Catholic Community Foundation
14-year-old answers call to stewardship

By Tom Trush, Special to The Catholic Sun
August 17, 2006

At 14 years old, an age when many of her peers occupy their spare time by shopping at the mall or texting each other about their crushes, Ariana Iniguez is busy using her God-given gifts to support and help others in her community.

“I think it really means a lot to those who are receiving the help because they are experiencing an example of Christ’s love in their life and are grateful that someone is willing to share their life with them,” Iniguez said. “There is never enough help that you can give in this world; you can always give, give, give out to the community.”

In April, Iniguez, a graduate of St. Thomas the Apostle School and a soon-to-be freshman at Xavier College Preparatory, was one of 13 eighth-graders presented with an $8,000 award by the Catholic Community Foundation’s Christian Service Award Program. Based on school, parish and community service, students receive $2,000 each year for tuition to a Catholic high school in the Diocese of Phoenix.

Candidates had to be nominated by a non-family adult who was aware of their service activities. For Iniguez, that was Yvette Toledo Katsenes, past executive director of Phoenix Day, a local organization offering subsidized childcare and early education programs.

Inspired by her mother, who works in the healthcare industry, Iniguez began serving the community at the age of 8. Together they would attend health fairs to help promote well being and safety to low-income families by passing out water bottles, first-aid kits and healthcare insurance information.

“I felt it was important early on to teach her to give back to others, to share her gifts and talents, because not everybody has as much as she does,” said her mother, Lillian Garcia.

In the beginning, Iniguez had little interest in helping her mom; however, it wasn’t long before she started seeing the benefits of their efforts.

“As I kept doing it, I started enjoying it,” she added. “Not only was I meeting other people, but I got to help other people, so it kind of grew on me.”

As a student at St. Thomas the Apostle School, Iniguez was an active member of its choir. She also participated in the KidsCare Club, an after-school volunteer program where students gather and prepare items, including personal hygiene bags and canned goods, for organizations such as St. Mary’s Westside Food Bank Alliance and St. Vincent de Paul.

“She was one of those students you could always count on to do whatever was needed, and she was extremely giving of her personal time,” said Marion Patzem, who taught Iniguez in seventh and eighth grade. “She just singled herself out as being there whenever you needed her for anything.”

Two years ago, while singing “Ave Maria” at a funeral at St. Anthony Parish, Iniguez caught the attention of George Gonzalez, a member of the Christian singing group Family Spirit Music. Although the music ministry didn’t normally include members of such a young age, he was so captivated by her vocal abilities that he extended an invitation to join.

“I couldn’t believe the maturity in her vocals… they come few and far between that young,” Gonzalez said.

Family Spirit Music sings weekly at Most Holy Trinity Parish, as well as various churches and parishes throughout Arizona.

“It’s truly an inspiration to know our youth are developing in such a positive and Christian-like manner,” said Maria Hayes, who is director of women’s and children’s services at Phoenix Baptist Hospital and wrote one of three letters of reference for Iniguez’s award.

When she starts at Xavier later this month, Iniguez, who is already eyeing a future career on Broadway, plans on developing her gifts further by participating in freshman choir as well as theater and acting in the drama department.

“I won’t let this talent go to waste,” she remarked. “This is my gift from God. Why would I waste something so beautiful?”

Since 2001, 57 students have received awards totaling $456,000 from the Catholic Community Foundation’s Christian Service Award Program. To nominate an eighth-grade student for the 2006-2007 school year, please visit www.ccfphx.org. For questions or more information, call (602) 354-2400.