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 18 winners of this year’s awards and introduces us to Cardinal Mooney Senior, Pierce Jones.
“That kind of open-minded, I just want to learn mindset, has guided pretty much everything I’ve done,” says Pierce Jones.
Pierce Jones is a senior at Cardinal Mooney High School and worships at Saint Columba Parish in Youngstown. He is the student council president, plays basketball, golf, and tennis, and is recognized for his academics, ranking near the top of his class with a 4.6 GPA and being an AP Scholar with Distinction. He was recently nominated for the Diocese’s highest student award, the Eagle of the Cross.
“It definitely felt great to be recognized for something like that, something that I’ve put a lot of time and effort into. Being involved in my parish and my church has just always been kind of an innate thing for me, says Pierce Jones.
Pierce is one of 18 in the Diocese of Youngstown to receive the honor this year. The award has been given annually to juniors and seniors since 1999.
During Easter, he had the chance to participate in the Chrism Mass procession and served as a lector during Mass.
Faith is a big part of this 18-year-old’s life and it always has been. His mother Beth is the Campus Minister at Cardinal Mooney.
“I have told him before that he is an inspiration to me when I’m trying to learn something new or do something that’s difficult. I think about him and his desire and joy in learning and tell myself that I’m going to “Pierce” my way through it,” says Beth Jones.
Pierce plans to study mechanical engineering in the fall at Youngstown State University. He’s already completed an internship at Center Street Technologies, a Youngstown-based company that specializes in 3D design and printing. Pierce says he’s always been reminded of a phrase his father first said when he was in second grade.
“He just said it’s better to know things then to not know them. That kind of the mindset that I approach everything with, whether it’s school or sports, or you know, my religious life. I want to get involved. I want to learn things. I want to know things,” says Pierce Jones.
As for the next chapter, Beth Jones says she is excited to watch her son grow and find out what he’s meant to do in the world.
“I’m confident that Pierce will continue to allow his true self to evolve. My advice to him is just continue following that call that God has put on your life. And never stop trying to learn and understand what that is,” says Beth Jones.
Pierce says he will continue to challenge himself to remain grounded in faith.
“A lot of college kids struggle going to church every Sunday, things like that. My older brother, he’s a grade above me at YSU. He goes to Church every Sunday at the Cathedral. I go with him a good bit of the time–we go together. So I think surrounding myself with people who have the same kind of goals and mindsets about that kind of thing, is going to be huge for me.”
The 2026 Eagle of the Cross Mass and banquet takes place Tuesday April 28th, 6 p.m. at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica 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.
