One of our very own teen leaders recently received the Saint Francis Assisi Award at the annual diocesan youth ministry event, Saints in the City. This event recognizes young disciples at parishes across our diocese who are going above and beyond to share the light of Gospel through their leadership, charisms, and talents. This year, our honoree was none other than Vinny Contini. Vinny is either already your best friend or will be shortly. He is one of the most energetic, yet thoughtful people you will ever encounter. This energy is most obvious when he's on stage; he's done theater since he was nine years old and performs year-round with Lincoln High School. In his spare time, he likes to make music, ski, write poetry, or play guitar. When he's not singing on stage or playing a round of golf, his ministry roots run deep, being a high school youth ministry leader since he was a freshman. Vinny embraces big ideas, and his actions always reflect his sense of hope and goodwill toward others. Vinny Contini has a bold heart for others. He is not afraid to love fiercely, as God has called him to--treating everyone with the utmost kindness and respect our inherent dignity and worth necessitate. He cares for the least of these, going beyond the church walls to show the love of Christ to all he encounters in every facet of his life: in school, in theater, to his family, and to strangers. Vinny has a desire to enact justice in the world and is righteously upset when those on the margins are treated as less-than. The Holy Spirit has lit a fire in his heart, and he chooses daily to glorify God with his life. We are so proud of Vinny and all he has accomplished throughout his years as a St. Anthony teen leader and look forward to how he will continue to share God's love with those he encounters in his life.