Two receive youth ministry awards

October 7, 2004

One of the highlights of the upcoming Diocesan Youth Rally slated for Oct. 24 in Carroll is the presentation of The Bishop Soens Youth Ministry Award.

The purpose of the Bishop Soens Youth Ministry Award is to affirm, recognize and support youth ministry efforts in the Diocese of Sioux City. Ideally the award is presented each year to one adult and one youth who have made outstanding efforts in youth service to the Catholic high schools and/or parishes.

This year the youth recipient is Mitch Bedel, a parishioner at St. Joseph Church in Wall Lake. The adult recipient is Jenny Boyle, a parishioner at Immaculate Conception Church in Sioux City.

According to Linda Anderson, director of catechesis for the diocese, Pope John Paul II has repeatedly emphasized the importance of young people and ministry with them. His words at World Youth Day 1995 called the church to become the "traveling companion of young people."

The Bishops of the United States took up the Holy Father's challenge and in 1997 published the document entitled "Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry."

The three essential goals of youth ministry listed in this document are used as guidelines in the nomination and selection of the Bishop Soens Youth Ministry Award recipients. These three goals are: (1) empowering young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in the world today; (2) drawing young people to responsible participation in the life, mission and work of the faith community; and (3) fostering the personal and spiritual growth of each young person.

Anderson said this year's award recipients exemplify these goals.

Bedel, a student at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn., has been involved in various diocesan-level programs such as serving as a program assistant and group leader at Camp CAYOCA and working at Search Weekends for high school juniors and seniors. He is a past member of the Diocesan Core Group. He has given witness talks at confirmation retreats for various parishes. He has been involved in numerous other youth activities such as participating in service trips and attending the Christian Leadership Institute.

In his parish, he is a strong youth leader who serves as a lector and Eucharistic minister.

Shannon Duffy, who is the DRE and youth minister for the Greene County Parishes, nominated Bedel. Duffy served with Bedel on the Diocesan Core Group and has worked with him at Camp CAYOCA and retreats.

"He is one of the most faith-filled young persons I know," wrote Duffy in the nomination form.

Bedel said he was overwhelmed to learn that he had received the award.

"Youth ministry is something that has been with me pretty much the last half of my high school career. It was through youth ministry that my eyes were opened and that I was awakened and that I was finally allowed to look at myself the way I was and the world the way it was and see my place in that. It enabled me to see the bigger picture, the bigger scheme, the Divine Revelation that is always God," he said.

Through the examples of good priests and youth ministers along with strong ministry programs, Bedel pointed out that he was able to turn his life around and turn toward love, virtue and God.

He has seen youth ministers help change people's lives and has seen how young people can be drawn into a life of prayer through youth ministry.

Boyle assists Sam Hacker with youth ministry for the To Heaven's End Youth Group in Sioux City. She helps with youth ministry service projects such as snow removal and cookie baking as well as fundraisers. Boyle is also directly involved with nurturing youth spirituality as she assists with confirmation preparation and youth retreats. Hacker nominated her for the award.

In her parish she is a lector, Eucharistic minister, usher and greeter. She has attended Immaculate Conception for 18 years. She turned Catholic through the RCIA program and was confirmed into the church in 1999.

Boyle said she was surprised and humbled in receiving the youth ministry award.

"Through my experience of becoming a Catholic, I realized how important it is to feel accepted," she explained. "The youth must feel accepted within their parishes and within their religion in general. The youth of IC love to get involved and help out with many projects all year long. We have a strong youth group at IC and it can be seen by the young people's enthusiasm and continuing activities. I am inspired by the young people in my parish and their dedication to Jesus Christ."