Holy Trinity Awards are
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Fr. Normand Gaumond Award Recipients
2016 Award
Deirdre Kennedy 2015 Award Sarah Gaffney Sarah Gaffney says, when asked “What has your parish meant to you in your faith journey?” “Holy Trinity has taught me that if you have the ability to help someone in need I have a moral obligation to do so.” Her first community service project was with her 5th grade religious education class and teacher, making and delivering soup. The experience made a lasting positive impression. Since then she has volunteered in numerous service activities within the parish community and in the general community at large, such as counselor in training at Tom Denney Nature Camp, Relay for Life, making Christmas baskets for senior citizens, the Boston Breast Cancer Walk, and Camp Sunshine. Holy Trinity Parish has shown her that prayer should be coupled with faith in action. She has combined both in her altar service ministry, which she has been doing since 4th grade. “Devout on the altar and an exemplary role model for the younger altar servers she is always ready to volunteer if an additional server is needed at Mass,” notes her reference letter. For the last two years her most impassioned ministry has been that of 1st grade religious education teacher, a ministry that has enriched her own faith, as well the faith of her students. She says, “Guiding my students on their faith journey has given me the chance to learn about God all over again, and even develop a whole new understanding of the importance of God in our lives. . . . My little first graders have shown me that God is constantly at work in my life. . . .” That 5th grade student of years past is now the teacher, inspiring others while still being inspired by them. We thank her for her service to Holy Trinity Parish. 
2014 Award Ryan Kennedy and Jennifer Symula Ryan Kennedy is described as “…An amazing young man, who is very well deserving! Intellectual, kind and dedicated . . . the total package,”. All of these qualities are evident in his service and commitment to Holy Trinity Parish. His contributions to our parish have certainly had a positive impact and have made lasting impressions. Throughout his faith journey, he found that our “parish provided a caring and understanding safety net” and was a community “not only of believers, but of thinkers and mentors.” After being a dedicated altar server for five years, he decided, in his junior year, to become a religious education instructor and did so throughout his senior year, as well “in an effort,” he says, “to share the gifts the parish family shared with [him].” His religious education director noted that the children in his class were always smiling, responded very well to his humor, and were in awe of a young man sharing his faith with them. Living his faith, Ryan gives back to the community, as well. Reaching out to those in need, he has volunteered at Loaves & Fishes, done the Good Friday Walk, and participated in various youth group outreach activities such as the garden project. He has been a peer tutor and volunteer basketball coach for the youth of our town. Impressively, he has performed a multitude of service projects in the seven years he has been in scouting, his Eagle Scout Project of the Beach Recycling System being a highlight. Jennifer Symula sat in the pew and listened as Fr. Normand talked about seeing the face of God in the “beauty of the majesty” of God’s creation. Sadly, Fr. Norm died the next day, but nine years later his words still resonant with her as she sees the face of God in everyone in Holy Trinity Parish. She says, “As I think back on the people I truly admire, they are mostly associated with my church.” This senior has been touched by the kindness and compassion of our parish community and feels she has to learn to give back for what has been given to her. In reality, she has been giving back all along in all that she has done and still does in our parish community and in our local community. Her commitment and service to others is outstanding. She has been an altar server since 3rd grade and this past year, a religious education teacher. She has been in the Christmas pageant choir every year since kindergarten and in choir and a cantor in grades 6 through 9. She even took on the responsibility this past year of being a confirmation sponsor. Helping to bring some joy and relief to a sick child’s life, she has volunteered at Camp Sunshine. She practices faith in action in the local community, as well, volunteering in peer monitoring, in Harvard School Trust fundraisers, in Good Friday Walks, and in Boys & Girls Club events. Most strikingly, she has amassed a phenomenal 200 hours of service in candy striping at Emerson Hospital. It’s easy to see why her reference letter refers to this young woman as “a hard worker, always willing to lend a hand in her school, community and parish” and recommends her “without reservation.” 2013 Award
Kara Kennedy's letter calls her "a devoted parishioner" ---one who lives her faith. Her outstanding record of service to our parish community and the community at large is a remarkable testament to the truth of these statements. She has been involved in parish ministry since the second grade and was a member of the children's choir, a liturgical dancer, an altar server and a religious education teacher, a role she says was "the most transformational part of her faith journey." This young lady exemplifies our parish mission in her use of her time, talent and treasure to volunteer within the parish community and the local community. She used her gift of creativity in dance to choreograph dance routines for the Christmas pageant, she volunteered at Loaves & Fishes and served at Camp Sunshine. She is certainly faith in action She credits our parish community, noting its "amazing and inspiring people" --as a support community as she progressed in her faith journey. Now she is the inspiration! 
2012 Awards
Erin Molinaro “has always been a vibrant member of …school, church and wider community …and has shown, and will continue to show how one can live ‘faith in action’ to its fullest” She began in children’s choir, has been an altar server from 6th grade to the present, and a Eucharist minister and lector since 10th grade. Furthermore, she has been a religious education teacher every year since 9th grade, providing an “engaging and valuable experience” for her students, teaching religion and managing a service project with them to benefit Abby’s House. She says of members of our parish, “Their commitment inspired me….” Now she inspires us! Giovanna DiMeo's reference letter describes her as “a wonderful faith model for the young men and women in Holy Trinity Parish,” and one who has been blessed with many talents and chooses to share those gifts with others, demonstrating a passion for service. She has an outstanding record of service to our parish. She has been an altar server and a lector. She has volunteered at Camp Sunshine numerous weeks and says, “Camp Sunshine could not have changed my life more….” So much so that she has plunged into freezing waters to raise money for the camp. She attributes this drive to give back, she says, to her “ parish in which generous neighbors and friends support each other and motivate one another to be the best they can be.” 
2011 Award Presented to For the dedicated and talented teacher she is, as was Fr. Norm, we are honored to present the Fr. Normand Graumond Award to Alice Kennedy’s commitment is remarkable. She has been an altar server, and has ministered at the church coffee shop. She’s been a performer and choreographer of liturgical dance and a choreographer for the ecumenical Christmas pageant. Within the last two years her most impassioned ministry has been that of religious education teacher. “Working with the children of Holy Trinity Parish has been a blessing, if occasionally a challenge,” she says. She credits the support of the parish community in helping her to carry out this ministry. It is through her teaching, she says, that she has grown to better understand and confirm her own convictions, realizing that a teacher is also a student, continuing to learn. Our parish and her students are fortunate to have her. Nate Warren who reflects Fr. Norm’s compassion for those within and outside of the parish community. “…Where do children learn about faith?” This is the question Nate asks and quickly answers “…in and out of church…growing up in a faith filled community, I saw actions made by others that taught me such lessons.” Lessons learned are now lessons shared Nate himself has become a role model in this community. He is a witness to his faith. A regular participant in our parish, he has served as lector, has helped decorate the church for Christmas, and has participated at Camp Sunshine, “a life changing experience” he says. During his four years at his high school, he has been involved in campus ministry, serving as retreat captain and as community outreach co-captain. Reaching out to those in need, he has volunteered at Loaves & Fishes, every summer he volunteers at the Patty Fund Golf Outing, which raises money for research and treatment of brain cancer. He has been giving of his time and talent of snowboarding to the Burton Chill Program, an intervention project for at-risk kids, ages 10 -18, teaching these kids achievement, determination and self-confidence through snowboarding lessons. Giving back is a natural part of his life. 
2010 Award Presented to Eryk Lorenz-Kruk is a witness to his faith. At the end of third grade, the earliest age permissible, he became an altar server. Serious and dedicated from the start, he has continued as altar server throughout his high school years to the present. He lives his faith not only within church walls but also out in the community at large. He volunteers, caring for animals and working with children in summer and vacation camps, teaching them about the proper care of animals and the importance of animals in our world today. He has demonstrated Christian love and concern for others in his commitment to cooking for and serving dinner at Mustard Seed on a regular basis since his sophomore year. Preparing meals is generous and admirable unto itself, but actually making the trip to Mustard Seed, an inner city soup kitchen in Worcester, takes a good deal of maturity. He has unselfishly given back to the parish community and the extended community. He feels that with what he has learned from Holy Trinity Parish, he can continue to discover his own faith and share it with others at college and in the years that follow. We are honored to present the Fr. Normand Gaumond Memorial Award to Eryk. We thank him for his service to Holy Trinity Parish and wish him well as he travels south to Florida Institute of Technology to study aerospace engineering. 
2009 Award Presented to Emily Egan's commitment to Holy Trinity Paris is exceptional. She has supported parish community by assisting annually with the church picnic, church and rectory holiday decorating and with the pancake breakfast. With care and concern for those less fortunate and with the desire to make a difference, she has been active in social justice, participated in the non prescription drug collection for Haiti, the Junk Food Drive for Loaves and Fishes, she organized and managed the Parish Book/Art Supply Drive for the nonprofit Horizon for Homeless Children. She has been an altar server and has been the altar server trainer since her junior year. She credits our parish community as the model from which she learned "the power of faith and the need to answer God's call for compassion." Now she is the role model. We congratulate her as she continues her education at Bates College. 
2008 Award Presented to Kathryn Kennedy has been a member of St. Theresa’s Parish since she was five and she relates her faith journey to this parish and the teachers and mentors who have helped her form her sense of faith. Kathryn has been visible to all of us as an altar server for the past 7 years and as someone who is always here, usually tending to a younger sibling as she arrives in the pew. Kathryn has been very involved in the life of the parish helping out wherever she sees a need or opportunity to serve, especially assisting with religious education of the younger kids and helping with our Living Nativity on Christmas Eve and the Town Christmas pageant as choreographer. Kathryn is known as a young woman of great patience, commitment, humility and organizational ability. We are proud to have her as a member of this parish. We congratulate Kathryn and thank her for her service to St. Theresa’s and we wish her well as she continues her education nearby at the College of the Holy Cross. Hillary Rowse has been with us at St. Theresa’s since birth. She has a real appreciation of the parishioners who have helped her on her faith journey through its ups and downs. She is not afraid to question, and will seek answers to her adult faith questions. Hillary has been visible in the sanctuary as an altar server for many years and also did a stint in the Children’s Choir. Hillary has also enjoyed helping with children’s activities for the parish picnic. She is known as a hard worker, sincere, mature and fun loving. As a young adult she has witnessed to her faith by participating in the Mexico mission trip last year and by volunteering at Camp Sunshine. These experiences gave her a real sense of faith and what it means to be a committed Christian. We congratulate Hillary; we thank her for her many years of service to St. Theresa’s and we wish her well as she continues her education a little further north at Colby College. 
2007 Award Presented to Our first recipient has been a very visible member of St. Theresa’s parish In addition to being an alter server herself for 7 years, she has also taken on the responsibility of training and mentoring new servers. She has served as a religious education aide, and served on the liturgy committee. She has assisted with the Living Nativity productions and Passion Plays for many years. We congratulate her as she enters the College of the Holy Cross this fall. Lindsey Tonge Our next recipient is a quiet and unassuming young man, sees St. Theresa’s Parish as his second home. He has been a dedicated altar server for the last 8 years; he is familiar to the 11:30 Mass crowd and is also quite visible during Holy Week. He has also helped with greeter duties and volunteered for many parish projects, most notably the Easter Flower Sale over the years. His time spent in Mexico with Tapestry of Life Ministries helped him see how difficult life can be for people where basic survival is a challenge. We congratulate him and wish him well as he embarks on his studies at Union College. Ed Lamere 2006 Award Presented to Our first recipient sees St. Theresa’s faith community as her guide, the parish as her second home. She has been a parishioner since birth, a dedicated altar server for the last 6 years and has volunteered for many parish projects over the years. In her application she describes a vivid moment of faith during her confirmation retreat where she truly experienced God’s presence. She had a personal relationship with Fr. Normand, as he was there to guide and mentor her through all the important spiritual events. As she embarks on her studies at Bryant University in Rhode Island, we congratulate Hillary Smith Our second recipient has been a member of our parish family since age 5. St. Theresa’s community is family to her and has supported her as she has grown in her faith. She regularly attends mass and has volunteered in the parish on many occasions. When her close friend was diagnosed with leukemia she sprung into action, rallying the parishioners to raise money for the Jimmy Fund in her friend’s name. Father Normand encouraged her in this project and helped her to believe in herself. As she heads to the University of Tampa in Florida we congratulate Kasia Lorenz-Kruk. Like our other award recipients this individual is a model of Christianity. He has been a faithful altar server since grade 5, Bible school helper, greeter, and involved in numerous parish volunteer activities. He says St. Theresa’s has been the single biggest influence in the growth of his faith and appreciates the religious education he received here. A parishioner since birth, he had great respect for Fr. Normand and learned a great deal from his sermons. Leaving for Western New England College in the Fall we congratulate David Oliva |
Lords Acre Award
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