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Maeve Toomey is a Catholic teen in a secular world.

As a senior at Averill Park High School, she talks about service projects and encourages friends to join her. The 17-year-old attended St. Jude the Apostle School in Wynantskill before moving on to a public middle school and then Averill Park High.

Maeve's faith has been fostered through the youth ministry program at her parish, St. Henry's in Averill Park. She said she brings many friends to program events, noting: "Some of these friends are in youth ministry and understand what's going on and what I do; others listen and ask questions."

Maeve claims she's strong in her faith because the youth ministry program has three areas of focus -- social, spiritual and service -- and activities to match. She also credits her family's example; even extended family are involved at parishes like Mater Christi in Albany.

With friends
One activity for which Maeve's peers tagged along was St. Henry's pig roast and flea market in October. Since she is the only youth ministry member who can drive, she took leftovers from the event to Joseph's House in Troy. Maeve also assists with making care packages for college students who grew up in St. Henry's parish.

In the spring, Maeve coordinates the parish's "Belle of the Ball" dress and accessories sale. Her older sister, Faith, ran the event when Maeve got involved two years ago; today, Maeve is the one gathering gently used prom dresses, shoes, jewelry and pocketbooks in the basement of the church.

She sorts through the items and sells them to girls who either can't afford store-bought clothes or choose not to overspend on clothes for one occasion.

"Last year, we raised $1,000 and used half of the money to pay for youth ministry activities and then donated the other half to a charity," said Maeve -- who also serves on the prom committee at school, where she promotes the dress sale.

"My public school friends help with the dress sale," she added. "I'll share my experiences with them and they get involved. My friends are awesome."
[[In-content Ad]]Active life
Maeve is also a class officer and rows crew at school, although recent surgery sidelined her from the latter for a while. She has attended the National Catholic Youth Conference and the Albany Diocese's Christian Leadership Institute, where she has made friends who encourage her faith.

The senior recently applied to five colleges, including Catholic University in Washington, D.C., which is her second choice. Alfred University in Rochester is her first; she wants to study biomedical engineering.

Of college, Maeve said, "I will be going all by myself." But she's already looking forward to making even more friends.

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