The odds were incredible; so are the faith and service of a young, national award winner
Clare Diez of Roncalli High School in Indianapolis is one of only 10 Catholic school students from across the country to receive a prestigious national award. (Submitted photo)
By John Shaughnessy
The odds of being chosen for the prestigious national award that honors Catholic school students are beyond incredible, especially when you consider these two realities:
—There are about 1.7 million Catholic school students in the United States.
—Only 10 students from across the country have been chosen for this year’s National Catholic Education Association’s (NCEA) Youth Virtues, Valor and Vision Award—an honor that recognizes “exceptional faith, leadership and dedication in serving others in ways that uplift their communities and inspire hope.”
So, it surprised 18-year-old Clare Diez—a senior at Roncalli High School in Indianapolis—when she received the news that she was one of the 10 chosen this year.
It’s also surprising to hear her share the major turning point in her young life that has led to her exceptional commitment to her faith, leadership and service.
That turning point came during the COVID-19 pandemic when she was a seventh-grade student at Holy Name of Jesus School in Beech Grove.
“Prior to that time, I always had a good relationship with God because my parents had instilled that into me early on. But it especially blossomed during that time,” Clare says. “Since I no longer had school or church to go to, there was a lot of time to think about life. It helped me think about what’s our purpose in life, what’s our goal. That goal is to ultimately get to heaven and bring other people to heaven.
“So, I thought, ‘Then how do I do that in my regular life?’ Once the restrictions lifted and we were able to go back to places like school and church, I appreciated those things more than I already did, and I looked for opportunities that I could be even more faithful in.”
A sharing of gifts
Clare’s approach to her life and her faith is reflected in her dedication to the Eucharist, starting with helping to lead a choir during eucharistic adoration at Roncalli.
“We have a weekly adoration where myself and some of my friends from choir sing religious songs in the chapel,” says Clare, who also plays piano and the violin. “I enjoy singing a lot, and it’s very touching to see the different teachers and students coming into adoration. We like that our music can help enhance people’s prayer experience during adoration.
“I also attend adoration on the other days at school when it’s silent adoration. It’s very peaceful to be there in front of God and experience his presence and pray about things I’m grateful for.”
That gratitude extends to being an altar server at Holy Name of Jesus Church, a role she has embraced since she was a fifth-grade student.
“I initially joined because I thought it would be a fun way to participate at the Mass. It’s so cool to be up so close during the Mass, to be present right there with everything that’s happening, especially with the consecration. I also really like helping the younger servers when it’s their first or second time serving.”
Clare is also the co-leader of Roncalli’s pro-life club with her friend, Emma Giddens. Their leadership in the club has included recruiting students, lining up pro-life speakers to talk at Roncalli and holding a national Pro-Life Cupcake Day celebration at the school.
“We arranged for different people to bring in homemade or store-bought cupcakes and gave them out to all the people in the cafeteria who wanted one,” she recalls. “Our motto for that was, ‘Everyone deserves a birthday.’ ”
Clare credits her four years at Roncalli with giving her “the confidence to branch out, speak to other people and be open about displaying my faith.”
During spring break of her junior year, she joined a Roncalli group on a mission trip to a remote, impoverished area of West Virginia, helping people in ways that ranged from tearing down a shed that was falling apart to replacing a floor in someone’s home. She has also served at the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry in Indianapolis.
And since Clare envisions her future career as an elementary school teacher, Roncalli has given her the opportunity to take a class in teaching, allowing her to help younger students at nearby St. Jude School.
All these experiences have led to a defining vision of the world for her.
“I try to view all the different people I encounter as the way God sees them,” Clare says. “I know that Jesus said, ‘What you have done for others, you have done for me.’ I know that’s true. When we’re doing something for somebody, we’re doing it for God.”
Living the faith to the fullest
Clare’s commitment to her faith and others is extraordinary, says Father Robert Robeson, pastor of Holy Name Parish and chaplain coordinator at Roncalli. In a letter to the NCEA, he shared these thoughts:
“I have known Clare since I became the pastor at her parish almost nine years ago,” he wrote. “Her extraordinarily deep commitment to living her faith and striving for holiness has been remarkable among high school students.
“I know that may sound embellished, but in the 20-plus years that I have worked with young people, as a seminary rector, as a parish priest, and as a high school chaplain, I’ve worked with many students, and Clare is one of the holiest people I’ve ever had the pleasure to encounter.”
Father Robeson also noted the “kind and unassuming way” Clare helps younger children learn to become altar servers. He also focused on her care “for those who are vulnerable or marginalized.”
“She is holy in a way that is not judgmental, but rather very humble, and rooted in her deep compassion and kindness toward others,” he noted. “You can tell just by being with her that she has a deep, personal relationship with Christ; and while she is not afraid to talk about it, or to share her faith, her respect for the dignity and worth of each person allows her to relate to virtually anyone.”
Clare was nominated for the NCEA award by Roncalli’s director of campus ministry, Katie Hibner.
“Clare is the holiest student I have ever taught,” Hibner says. “She is someone with a strong moral character, love for the Lord, and a pure, genuine spirit. She shares her faith with those around her and volunteers her time. Clare is such a gift to all of us.”
For Clare, one of the best parts of receiving the national honor was having it presented to her in a school-wide pep rally at Roncalli during Catholic Schools Week in late January.
“I felt very honored, grateful and happy,” says Clare, the daughter of Andrew and Miriam Diez. “Having my parents present while I received the award was so special because they are my biggest supporters, and I am indebted to them for all the love and guidance they have given me.
“It was also special that my parish priest, Father Bob Robeson, came to see the event. Overall, the whole experience of receiving the NCEA award at a school pep rally was slightly intimidating but very exciting and special for me—to know that all my classmates and teachers were cheering for me!” †
