Two Receive Diocesan Awards

In a conventional year, the Diocese of Providence would host the Catholic Youth Ministry Awards Celebration, which recognizes young people in the state for their faith ministry and the adults who serve as a beacon of faith to youth in their communities. As with many other recognitions over the last year, the ceremony was regretfully cancelled.

The diocese granted awards to two Saint Raphael Academy’s nominees: Chatham McCloskey for the St. Timothy Award and Vice Principal Marc Thibault for the Companions on the Journey Award. These awards are the highest honors given to those in Youth Ministry.

This week, at the prayer service celebrated by Academy chaplain Ryan Simas, Mr. Thibault was the person witness, sharing his faith story with the Saints family who were both in-person at church and watching the livestream. He detailed his illness with COVID-19 last March, his three weeks in the hospital, and how the power of prayer saved his life.

Pastoral Services Director Stephen Vargas wrote in his nomination of Mr. Thibault, “[He] is not shy about sharing his faith and inviting others to do the same,” and “through this role [of vice principal of student life], makes his biggest impact.” He conducts meetings for Student Council and listens to their ideas, he motivates and supports students with discipline concerns, chaperones events, and plans most activities with a service component. He is a parishioner at Saints John & Paul Church in Coventry.

Chatham McCloskey, a senior at Saints, was Saint Raphael Academy’s nominee for the St. Timothy Award, which is given to selected youths based on their integrity, leadership and service.
Chatham, a Pawtucket resident, is a parishioner of St. Margaret’s Church in Rumford. She is very involved at the Academy, where she is part of the Lasallian Youth Leadership Team, a freshmen orientation leader, and has served on SRA’s Student Council and student government. She also enjoys being on the school dance team and theater crew, and she was captain of the tennis team. She volunteers frequently at the Pawtucket Soup Kitchen, at SRA open houses, and at Darlington Assisted Living in Pawtucket.

“Chatham lives out her faith simply and authentically,” wrote Mr. Vargas in her nomination. “She steps up and serves while remaining in the background. She never seeks attention or recognition for her service … she just quietly serves. She regularly performs works of mercy to the young, old and most in need through her service.”

Congratulations to Chatham and Mr. Thibault on their recognitions!