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Eric Lebel is always on the lookout for an opportunity to express his Catholic faith.

Whether it is at Queensbury High School, where he is a senior, or at Our Lady of the Annunciation Church in Queensbury, where he plays music and helps with the youth ministry program, he never says no to the call to help his community.

Rev. Joseph Busch, pastor of Annunciation parish, believes that Eric's willingness to serve comes from three powerful sources. For one thing, he noted, Eric is an alumnus of St. Mary's/St. Alphonsus School in Glens Falls.

"I think it was the foundation that he received at St. Mary's/St. Alphonsus School, along with the influence of his parents and the community of OLA, that has kept him involved with the Church," Father Busch told The Evangelist.

Eric remembered his middle school as "close-knit, like family. Then I went from a graduation class of 12 to a freshman class of 350. The transition to high school was hard - but I adapted by getting involved."

In ninth grade, Eric joined the Queensbury High School newspaper staff to do graphic design - a talent he had learned while working on the St. Mary's/St. Alphonsus school newspaper. He also played in the Queensbury High jazz band for the first two years and has sung with the chorus for all four years.

Last year, Eric became president of the National Honor Society. He directs its service projects every semester, including a used book sale to benefit local charities and a toiletry drive for agencies serving the needy. Since many of his classmates attend OLA, he said the projects are a good way to connect his faith with his school.

At church, Eric helped start an intergenerational and contemporary musical group called "Spirit of Song." The 10-member ensemble includes bass guitar, piano, violin and clarinet.

"I try and get some of my classmates to play and sing in the group. Sometimes, I am successful," he remarked.

The group practices every Saturday and provides music every other Sunday at the 11:30 a.m. Mass.

"We use hymns and try new ones," Eric said, adding that he likes to go online to find music for the ensemble. He particularly enjoys the music for Pentecost because of its variety.

Music notes
The teen also plays the piano every day - if he doesn't have what he called "an absurd amount of homework," that is. He practices the organ at least four times a week, using the "monstrosity" of a pipe organ at the First Presbyterian Church in Glens Falls.

"It seems that whatever he does energizes him, whether leading the music at OLA or studying at school," mused Father Busch. "Eric has unlimited energy!"

Eric also enjoys assisting with OLA's youth ministry program. At age 14, he was part of a weekly peer-led Bible study for teens called YES, or "Youth Engaging Scripture." His mother, Judy, founded the group; she's a catechist and coordinates the parish's Liturgy of the Word for children.

...And more
Eric has attended a liturgical music camp at Pyramid Life Center in Paradox for two years in a row, as well as a youth conference at the Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs in Auriesville last summer.

In addition, Eric squeezes in time each year to help his father, David, raise $5,000 through the Bowl for Kids' Sake. The event is a fundraiser for Big Brothers and Big Brothers of Warren and Washington Counties; Mr. Lebel chairs the local event and was a mentor to two young boys.

"Someday, I would like to have a little brother, too - after I finish college," Eric noted.

Regarding those future plans, he hopes to attend Providence College in Rhode Island, pursuing a double major in sacred music (with an emphasis on the organ) and a math- and science-related field.

In the meantime, Eric was recently listed as one of the top 10 students in Queensbury High's class of 2011.[[In-content Ad]]

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