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Close to 120 guests of Capuchin Youth and Family Ministries (CYFM) gathered to honor Auxiliary Bishop Dominick J. Lagonegro, episcopal vicar for the northern vicariates, and other Capuchin volunteers at a dinner-dance May 3 at the Ramada Conference Center in Fishkill.
CYFM presented Bishop Lagonegro with its Bonaventure Award. Named after St. Bonaventure, it is given to those who do considerable work enriching young people’s faith.
“I see a great future for the Church,” Bishop Lagonegro said during his address, in which he also praised the young volunteers present. “They are our Catholic leaders of the future.”
Throughout his priesthood, the bishop has brought many youths closer to God. “Bishop Dom was able to spot the teens that needed help and guidance,” said Cynthia O’Connor, one of the bishop’s students John A. Coleman High School in Hurley, where he taught religion for several years in the 1970s. “By those connections he made, it ultimately deepened their faith.”
As pastor of St. Columba parish in Hopewell Junction, 1992-2002, Bishop Lagonegro created and developed its LifeTeen youth ministry. In 2003, he dedicated CYFM’s retreat facilities and has continued to be a positive presence in its ministries. He currently serves as spiritual advisor—and even offers his residence for meetings—to Ignite Young Adults, a group of 20- to 30-year-olds focused on prayer, fellowship, and service.
“We chose Bishop Dominick because of the personal touch he has with kids and how effective he is in building the young Church,” said Tom Brinkmann, director of CYFM.
CYFM, based in Garrison, is a ministry of the Capuchin Franciscan Friars of the Northeastern Province of St. Mary; about 5,000 individuals benefit from its work each year.
Dedicated to strengthening the Church’s youth, the group runs youth and family retreats throughout the year, as well as a yearly Appalachian Mission. Volunteers in the mission program travel to Harlan County, Kentucky, to work in nursing homes, distribute clothing and children’s books, and repair homes for the disadvantaged.
Among the other honorees at the dinner were four high school seniors who received college scholarships.
Mike Delia, of St. Denis parish in Hopewell Junction, was honored for his six years co-directing the manual labor ministry and carpentry service on Appalachian missions.
Collectively, 15 women received recognition for creating and growing the “Women of the Waters” retreat, which focuses on building women’s faith by following the powerful examples of female figures in both the Old and New Testaments.
Two high school juniors, Pauline Gilmore and Eric Schulz, were given CYFM’s first St. Pope John Paul II Award for their extensive involvement in CYFM as well as their parish youth ministries.
The significance of the award—in light of the late pope’s recent canonization and his connection with young people—was not lost on anyone. “I think they could be the first people ever to get a St. John Paul II award,” Brinkmann said.
“It’s such an honor,” said Schulz, who attends St. John the Evangelist parish in Mahopac. “I’m definitely going to keep going with service, and come back to CYFM after I graduate.”
