Teenage representatives give voice to youth across diocese |
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Written by LAURIE STEVENS BERTKE, Chronicle Writer
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Friday, 07 November 2008 01:00 |
Fourteen high school students were chosen this fall to represent Catholic youth across northwest Ohio, making the largest Diocesan Youth Council (DYC) in more than a decade.
The diverse group includes teens from 10 different parishes in the 19-county Diocese of Toledo: Francisco Carrillo, Norwalk St. Paul; Adrianna De La Roca, Napoleon St. Augustine; Evan Hill, Findlay St. Michael; Ashley Hoehn, Ottoville Immaculate Conception; Troy Hoffman, Gibsonburg St. Michael; Kate Martin, Columbus Grove St. Anthony; Christian Mocek, Toledo St. Charles Borromeo; Stasia Phillips, Lexington Resurrection; Harley Rohrbacher, Toledo St. Pius X; Katie Shramko, Lexington Resurrection; Anthony Betori, Toledo St. Patrick of Heatherdowns; Anthony Barker, Toledo St. Patrick of Heatherdowns; Shannon Spayde, Willard St. Francis; and Jon Alan Shrewsbery, Toledo St. Thomas Aquinas.
The council also includes facilitators Haley Todd of the University of Dayton and Bryce Roberts of the University of Toledo, adult leader Cathy Figliomeni and Deacon Jerry Ziemkiewicz, diocesan coordinator of youth ministry.
The DYC fosters the personal and spiritual growth of each young person while drawing them into responsible participation within the life, mission and work of the diocesan faith community.
Members commit to working together on behalf of and for the good of all young people in the diocese for 12 months. They attend monthly meetings, plan diocesan youth ministry events and serve as an advisory body to the Office of Youth, Young Adult Ministry and Campus Ministry (YYACM).
They also participated in a formation retreat Oct. 4-5 at Wide Water Retreat Center in Liberty Center, Ohio.
"The council is a valuable group of young people who work with our office to plan and lead the various diocesan events we sponsor, including the FIRE Rally, Walk for Life and the Summer Youth Conference," says Deacon Ziemkiewicz. "They are truly a gift to our diocese by the commitment of their time, energy and creativity to the DYC."
The coordinator and DYC facilitators selected the 2008-09 council members from nominations they received from pastors, youth ministers and parish adult youth leaders in the diocese.
Photo courtesy of Office of Youth, Young Adult and Campus Ministry
During their formation retreat weekend, members of the Diocesan Youth Council hold up a sign referencing 1 Timothy 4:12 — ìLet no one disregard you because you are young, but be an example to all believers in the way you speak and behave, and in your love, your faith and purity.î
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Last Updated on Friday, 23 January 2009 09:47 |
