THE EAGLE OF THE CROSS AWARD
The Eagle of the Cross is an award given annually by the Office of Youth and Young Adult Accompaniment to outstanding juniors and seniors in high school within the Diocese of Youngstown who show particular zeal in the improvement of their own parish ministry programs, high school ministry teams, or youth work in general within the Diocese.
Nominees must be practicing Catholics, and must exemplify the qualities of moral integrity, prayer, good works, and Catholic-Christian leadership. This award was created by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry, and is the highest honor presented to the youth by the Diocese of Youngstown. Up to 3 awards per county for parish involvement, and up to 2 awards per diocesan Catholic high school are awarded each year. This award was created to recognize those who do good works and lead their peers closer to Jesus without the intention of being recognized. “But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you” (Matthew 6:3-4).
2025 Official Nomination Form (PDF)
2025 Official Nomination Form (Word)
The Office of Youth and Young Adult Accompaniment is currently working on updating this webpage to list the breakdown of Award Recipients and Nominations since 1999. Please visit this link in the meantime to read about all the awesome teens who have received this award throughout the years!
For further information or to ask how you can write an effective nomination for a teen, please contact Maddie Francisco, Director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Accompaniment at mfrancisco@youngstowndiocese.org or (330) 744-8451 x 310.
