Catechists honored at St. Pius X Dinner

BY MARY POWERS

Over 200 people gathered on Thursday, May 12 to celebrate those who selflessly give of their time, treasure and talent to form souls in faith formation programs in parishes across the Archdiocese. The St. Pius X Dinner honors the many volunteers who for years have donated their time to serve the Church teaching adults, youth and children about the faith, forming them as disciples of Jesus Christ.

Sr. Celeste Arbuckle, Director of the Office of Faith Formation noted, “As we celebrate 50 years of the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, we gather as catechists and friends to recognize the blessed years of service that has been given in parishes to faith formation.  This is the vocation of our missionary discipleship.  The Easter message to go out to all the world is taken to heart in each of you.  What a gift to our archdiocese.”

At the dinner, the guests were honored with several awards including the St. Pius X Award for years of service, ranging from five years to sixty years; the Parish Catechetical Leader Award; and the Youth Service Award, presented to high school seniors who have exemplified a strong dedication of service in catechetical programs.

Awardees of the Youth Serviced Award from St. Pius Catholic Church at the St. Pius X Dinner.

Archbishop Cordileone thanked the Catechists as well and emphasized the importance of stewardship, “I want to thank you for sharing of yourselves, sharing of your time and all the hard work you do to hand on the faith. This is the work of the Church. The essence the reason why Jesus founded the Church—to evangelize…people need to know the truth so they can be set free. Our Lord told us that he is the Truth. If we know the Truth, He will set us free. So people need to understand the beauty and wisdom of what He teaches.”

Archbishop Cordileone blesses the awards at the St. Pius X Dinner May 12.

 “I am overcome with how God uses us to make present the Good News.  We need it so much today, Sr. Celeste told the Catechists in attendance, “You come with your life and skills to touch the hearts of families, children, teens and adults.  The countless hours of preparation and work I am sure has earned them a crown with our saints in heaven. 1,386 years of catechetical ministry is outstanding.”

Awards given at the St. Pius X Dinner:

Director’s Award

The Directors Award is given to those individuals who have served the needs of the catechetical community in the Archdiocese of San Francisco in a special way outside of their ordinary ministry to the Church.

Sr. Nona Barairo, SFCC

Parish Catechetical Leader Award

The Parish Catechetical Leader Award (PCL Award) is presented to directors and coordinators of parish faith formation programs who have the responsibility to foster a high level of competency in Catholic formation in the Archdiocese of San Francisco at the parish or deanery level. With their professional skills, these directors and coordinators also provide efficient administration of the parish faith formation program and supervision and training of catechists.

Kathleen Folan—DRE, 5 years, St. Dominic Church, San Francisco

Maria Zenaida Camua-Madayag—DRE, 10 years, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Daly City

Sr. My Hahn Cao, DC—DRE, 15 years, Church of the Visitatcion (Vietnamese Community)

Kathy Sanford—DRE, 20 years, St. Thomas more Church, San Francsico

Youth Service Award

The Youth Service Award is presented to high school seniors who have exemplified a strong dedication to serve in parish catechetical programs and services.

Corpus Christi Church
Maria Belen

St. Gabriel Church, San Francisco
Clara Lucey

Our Lady of the Angels Church, Burlingame
Jacob Viduya
Richard Rabarra
Sean Roxas

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Daly City
Angel Hernandez Vega
Joan Danielle Cosino

St. Pius Church, Redwood City
Alex Young
Rhett Pedrin

St. Pius X Awards:

The St. Pius X Award is presented to those who have given generous years of service in forming adults, youth and children as disciples of Jesus Christ through catechetical ministry in the Archdiocese of San Francisco.

Five Years

San Francisco County

St. Anne of the Sunset Church
Matt Louie

St. Dominic Church
Daisy Crea
Franca Gardiulo
Jeff Barrett
Melanie Morey
Rochelle Lobo Bowen
Sherry Fan (6 years)
Solomon Joseph

St. Elizabeth Church
Cipriano Peneyra
Michael Walsh

St. Patrick Church
Alma A. Raymundo
Jennifer Sunga
Ma. Sheila B. Montemayor

St. Thomas More Church
Dr. Peter Hendler (7 years)

Church of the Epiphany
Jesus Pedroza
Teresita Adelantar

Marin County

St. Isabella Church
C.J. Martin
Monica Jones
Tom Dembski

St. Patrick Church, Larkspur
Mattie Morgan
Stephen Chui
Michele Chui
Chris Miloslavich

San Mateo County

All Souls Church
Tess Valido (6 years)
Melvin Cifuentes

Mater Dolorosa Church
Rick Karlegan
Elmira Castro

Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Dion Madayag
Jordan Tyler Maralit

St. Augustine Church
Araceli Antonio
Yolanda Laurente
Mariah Tolentino
Louie Fernandez
Deo Acosta
Elsa Rozal
Erlan Tapawan
Angelique Rose Argarin
Ana Valera Quijano (7 years)

St. Dunstan Church, Millbrae
Terri Cuellar

St. Luke Church, Foster City
Martha Lopez
Michelle Ostrowski
Evelyn Torres
Georgina Unson
Teresa Alvarez
Aileen Choi
Andrew Choi
Jana Cadiz
Tomilo Haber

St. Pius Church, Redwood City
Mary Chacon

St. Veronica Church
Christine Dunn Barela

Ten Years

San Francisco County

Corpus Christi Church
Aida Grona
Migdalia Guzman

St. Agnes Church
Leonor Barnett
Mary English

St. Elizabeth Church
Richard John

Marin County

St. Patrick Church, Larkspur
Julia Ritter
Susie Spurr
Cristina Reyes-Turner
Cliodna O’Donnell (13 years)
Terry Lee (14 years)
Joe Meylan (14 years)

San Mateo County

All Souls Church
Jeanette De La Rosa
Blanca Jimenez

Our Lady of Mt Carmel, Redwood City
Caritina Cuevas

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Daly
City

Maria-Zenaida Camua Madayag (12 years)
Raidel Calayag
Jianbert Calayag (9 years)
Isaiah Sonza (8 years)
Diana Villalobos (8 years)

St. Augustine Church
Roweena Castelo
Juliet Quevedo
Romeo Quevedo
Anna Valera Quijano
Linda Del Castillo

St. Bartholomew Church
Christina Natoli

St. Dunstan Church, Millbrae
Tatyana Larson

St. Pius Church, Redwood City
Houda Baladi
Maryann Barry

St. Veronica Church
Suzanne Correa

Fifteen Years

San Francisco County

Church of the Epiphany
Ruby Gualberto
Julita Zaratan

St. Anne of the Sunset Church
Sr. Mary Francis

St. Dominic Church
Yvonne Sallaberry-Perez
Lisa Considine

St. Patrick Church, San Francisco
Rachelle V. Morales
Juliana Reyes-Santos

St. Thomas More Church
Deacon Arthur Sanchez

San Mateo County

All Souls Church
Maria Barcelata Long

Holy Angels Church
Sr. Merced Gumban, OP

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Daly City
Maria Harris (14 years)
Maria Zenaida Camua-Madayag
Porre Monservas (14 years)

St. Augustine Church, So. San Francisco
Charity Garcia-Macapinlac
Olivia Ignacio Nunez
Deacon Nestor Fernandez II

Twenty Years

St. Thomas More Church, San Francisco
Kathy Sanford

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Redwood City
Maria Miranda

St. Augustine Church
Lilian Mutas
Cynthia Lozano
Lita Songco

St. Bartholomew Church
Danette Magilligan
Vicky Filipczyk
Mary Roybal

St. Veronica Church, So. San Francisco
Donna Durkee

Twenty Five Years

Corpus Christi Church, San Francisco
Lucia Veronica Rodriguez

Holy Angels Church, Colma
Jeannette Luna

St. Dominic Church, San Francisco
Margaret McCracken
Sara Stephens

Church of the Visitacion, San Francisco
Steve Rouse

Thirty Years

St. Patrick Church, San Francisco
Nenette Platero Murata

St. Thomas More Church, San Francisco
Deacon Abbie Nepomuceno

St. Augustine Church, So. San Francisco
Joyce Legaspi-Valiao

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Daly City
Evelyn Villegas (32 years)

Thirty Five Years

St. Dominic Church, San Francisco
Alfredo Neira

St. Gabriel Church, San Francisco
Nancy Porter

Holy Angels Church, Colma
Donald Simon

St. Pius Church, Redwood City
Donna Schreiber

Thirty Eight Years

St. Augustine Church, So. San Francisco
Nerissa Broas

Forty Seven Years

St. Augustine Church, So. San Francisco
Elenor Breite

Sixty Years

Our Lady of the Angels Church, Burlingame
Johna Maychrowitz