COMPOSER’S TRANSFORMATION

Continued from 46 reside in northern Michigan.

Saved Through Prayer

Their pastor, Father Peter Wigton of St. Mary Parish in Charlevoix, Michigan, helped them navigate one of the darkest moments of their marriage. During an anguished July 4 weekend in 2021, Manfredonia called Father Wigton, who advised the couple to pray and seek God’s guidance –which they did, first separately, and then together with the pastor and the parish prayer team.

“Our prayer was for discernment in our marriage, and when Father Peter asked if I was sensing anything, I saw in my mind ... an image of Maria giving birth, and us out at a park with our children. … this openness to kids.” Manfredonia said he felt “a visceral change” during the prayer session that imparted “a sense of bravery.”

“In an instant, I went from questioning my marriage ... to ‘Wow, I can’t wait to have kids,’” he said. “And it hasn’t stopped ... I still believe we witnessed a miracle.” With that restoration now set to music, Manfredonia is seeking to give other struggling couples hope in Christ.

“Jesus’ Resurrection is so powerful because he died,” he said. “You can’t have the resurrection without the death. You have to know ... the trials to appreciate the transformation and redemption.”

Father Brizio

Continued from 48 earning a master’s degree in education in 1984, and a doctorate in 1986, he became principal of the Meki and of the Nazareth mission schools. He later served as director of the philosophy seminary in Addis Ababa, then became administrator of the Consolata Missionaries Region of Ethiopia where he served for seven years.

After having worked in the two countries where the Consolata Missionaries opened their first missions at the beginning of the 20th century, Father Brizio was assigned to serve in Colombia, South America, where he studied Spanish and in 1996, he became the pastor of Solano, on a bank of the Caqueta River. In 1999 he became administrator of the Vicariate of San Vicente de Caguan.

In 2002, Father Brizio became the mission director in Somerset and the administrator of the Consolata Missionaries in the United States and

Canada. In 2007, he began serving in St. Rose of Lima Parish, followed by a three-year parish assignment in Toronto, Canada. He returned to New Jersey and resumed serving in three Trenton and two Freehold parishes as well as in Hightstown.

Father Brizio was predeceased by his parents, Giovenale and Maria (Berardo) Brizio. He is survived by his brother, Giuseppe, and sister, Giuseppina, and their families.

CLASSIFIED Positions Available

St. Paul, Princeton Parish Business Manager

Our parish is seeking a part-time Parish Business Manager. Reporting directly to the pastor, the business manager is responsible for supporting and assisting the pastor in the following areas:

•stewardship of planning and coordinating finances

•negotiating contracts with vendors and third party service providers - with emphasis placed on obtaining best value for service provided - and implementing and supervising said contracts

•supervising and controlling inventory of parish materials, supplies, and services

•basic human resources operations of the parish

Please send your resume to mvalle@stpaulsofprinceton.org

St. Mary of the Lakes, Medford Parish Catechetical Leader

Our parish is seeking a full-time Parish Catechetical Leader (PCL) for Religious Education. This position reports to the Pastor. The PCL: develops and administers the Religious Education Program for students ages four through fourteen in the parish serves as the religion coordinator at St. Mary of the Lakes School is responsible to coordinate ageappropriate Sunday Children’s Masses offered monthly, and Children’s Church (PREK and K students) offered bi-monthly during the school year supervises the parish youth minister, one full time administrative assistant and volunteer catechists serves as a liaison between the parish and the Diocesan Department of Catechesis

For more information and how to apply visit www.smlparish.org/parishcatechetical-leader