By Catholic San Francisco
The archdiocesan Office of Faith Formation’s annual St. Pius X Awards Dinner was held on May 7 at St. Anne of the Sunset Catholic Church in San Francisco. The event honored parish catechetical leaders and youth leaders from across the archdiocese.
The awards for years of service ranged from five to more than sixty. Special awards were also given for completion of foundational training for parish catechetical leaders and master catechist certification.
Catholic San Francisco spoke with six of the 17 young men and women who received the Youth Service Awards at the event on what brought them into ministry, how it impacted their faith lives, and how they plan to continue their faith journey going forward.
Youth leaders from St. Augustine
From St. Augustine Catholic Church, Lucas Libiran and Gabe Castro commented on what it meant to receive the awards. Both young men are heading off to college after four years of leadership in their youth group at the parish.
“My journey these past four years have truly been special, learning important skills and sharing fun memories leading alongside my peers,” said Libiran. “To receive this award from my parish means a lot, and it reminds me to keep sharing my God-given talents with those around me.”
“My journey earning this award, along with my participation for the past 4 years, has showed me how much I could really implement my faith into my life,” said Castro. “I’ve learned fundamental and important skills that are very useful for my life onward. Receiving this award from my parish reflects how much of a lovely community I’ve been introduced to. This award doesn’t just commemorate my service, but the connection and life that my peers has brought into our community.”
From volunteer to catechist at Mission Dolores Basilica
Joelle Vargas has been part of the faith formation program since her freshman year of high school. According to the director of religious education, Maria Rosales Uribe, Vargas was always the first one to arrive ready to work and an excellent role model for the older youth.
“What inspired me the most to get involved in teaching faith formation was being able to work alongside the people who taught me when I was young,” said Vargas. “Most of the teachers in my parish were the ones who taught me, and now I have the privilege of being able to use their teachings to bring a new life to faith formation in younger children.”
Vargas said she plans to stay involved in her faith community as she heads to college.
“Though I will be far from home for the next few years, I hope to continue volunteering during my breaks when I return,” she said. “I will also continue growing my own faith in my school, as I will be attending a Jesuit college. I am excited to continue expanding my own definition of faith in my life.”
To her, winning the Youth Service Award made her work tangible.
“To me, this award is a physical representation of the help I’ve been able to give my church,” said Vargas. “To be able to do what I love, and in a community that I know well, means so much to me. This award shows that the work I’ve done over the years has had an impact on the people around me, and it shows me that I can continue accomplishing more.”
From altar server to faith formation leader in Belmont
Joseph Vincent’s journey in parish ministry began as an altar server and member of the livestream team at the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) in Belmont. He began to get involved at the parish after his mom encouraged him to use his gifts to serve others.
“Altar serving and teaching faith formulation has significantly impacted my faith life by bringing me closer to God,” said Vincent. “Altar serving taught me a lot about how to follow Mass when I was younger. Teaching faith formation allowed me to learn more about the topics that I taught to the younger kids.”
The skills he learned at IHM will carry over into college including the skills of collaboration. Vincent says he will stay involved in his faith community moving forward because “I want to stay committed to my relationship with God.”
His advice for someone looking to get more involved with their parish is, “You should!”
“It may feel like a lot of work, but it’s worth it,” Vincent said. “That feeling of purpose and accomplishment you get for serving your community/parish is probably one of the best things you’ll ever feel.”
A call to serve my peers through youth ministry
Giovanni Gonzalez was very interested in his faith formation classes as a child. One of his catechists was instrumental in making an impact on his curiosity of the Catholic faith. After transferring to Our Lady of Angels Catholic School in middle school he found the OLA Youth Ministry. During his first-year Confirmation retreat, one of the leaders made an impact on him again, leading him to volunteer to help with the program after his Confirmation.
“Before this, I viewed my relationship with God as very individualized,” said Gonzalez. “For me, that became difficult when I struggled with certain questions that I didn’t think others would understand or be able to help me become closer to God. Through youth ministry and serving my peers, I learned how to know God through a community and through friendship especially.”
Gonzalez reflected on the community he’s come to know at OLA saying, “The welcoming community has helped me and has been a safety net in my faith journey. It’s helped me see God as a vertical relationship but also a horizontal one, as Jesus says in the Bible, the kingdom of heaven is among us (Lk 17:21).”
His experience with youth ministry in middle school led him to become involved in Campus Ministry at St. Ignatius College Prep for the past four years and also inspired him to apply to Catholic schools for college. Gonzalez will be attending the University of Notre Dame in the fall where he looks forward to being involved with campus ministry and further serving his peers.
“I’m going to Notre Dame next year and I’m super excited to serve in campus ministry and maybe becoming an OCIA sponsor,” said Gonzalez. “This experience has helped me to see how service is something I want to do—serving God as best I can.”
The Youth Service Award has encouraged him to reflect on why he is involved in service.
“I want people to know the God that loves them,” he said.
For those who are thinking about getting involved in service work or with their parish youth ministry teams, Gonzalez said that his advice comes from the Prayer of St. Francis: “it is in giving that we receive.”
“Living this part of the prayer has shown me that whatever we give without expecting anything in return has been given back to me two-fold in unexpected ways,” said Gonzalez. “For me, a big part of service is community and encounter with other people. God made us for Himself but also for each other. By being open to new encounters, we open ourselves to know God in unexpected ways, and that enriches our image of God. I would say that’s something really priceless.”
Photo: Chanel Green from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church poses for a photo with Archbishop Cordileone at the St. Pius X Awards Dinner on May 7. Green was one of 17 young men and women awarded the 2026 Youth Service Award.
