The Youth Volunteers were active visible participants during the 8:30 AM mass from Greeters, to singing in the choir, to the collection, taking up of the gifts, to receiving communion as a group and receiving a blessing before exiting the church as a group from Father Bill.
The Youth Volunteers, parents and their invited guests were served breakfast of sausages, waffles, eggs, fresh fruit, milk and coffee before receiving their Certificates of Appreciation and Recognition and Youth Volunteer Scarves.
Reginald Paige our Youth Volunteer of the year in 2007 was the guest speaker. Reginald spoke of his volunteer experience in St. Agatha since he was 3 years old. Christian Culmer-Evans shared his musical gift with us. Several youth Volunteers spoke of their experience in 2012 serving with the Peer Leaders Group. A few of the Youth Volunteers shared their future plans - one will go to St. Johns in NY and one will attend Morehouse College in Atlanta in the Fall. Join us in the recognition, respect and honor of these St. Agatha Youth Volunteers by thanking them and giving them your smile when you pass them, this is the beginning.
"NOBODY CAN DO EVERYTHING BUT EVERYBODY CAN DO SOMETHING"
We thank Sister Karen, Father Bill, Deacon Ricardo and you our church family for being a part of the rock upon which our church stands, Maggie A., Carmen A., Marco and Gilbert are the Youth Group Coordinators who spend their time in providing an environment that stimulates and encourages growth in compassion and empathy, and the need to pass on blessings and Tere A., our Religious Ed Director, who introduced our Youth Volunteers to serving God.
God sent Kirlin. She spent hours measuring, shopping for fabric, cutting, sewing and hanging the curtains to decorate the stage. The stage was the center of the Youth Volunteer Celebration. Yolanda's Aunt Helen made the scarves. Celeste and Vikki came to serve with the Saturday meal program, went to mass and returned to stay way into the night to help decorate the hall on Saturday. Gloria Walker, who steps up always when we called upon her, was there by our sides throughout our planning, decorating, serving and cleaning up. Fernando Rodriguez came and brought his children Kevin and Erika to serve and clean up. The parents of Chelsea Herbert and Kimberly Prera, who were our guests, saw we were short handed they joined in to serve until others came. Rachel Juarez is such an important part of S.H.A.R.E. We could not reach out and be of service during our special activities and events without Rachel's dedication to S.H.A.R.E. Isabel Juarez is our youngest volunteer. She just turned nine years old. Her enthusiasm and love of serving is amazing. She brought her Mom, Camerina who served and washed endless dishes. Our "kitchen ministry ", where all things happen was the heart of the breakfast, was blessed by the hands of Virginia Moore and Clara Davidson. They kept the food flowing. These ladies heard our need of help way over at St. Brigid and came over to offer their helping hands. Waffle cook, Concepcion and our all time fantastic teen age chef, "Chef Tiara" who did everything from waffle making, to prepping the eggs , cooking sausages and cleaning up with the "kitchen cooking saints" were such a blessing. Manuel designed and printed the certificates and printed copies for the signs. Enrique printed pictures and made signs. Jose put the sign on the board on Adams, prepared the hall, made coffee and took special care of our needs and supplies for the day. Martin kept a check on us when Jose left and made sure we had what we needed. He did the final hall clean up on Sunday.
We are a very small ministry with two active Leaders Azalie and Yolanda. These two young women are truly a gift from God. They go way beyond just volunteering on Saturday to prep and serve meals to our guests. They are committed to serving those in need. They serve tirelessly and will ask how and what else can we do to serve and "what are we doing next." Yolanda and Azalie spend endless hours before, during and after all of our events and attempts to reach out and do their "God's Work". This time it was no exception. Together they are an awesome team. They prayed, planned, shopped, worried, decorated and prayed some more before serving. Yolanda took care of the hall and food flow. Azalie took care of the Emcee duties. The Christ in them shows by living their faith through their works.
God placed ALL of these wingless angels and saints together to make this celebration and recognition of our St. Agatha Youth Volunteers hopefully memorable with imprints being made on their spirit so that they will continue to reach out as they journey and make a difference in a life in the name of
J E S U S... Amen.
Blessings,
The S.H.A.R.E. Ministry
Letter to the Youth Volunteers
March 10, 2013
Dear St. Agatha Youth Volunteers,
Thank you for caring enough to make and spend your time sharing your talents to improve the quality of life for others. For this you have not received pay and sometimes not even a thank you recognition. Yet you still reach out when your only reward was the feeling of self satisfaction in knowing that you made a difference for someone because you cared enough to step up, reach out and touch a life that was in need.
We pray that these special acts of kindness that you have done for others will stimulate you to continue to want to serve. Some of you will do this through your choice of a lifetime career, others will become a mentor and role model to encourage other youth to serve. May God watch over you and keep your heart and spirit full of love and compassion as you walk and grow in the light of Christ... Amen
With much admiration, appreciation, respect and love,
Blessings,
The S.H.A.R.E. Ministry
The following St. Agatha Youth Volunteers were recognized for their service in the church as Peer Group Youth Leaders, Altar Servers, and Community in Action Theater Ministry, ACCE Ministry, Music Ministry, Religious Ed Ministry, Hospitality/Greeters Ministry, and S.H.A.R.E. Ministry:
Jesus Bravo, Megan Cabral, Marlene Devora, Jorge Fierrio, Angela Francis, Andy Garcia, Lesli Garcia, Ashley Gonzalez, Juan Gonzalez, Sidney Gonzalez, Jasmin Gutierrez, Elvia Gutierrez, Patricia Gutierrez, Chelesa Herbert, Mariela Hernandez, Sofia Hernandez, Luke Holscher, Jessica Jimenez , Lindsay Joines, Rina Manriquez, Maria de la Medina, Maria Guadalupe Medina, Rene Melendez, Erica Meraz, Yasmin Moreno, Eduardo Nava, Esmeralda Navas, Nuri Ortiz, Reginald Paige, Milton Peralta, Missael Perez, Joe Petersen, Kimberly Prera, Ricardo Ramos, Yelitza Ramos, Ariana Rios, David Rios, Mariana Rocha, Brianna Rodriguez, Giovanny Romero, Miriam Salas, Yshaira Santacruz, Perla Sibaja, Jordyn Smith, Jaylan Stamps, Santana Stamps, Rosie Toro, Tanya Toro, Cristal Toscano, Jose Varela, Luis Velazquez, Cristal Salas, Kiara Santacruz, Christian Culmer-Evans
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