The Diocese of San Jose held its 8th Annual Saints in the City Recognition Celebration the evening of November 3, and six Bellarmine students were among the honorees.
The event, which honors “young disciples,” was hosted by the Diocese of San Jose Office of Youth & Young Adults and was held at St. John Vianney Parish in San Jose. The awards were presented by Bishop Oscar Cantú. Each student was nominated by their respective parishes.
Alex Amend ’24 (St. Martin of Tours), Julian Montiel ’26 (Sacred Heart of Jesus), Francis Nguyen ’23 (Saint Clare), and James Peal ‘24 (Queen of Apostles) were recipients of the Saint Francis of Assisi Award, which is presented to an honoree who demonstrates strong evangelization charisms; unafraid and willing, the honoree possesses the spirit of evangelical outreach and expresses his/her faith freely, totally, fruitfully, and faithfully. He/she shepherds others to follow the footsteps of the Lord Jesus Christ and inspires peers to witness to a broken world; the honoree leads by example and longs to make Christ known everywhere he/she goes.
Joseph Vazhaeparampil ’24 (Church of the Transfiguration) received the Saint Maria Goretti Award, presented to an honoree who exemplifies the love of Christ through his/her character and living out the virtues of faith, hope and charity. He/she is determined to reach the unreached and serve the lost, the least and the last of his/her community; the honoree is particularly sensitive to the needs of his/her brothers and sisters in seasons of trial and hopelessness; he/she gives freely without expecting anything in return simply to share God’s good love to the world.
Nathaniel Shaw ‘24 (Holy Spirit) was the recipient of the Saint Teresa of Avila Award, recognizing him as an honoree who demonstrates maturity in Catholic spirituality; understands the beauty of the interior life and longs to attain the greatest heights of holiness; well versed in the ways of interior prayer, vocal prayer and contemplative prayer; lives every single day as an oblation to God’s good providence and is resolved to find God’s perfect will in every situation; he/she longs to fulfill the vocation God has plan for him/her.
Bellarmine congratulates these students and their families, with gratitude for exemplifying the school’s motto of being individuals who are “for and with others.”