New Albany Deanery St. John Bosco winners honored for youth ministry

Jon Train, left, and Donna Curry pose with the St. John Bosco awards they received during the Catalyst Catholic Gala held on Aug. 26 at Huber’s Orchard & Winery in Borden. Catalyst Catholic is the office of youth ministry in the New Albany Deanery. (Submitted photo by Catalyst Catholic’s CJ Smith intern, Annika Martin)

By Michelle Fessel (Special to The Criterion)

NEW ALBANY—The St. John Bosco Award is the highest and most selective honor presented to adult volunteers in the archdiocese who have dedicated more than 10 years of service in youth ministry programs for their parish and deanery community. Recipients of this prestigious award have dedicated thousands of hours, as well as their God-given talents and treasures, to help the youths of their parish and deanery community come to know, love and serve the Lord in profound ways.

The St. John Bosco Award was presented recently to two members of the New Albany Deanery: Donna Curry of Holy Family Parish in New Albany, and Jon Train of St. Michael Parish in Bradford.

The awards were presented on Aug. 26 during the Catalyst Catholic Gala held at Huber’s Orchard & Winery in Borden. The gala kicks off the annual donation campaign which helps to fund the ministry of Catalyst Catholic, the office of youth ministry in the New Albany Deanery.

The evening also highlighted parish and deanery youth ministries efforts— including those of Curry and Train, who are featured below.

Donna Curry: ‘One of God’s angels’

Described as a “one of God’s angels here on Earth” by a fellow Holy Family parishioner, Curry shares Christ’s love with youths of all ages and their families through a variety of parish programs. At Holy Family, she serves as a faith formation catechist, Children’s Liturgy of the Word leader, a Vacation Bible School volunteer, a member of the Faith Formation Commission and more.

Her willingness to go above and beyond in serving others, especially young people, makes her the ideal winner of the St. John Bosco award.

As many volunteers do, Curry began her role as a volunteer when her children were young and began attending parish faith formation classes. She deeply felt the call of leading by example and chose to jump right into the faith formation classroom—for the benefit of her own and others’ children. She was on a mission to help youths find their path of discipleship.

For many years, Curry has enthusiastically coordinated and attended many faith formation opportunities for families in the parish, such as Trivia Night, Ash Wednesday Soup and Bread Supper, Bible studies and more. As COVID-19 restrictions lifted, she was eager to help the parish resume Children’s Liturgy of the Word, leading even the youngest disciples during Mass.

“Constant” and “committed” are words used repeatedly to describe this award winner’s joyful demeanor. Her devotion to the Lord and authenticity shine through in every ministry she is a part of.

A loving wife, mother of two children and grandmother of five, Curry has even inspired her own adult daughter to actively volunteer in the parish community. She is an incredible asset to all she encounters.

Jon Train shines ‘his faith to all’

Train has been a valuable parish and deanery volunteer for more than 14 years. He has been a leader for high school senior retreats, a parish faith formation catechist at St. Michael Parish, and a mainstay at the parish’s annual Lenten fish fry—an irony, given his allergy to shellfish.

Train is known for his uncanny ability to make young people feel seen and heard. He always takes the time to truly show interest in the young people he serves, often showing his sincere interest in their hobbies, sports and extracurricular interests. He has even shared his love of running with the youths, instituting an annual 5K race to benefit the youth ministry program at his parish.

As one of the first adult chaperones to lead the New Albany Deanery Mission Trip to Campton, Ky., in 2010, Train helped lay the foundation for the mission trips that followed and the ministry that continues in Campton today.

One little-known fact about Train is that he can often be found in the church before the Blessed Sacrament praying for the success of youth ministry events before the start of any event he is involved in. He has a calm but focused routine of praying his way through any event he undertakes, which is a great model to all he serves.

In Train’s career as a teacher, he found ways to be a true minister to youths with special needs. Even after retirement, he volunteers with Court Appointed Special Advocates, again caring for children and youths who need someone to look out for them.

One of his former youths said Train “goes above and beyond to shine his faith to all those around him. I have no doubt he would go the extra mile if it meant helping someone out who is in need.”
 

(Michelle Fessel is executive director of Catalyst Catholic in the New Albany Deanery.) †