Seniors Hanna DeMeester and Daniel Catalfamo were recognized at the 5th Annual Courage Award Reception of Catholic Athletes for Christ (CAC), held at Marymount University in Arlington.
DeMeester is parishioner at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church in Potomac Falls, Va. She is a member of the Bishop O'Connell volleyball team, and is active in the school's FIAT club, which is a young women's organization for students looking to deepen their relationship with Christ. When she is not at Bishop O'Connell, DeMeester serves as a trained Emergency Medical Technician with the Sterling Volunteer Rescue Squad, giving 24 hours of her time each week to this effort.
Catlafamo is a parishioner at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Ashburn, Va. He on the varsity soccer team, and this year also served as a kicker/punter for the varsity football team. Catalfamo is a member of the School of Community at Bishop O'Connell moderated by teacher Father Michele Benetti intended to seek connections between faith and all aspects of life. With the club, he has provided manual labor in support of the Missionaries of Charities in Washington, D.C. He has also participated in four work camps, where he has served communities in New Jersey, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. In his spare time, he works as a physical therapist technician at a practice near his home two days a week.
O'Connell chaplain, Rev. Gregory Thompson, was on hand at the awards ceremony as these students were honored along with student-athletes from other diocesan high schools.
Catholic Athletes for Christ serves Catholic athletes in the practice of their faith and shares the Gospel in and through sports. The organization work with athletes at all levels of sport in an effort to promote a Catholic sports culture. CAC was formed in response to Pope John Paul II's call to evangelize the world of sports and his establishment of the Vatican's Office of Sports.
Pictured below (l to r): O'Connell chaplain, Rev. Gregory Thompson; Hanna DeMeester, Daniel Catalfamo and Head of School, Dr. Joseph Vorbach.
