The Eagle of the Cross Award is given out annually to juniors and seniors in high school within the six counties of the Diocese of Youngstown. The winners have shown the ability to improve their own parish ministry programs, high school ministry teams or youth work in general within the diocese. Our Dennis Biviano spoke with one of the 20 winners of this year’s awards and has her story.
Maggie May is a parishioner at Saint Paul Parish in North Canton and senior at Hoover High School. She’s in several leadership clubs, National Honor Society and is on the swimming team. May attended the National Catholic Youth Conference, or NCYC, two years ago, and wrote about the experience in the Catholic Echo Magazine–and the homily that she won’t soon forget.
“It kept me engaged the whole time. And that’s very very hard for a lot of people to stay engaged for, but it was just so influential, it was amazing. And adoration was just so great,” says May.
Mike Boyea is the High School Youth Minister at Saint Paul Catholic Church in North Canton. He nominated Maggie for the Eagle of the Cross Award.
“As a freshman, to the Maggie that we see now, I’ve seen her leadership skills build, as she engages others with conversation, with faith. She’s always giving of herself and of her experience and sharing her walk of faith with others,” says Boyea.
Maggie is one of 20 high school students in the Diocese of Youngstown to receive “Eagle of the Cross” honors this year. The award has been given annually to juniors and seniors since 1999.
May says word of her being a recipient of the award was a pleasant surprise.
“I would have never thought that would be possible for me out of so many candidates. It’s really incredible. My faith journey has really grown and God sees that in me. And he really wants to show other people my faith journey,” says May.
And that faith journey has provided Maggie the opportunity to teach Sunday school at her alma mater…something she’s done since the 8th grade.
“It’s made me so patient. And it also just helps me to see how the faith grows with little kids,” says May.
As she winds down her senior year, Maggie remains focused on the future. She will attend Ave Maria University in Florida and plans to major in nursing. She says it’s important for Christ to remain a focal point in her life.
“There’s the church that’s the center of the town and the school. So the town is on one side and the school the other. And the church is right smack dab in the middle. It’s really centered around Christ and everything is centered around him. There’s also 24 hour adoration there. And so, there’s just so many opportunities to grow in your faith,” says May.
Maggie gives credit to her aunt, a former youth minister as well as Mike for making her experience a fulfilling one. And his advice to her..
“As you go away, make sure that you reach out and get involved with all those various activities. Make sure that you stay rooted in your faith,” says Boyea.
Maggie challenges other teenagers to remember that Confirmation is not the sacrament of goodbye to the Catholic Church.
“I really prayed to God about it. And I think that’s something that everybody should do. When you have something that you’re really thinking about, definitely pray about it,” says May.
The 2025 Eagle of the Cross Mass and banquet takes place Monday April 28th, 6pm at Saint Columba Cathedral in Youngstown. For more information on the program, and to nominate a junior or senior in our diocese, go to DOY.org and search for Eagle of the Cross.
