Editor’s Note: During this diocesan Year of Youth decreed by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., The Monitor is recognizing young people who are living their faith, doing their best and making a difference in the community.
By David Karas | Correspondent
The Granito siblings – Ryan, 17, Julianna, 19, and Nicole, 22 – might be at different stages in their lives as they work toward their life and career trajectories, but one thing they each carry with them is their faith and a sense of responsibility to help those in need.
Whether it is through Ryan’s teaching in the religious education program in St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel, Julianna’s volunteer work with an after-school program or Nicole’s efforts to maintain her commitment to her Catholic faith through college and now in the early phase of her career, the Granito trio continue to be active in faith and service even though they might not always be in the same place.
Ryan, currently a senior in St. Joseph High School, Metuchen, began volunteering as a helper in his home parish last fall to gain community service hours, but it quickly became about more than just accruing time.
“I began making connections with the seventh-grade students, and I found myself eager to go help at class,” he said. “After getting to know all the students by the end of the year, I was upset that it had to end.”
This year, Ryan returns to the religious education program as a group leader. He said it is rewarding to be in a position to help younger people.
“I found myself giving the students advice and knowledge based off my personal experience, whether it was help in class, answering questions related to the Church, or even advice for school,” he said. “I was able to be someone that they could easily talk to, and nothing made me happier.”
Ryan sees faith as playing a significant role in his daily life. He recently had hand surgery and was told he would not be able to play football during the current season. He had faith that things would improve, and sure enough, his speedy recovery has allowed him to play this fall.
“My faith has never been stronger through my four years in high school,” he said. “It has been tested plenty of times, but I have kept my faith close to me and I will continue to do so.”
Keeping the faith is also important to his sister, Julianna, a sophomore studying chemistry in Marist College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. She knew she would work to keep the faith while in college, though she also acknowledged the difficulty that many college students have with being faithful on campus.
“In high school, I was a religious education teacher and a lector,” she said. “I had ample hours of community service and didn’t plan on changing that when I arrived at college.”
At Marist, she is part of the campus ministry program, and last year began volunteering with the R.E.A.L. Skills Network, an after-school program for children in struggling families.
“By the second week there, I knew I had to do something more, so I started an arts and crafts program,” she explained. “The kids were eager and excited to learn when I came in every week to do this one small activity with them.”
She has ambitions to pursue a career as a cosmetic scientist and said she plans to continue giving back to the community as much as she can.
Then there’s Nicole, who is currently living in Stamford, Conn. She is a graduate of Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, Conn., and works in the digital department for NBC Sports. She works on various sports platforms, including Premier League, NASCAR, Golf, Sunday Night Football and the National Hockey League.
“I have been an athlete my entire life, so I love being involved with sports every day in my job,” she said.
She began with NBC Sports as an intern in college, and had the chance to intern as a production assistant for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She also worked as a digital video intern for the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
As she embarks upon her career after college, Julianna plans to keep faith as part of the equation, no matter where she ends up.
“I have always kept faith in my life, as it has pushed me through the low points, when I felt like giving up, but also during the good parts of my life where I am thankful every day for the opportunities God has given me,” she said. “My family and I have always stayed very close to our faith.”