goofy for God. Faith can be fun."

These individuals will be recognized on Sunday in Carroll.