Diego, a youth minister and altar server at All Saints, continues to serve faithfully while keeping up with his academic responsibilities and making the Dean’s List.
The Catholic Foundation embarked on the search for the 5th Annual Steward of the Year in June, 2022. We received 24 nominations from across the Diocese of El Paso in the categories of ministry to refugees and immigrants, the poor, bereavement, communication and evangelization, health, education and religious formation, and young stewards in action. After careful review by the Catholic Foundation’s Stewardship committee, Diego was selected as the 2022 Steward of the Year.
Diego was nominated in the Blessed Carlo Acutis category. This category recognizes the service of and to youth and young adults. Carlo Acutis was a young, devout Catholic gamer and computer programmer who loved soccer. He is best known for documenting Eucharistic miracles around the world before his death in 2006 at the age of 15.
As a teenager, Carlo was diagnosed with leukemia. He offered his sufferings for Pope Benedict XVI and for the Church, saying “I offer all the suffering I will have to suffer for the Lord, for the Pope, and the Church.” He was beatified on October 10, 2020 in Assisi.
In her nomination form, Paula Favela, Parish Administrator of All Saints shared, “Diego is an outstanding youth minister. He has been an altar server at All Saints for 10 years. He is now 18 years old and continues to serve faithfully every Sunday. Diego is now the lead altar server. He prepares new servers and works with them at all Masses, training and shadowing them to make sure they perform their responsibilities correctly. Additionally, Diego is tech savvy. He helps with technology for presentations at the parish. Diego has also been very involved in helping feed migrant families at the various migrant centers. Even though he is busy with his university studies and involvement at the parish, Diego is currently working a summer internship with Catholic Properties at the Diocese of El Paso.”
Diego was a Hunt Family Foundation Scholar in middle and high school, and graduated from Cathedral High School as a Lightbourn Family Fund - John Edward Whittler Memorial Scholar. His goal has been to pay it forward, not only excelling academically and reaching out to the community, but also to grow stronger in his faith. Diego just completed his first year at UTEP and made the Dean’s List.
Diego is an example of living a Stewardship way of life, and a vivid example of evangelization in the Diocese of El Paso.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops says, “Youth are emerging leaders and protagonists in the Church and within their communities, schools, and society at large.” Diego exemplifies this on a daily basis.
Congratulations to Diego Perales, his family, and the All Saints Catholic Church community, for receiving this recognition. May God continue to bless your mission and to inspire others to join.
The parish will receive a $1,000 award. Diego wins a gift card to a restaurant for a nice evening out. Category winners receive $50 each.
Diego will be recognized during the 16th Annual Foundation of Faith Event: Building the Kingdom on September 22, 2022 at the El Paso Convention Center from 5-9pm. Click here for tickets and details.
“To be always united with Jesus, this is my life program.” — Blessed Carlo Acutis at the age of 7
Blessed Carlo Acutis, pray for us!