Abby Doumit, a 15-year-old parishioner of Holy Family in Ogden, has won the Diocese of Salt Lake City’s Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry essay contest. Her prize is an all-expenses-paid trip to World Youth Day in South Korea for herself and a chaperone as part of the Utah delegation.
The contest was open to all young Catholics in the diocese who have received the Sacrament of Confirmation. Of the 31 essays submitted, judges first selected a top 10 before selecting a winner. Michael Edwards, director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, stated that Doumit was selected after her essay was ranked among the top choices by the judging panel.
The judging panel included Nikki Ward, superintendent of Utah Catholic Schools; Megan Randazzo, assistant superintendent of Utah Catholic Schools; and Marie Mischel, editor of the Intermountain Catholic. Edwards noted the judges were impressed by Doumit’s personality, faith, enthusiasm, and her understanding of the history and potential impact of World Youth Day on participants and the Church.
Doumit expressed that winning was a dream come true, noting her interest in attending because the event would be held in an Asian country. She mentioned that her mother and Fr. Joseph Minuth, pastor at Holy Family, had previously discussed how the church might help make the trip possible. However, Doumit noted that financial concerns arose after Fr. Minuth was reassigned to St. John the Baptist Parish in Draper, as her family would need to fundraise for both herself and her mother.
In her essay, Doumit addressed why World Youth Day is important for the Catholic Church and for teenagers. She stated her desire to experience the Catholic faith on a larger scale, meet other young Catholics, and experience different cultures to develop her faith personally.
Edwards noted that such opportunities help young people recognize they are an essential part of the Church. He added that for a state where the Catholic Church is in the minority, the experience allows participants to see a greater Church and bring those experiences back to their community. Doumit expressed that the opportunity makes her feel that her perspective matters and that young people have something valuable to contribute.
Many youth in the Diocese of Salt Lake City are currently raising funds to attend World Youth Day, with costs cited at $4,745 per individual. Individuals seeking to donate can contact their local parish office or Michael Edwards at michael.edwards@dioslc.org.
