As bishop of the San Angelo Diocese, the Most Reverend Michael Sis is tasked with serving parishes in 29 counties within a 37,433 square-mile radius. At the Diocesan Awards Banquet, an annual dinner and ceremony hosted by the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis on April 23, Bishop Sis stressed the importance of the diocese’s catechetical leaders in being instruments of Christ and connecting with the Church’s young lay people in ways he cannot.
“You young people give witness by the way you live,” he told the crowd of approximately 100 gathered at Cathedral Church of the Sacred Heart. “You teenagers can connect to teenagers in ways I cannot. You hang out in the places young people hang out, you speak the lingo, you use the apps. …That means God is calling you to be a witness.
“The best way to communicate our faith in catechesis is personally. Your whole person is communicating Jesus.”
The awards banquet recognized a host of individuals — youth and adults alike — whose parishes nominated them for demonstrating outstanding Christian leadership characteristics within and outside the Church.
“I think it’s important to recognize that we thank them for all they do,” said Sister Adelina Garcia, associate director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis – Youth and Young Adult Ministry. “It’s good to bring them together because this is a diocesan endeavor.”
Twenty-two adults from Andrews, Big Lake, Big Spring, Brownwood, Coleman, Mertzon, Midland, Miles, Odessa, San Angelo, Stanton, Sweetwater and Wall were recognized. Sixteen youth also were honored; those students came from Andrews, Big Lake, Big Spring, Brownwood, Coleman, Garden City, Mertzon, Midland, Miles, Odessa, San Angelo, Stanton, Sweetwater and Wall.
At just 13, Matthew Purtell of San Angelo was one of the youngest youth recognized. The Glenn Middle School student attends Our Lady of Peace Catholic Community at Goodfellow Air Force Base.
Matthew said he was surprised to receive an award at the reception.
“I thought I was going to go up against everybody else for an award,” he said, adding that the recognition “feels very good. It makes me think I’m going to be a leader. It’s something (good) to wake up to.”
Matthew’s church involvement includes being an altar server and attending church PIM each Sunday, as well as CDC every weekend, except when he has Boy Scout campouts.
“I’m in all pre-AP classes” at school, Matthew said. “I’m in band. I’m in a lot of athletic activities. In Boy Scouts I usually do (volunteer) cleanups and volunteer work.”
Matthew takes seriously the Boy Scout oath, which instructs, in part, to always do one’s best.
“You’ve always gotta try to do the best you can do, go above and beyond,” he said.
Asked if they tried to instill community involvement in Matthew, his parents Jeff and Theresa Purtell said he comes by it naturally. “He’s done a lot on his own,” Theresa Purtell said. “He wants to be (involved) in everything.”
“We feel like we’re taxis,” joked Jeff Purtell, adding, “It’s an honor. We’re pretty proud of him.”
Diocesan Awards Banquet
Youth Recipients Larissa Cabrera, Our Lady of Lourdes, Andrews
Samantha Sosa, St. Margaret, Big Lake
Kappi Villarreal, Holy Trinity, Big Spring
John Christian Allen, St. Mary, Brownwood
Tyler Ransberger, Sacred Heart, Coleman
Seth Miller, St. Lawrence, St. Lawrence
Oscar Narvaez, St. Peter, Mertzon
Adrian Jimenez, San Miguel Arcangel, Midland
Daniel Lander, St. Ann, Midland
Villaruel Anahi, St. Thomas, Miles
Priscilla Guerrero, St. Joseph, Odessa
Matthew Purtell, Goodfellow AFB, San Angelo
Robert Garcia, St. Joseph, San Angelo
Adriana Isabel Muniz, St. Joseph, Stanton
Daniel Avila, Holy Spirit, Sweetwater
Paige Kubenka, St. Ambrose, Wall
Adult Recipients Pat Alaniz, Our Lady of Lourdes, Andrews
Sarah Rodriguez, St. Margaret, Big Lake
Trish Soto, St. Margaret, Big Lake
Merlinda Moron, Holy Trinity, Big Spring
Sady Cady, St. Mary, Brownwood
Juana Gonzalez, St. Mary, Brownwood
Terry Dulin, Sacred Heart, Coleman
Liz Jefferson, Sacred Heart, Coleman
Sylvia Carrillo, St. Peter, Mertzon
Mari Maldonado, San Miguel Arcangel, Midland
Michele Halfmann, St. Thomas, Miles
Larry Cortez, St. Joseph, Odessa
Gloria Medina, St Joseph, Odessa
Mary Rivas, St. Joseph, Odessa
Sr. Elizabeth Villegas, OND, St. Joseph, Odessa
Sally Hagen, Goodfellow AFB, San Angelo
Angela Lopez, St. Joseph, San Angelo
Elizabeth Martinez, St. Joseph, San Angelo
Amparo Pena, St. Joseph, San Angelo
Senaida Garza, St. Joseph, Stanton
Ray Longoria, Holy Spirit, Sweetwater
Dcn. Dan Shannahan, St. Ambrose, Wall
Companion on the Journey Award (adults) Sr. Elizabeth Villegas, OND
Larry Cortez from St. Joseph/St. Anthony, Odessa
Timothy Award (youth) Tyler Ransberger from Sacred Heart, Coleman