From the Bishop
Keeping the memory
God alive
of
Catechists who assist soon-to-be Catholics in their journey through the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults hold the Book of the Elect for their respective parishes during the 2019 Rite of Election. Vic Mistretta photo
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atholics “pass on the faith” not only by what they say or teach but also by the way they live their lives. This responsibility belongs to all the baptized faithful, but especially to parents and those who serve as cate-
chists. Earlier this year, Pope Francis initiated a renewal of the ancient New Testament ministry of catechist by noting that the mission of proclaiming the Lord Jesus A Message from Christ is the reason BISHOP DAVID M. for the Church’s O’CONNELL, C.M. existence, in the words of his saintly predecessor Pope Paul VI, “her deepest identity.” In his May 10, 2021, apostolic letter Antiquum Ministerium (Ancient Ministry), Pope Francis writes: “The role played by catechists is one specific form of service among others within the Christian community. Catechists are called first to be expert in the pastoral service of transmitting the faith as it develops through its different stages from the initial proclamation of the kerygma to the instruction that presents our new life in Christ and prepares for the Sacraments of Christian initiation, and then to the ongoing
A religious education teacher and a student in St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel, display a copy of the Bible, one of a catechist’s most important teaching tools, during a summer 2019 session. Mike Ehrmann photo formation that can allow each person to give an accounting of the hope within them (cf. 1 Pet 3:15). At the same time, every catechist must be a witness to the faith, a teacher and mystagogue, a companion and pedagogue, who teaches for the Church. Only through prayer, study, and direct participation in the life of the community can they grow in this identity and the integrity and responsibility that it entails (cf. Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization, ‘Directory for Catechesis,’ 113).” In our Diocese we have been blessed over the years with Continued on 6
September 2021 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 5
Bishop’s Scrapbook
Here is a look back at the ways Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., spent some of his time during the past month of August. Bishop O’Connell catches up with Father Christopher Picollo and Father Kevin Kimtis, who visited the Chancery in late August. Father Picollo is pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Moorestown, and Father Kimtis serves as secretary to the Apostolic Nunciature in Benin and Togo, West Africa. Courtesy photos
p In the diocesan Chancery, Bishop O’Connell stops by to see if he can assist with a vocations mailing being prepared by Father Jason Parzynski, diocesan director of vocations, and Carolyn Norbut, associate director of the Office of Vocations and Office of Worship.
Msgr. Thomas Gervasio, pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish, Hamilton, and diocesan vicar general, right, enjoys his 65th birthday dinner with, from left, Bishop O’Connell, Father Jason Parzynski, diocesan director of vocations, and Msgr. Edward Arnister, pastor of St. Rose Parish, Belmar.
Catechists called to be expert transmitters of, witnesses to faith Continued from 5
many generous Catholics who are eager, in the words of the Holy Father, to awaken “personal enthusiasm” among the baptized faithful within their parishes and to accompany them on their journey of faith as they meet and face the concrete circumstances of their lives. Good and effective parish catechesis, as the “2020 General Directory for Catechesis” describes, is a ministry that “makes the proclamation of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ continually resound in the heart of every person, so that life may be transformed (No. 55).” A prayer so familiar to us as Catholics – the “Come Holy Spirit” – invokes the Holy Spirit to “fill the hearts of the faithful and light in our
hearts the fire of your love.” Faith-filled catechesis is the channel and means for that light and fire to burn brightly in the parish, the Diocese, the Church and the world.
“Catechists ... are able to revive [the memory of God] in others.” In recent years, the polarization and resulting confusion that seem to have gripped society at large and even the Church within it, as well as the chaos and suffering in our lives occasioned by the ongoing experience of the pandemic, make the search for truth all the more urgent and vital. To
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“pass on the faith” and to live it deeply as truth through what we say and do, and how we live and witness the Lord Jesus Christ at work in the world, invites a renewed catechetical outreach that will bring light into darkness, hope into desperation, charity into the experience of alienation and isolation, and clarity of purpose into a world confused by things contrary to the Gospel. That is the mission of the Catholic Church today and the vocation of her catechists who carry the truth of our faith in their hearts and in their hands as they “pass it on.” Pope Francis said it so well: “Catechists are people who keep the memory of God alive; they keep it alive in themselves and they are able to revive it in others (Homily, Mass for Catechists, Rome, September 29, 2013).”
In Focus
‘Teach the Children’
The ancient call to pass on the faith BY MARY CLIFFORD MORRELL Contributing Editor
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“
aith opens the way before us and accompanies our steps through time. Hence, if we want to understand what faith is, we need to follow the route it has taken, the path trodden by believers, as witnessed first in the Old Testament,” writes Pope Francis in his encyclical, Lumen Fidei: The Light of Faith. The Holy Father explains the unique role of Abraham, “our father in faith,” to whom God speaks and calls his name, and Moses, “the mediator … who speaks to YHWH on the mountain and then tells the others of the Lord’s will.” In that role of mediator, when the time of wandering in the desert ended for the Israelites, Moses gathered the new generation of believers together for a final message. He stressed the importance of passing on the faith and God’s commandments, instructing the people to “impress them upon your children. Recite them when you stay at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you get up.” This ancient wisdom, shared as the will of God, laid the foundation for the Apostles and Disciples
as they created and nurtured new Christian communities, and continues today as families and faith communities work together to hand on the Catholic faith to the next generation. The New Testament offers us a powerful model for the why and how of handing on the faith – Timothy. As a young Jewish boy of 16, Timothy, his mother and grandmother were converted by Paul during Paul’s missionary journey to Lystra. Timothy was already well-versed in Scripture due to his mother and grandmother’s Continued on 8
Timothy with his Grandmother Lois, often attributed to Willem Drost. Wikipedia image/ Hermitage Museum, Russia
September 2021 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 7
In Focus Continued from 7
Audience, Jan. 15, 2014).
teaching and progressed quickly as a Christian after his encounter with Jesus through Paul. Timothy was eventually chosen by Paul as an evangelist and one who would help take over responsibility for Paul’s ministry. In his epistles written to Timothy, Paul says, “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and that I am confident lives also in you.” (2 Tim.1:5). In another, he advises Timothy on how to successfully pass the faith to others, writing, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Tim. 2:2). Together with Paul and Luke, Timothy traveled from community to community, preaching the Gospel and growing the churches Paul had founded, bringing many people to Jesus. Timothy was eventually named first bishop of Ephesus and died a martyr for his Christian faith. Timothy’s experience was one of receiving the faith and then passing on the faith. Pope Francis describes it in terms of the whole Church: “The People of God is a disciple People – because it receives the faith – and a missionary People – because it transmits the faith.”
WITHIN A FAMILY
THE ROLE OF BAPTISM “The transmission of faith occurs first and foremost in Baptism,” writes Pope Francis, sharing, also, the words of St. Augustine, who once said parents are called not only to bring children into the world but also to bring them to God. For Catholics, this happens with Baptism. From the time the Disciples went out to baptize, until today, the Holy Father explains, “there is a chain in the transmission of faith through Baptism. And each one of us is a link in that chain … Such is the grace of God and such is our faith which we must transmit to our sons and daughters, transmit to children, so that once adults, they can do the same for their children” (General
“The Bible,” said Pope Francis in Amoris Laetitia, “… presents the family as the place where children are brought up in the faith. … One of the Psalms celebrates the proclamation of faith within families: ‘All that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us, we will not hide from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders which he has wrought. He established a testimony in Jacob, Continued on 61
"The transmission of faith occurs first and foremost in Baptism," Pope Francis wrote in his message on passing on the faith. Jeff Bruno photo
Teaching Documents
Understanding faith and the need to form new generations Papal encyclicals and apostolic exhortations are just two of myriad documents with which the popes strive to teach the Body of Christ. Listed below are just a few of those which elaborate on the meaning of faith, why it needs to be passed on, and the role of faith in ever changing societies. Fratelli Tutti (On Fraternity and Social Friendship) Pope Francis, October 3, 2020 “Each day offers us a new opportunity, a new possibility. ... We have the space we need for co-responsibility in creating and putting into place new processes and changes. Let us take an active part in renewing and supporting our troubled societies.” Amoris Laetitia (On Love in the Family) Pope Francis, March 19, 2016 “The family is thus the place where parents become their children’s first teachers in the faith. They learn this ‘trade’, passing it down from one person to another …” Lumen Fidei (Light of Faith) Pope Francis, June 29, 2013; begun by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI “In the family, faith accompanies every age of life, beginning with childhood: children learn to trust in the love of their parents. This is why it is so important that within their families parents encourage shared expressions of faith which can help children gradually to mature in their own faith. Young people in particular … ought to feel the constant closeness and support of their families and the Church in their journey of faith.” Evangelii Gaudium (On the Proclamation of Handing on the Gospel in Today’s World) Pope Francis, November 24, 2013 “The family is experiencing a profound cultural crisis, as are all communities and social bonds. In the case of the family, the weakening of these bonds is particularly serious because the family is the fundamental cell of society, where we learn to live with others despite our differences and to belong to one another; it is also the place where parents pass on the faith to their children.” Familiaris Consortio (The Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World) Pope John Paul II, 1981 “So great and splendid is the educational ministry of Christian parents that Saint Thomas has no hesitation in comparing it with the ministry of priests.” Catechesi Tradendae (Catechesis in our Time) Pope John Paul II, 1979 “Education in the faith by parents, which should begin from the children’s tenderest age, is already being given when the members of a family help each other to grow in faith through the witness of their Christian lives, a witness that is often without words but which perseveres throughout a day-today life lived in accordance with the Gospel.”
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the Faith
Christ Healing the Blind, ca. 1570. Artist: El Greco. USCCB graphic
PASSING ON
Catechetical Sunday slated for Sept. 19
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eturning once again to its annual commissioning of catechists for ministry to the community, the Church will celebrate Catechetical Sunday on Sept. 19 with the theme of “Say the Word and My Soul Shall Be Healed.” Catechetical Sunday is “a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the role that each baptized person plays in handing on the faith and being a witness to the Gospel,” the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops stated on its website, “[and] for all to rededicate themselves to this mission as a community of faith.” The image chosen to represent this year’s theme, by the famed artist, El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos), illustrates the Gospel account of Christ healing a blind man by anointing his eyes. “The past year has highlighted the urgent need for healing – physical, spiritual, emotional – in ourselves and in our world,” the USCCB site stated. “As our world struggles to heal, complete healing
is not possible without Jesus as the Divine Physician. When our souls heal, all heals, despite our suffering. “The words we pray at Mass, ‘Say the Word and My Soul Shall be Healed,’ have the power to remind us of, to open our eyes to, the healing that Jesus offers us in the Eucharist which is essential, eternal, and ever open to us,” the statement continued. “We humbly ask him to say the word, and with that prayer, we have faith that, with the fantastic and improbable prospect of Jesus entering under our roof, our souls shall be healed.” Catechetical Sunday traces its roots to 1935, when the Vatican published a document (“On the Better Care and Promotion of Catechetical Education”) urging every country to recognize the importance of passing on the Catholic faith and honor those who teach it. In the early 1970s, the USCCB began publishing materials to aid and encourage parishes to celebrate Catechetical Sunday at the local level.
Traditionally, on Catechetical Sunday, catechists are formally commissioned for ministry, and they rededicate themselves to this mission in their community. “In catechesis … we have rediscovered the fundamental role of the first announcement or kerygma, which needs to be the center of all evangelizing activity and all efforts at Church renewal,” Pope Francis wrote in his encyclical Evangelii Gaudium. “It is the principal proclamation, the one which we must hear again and again in different ways, the one which we must announce one way or another throughout the process of catechesis, at every level and moment.” Resources for parishes and individuals to learn about and celebrate Catechetical Sunday – including videos about healing the wounds of isolation, division and fear – are available online at www.usccb.org/committees/evangelization-catechesis/leadership-institute-catechetical-sunday-2021.
September 2021 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 9
In Focus
Faith at Home to be monthly BY EMMALEE ITALIA Contributing Editor
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hen COVID-19 hit hard mid-March of 2020, and church doors had to close, the Diocese of Trenton’s Departments of Catechesis, Evangelization and Family Life, and Youth and Young Adult Ministry moved quickly to provide a resource for the faithful to remain connected to the Church. “Our launch during Holy Week 2020 focused on preparing for the liturgy at home and encouraging people to watch the Mass online,” said Denise Contino, director of the Department of Catechesis. Called Faith at Home, the weekly resource allowed Catholics of the Diocese a means to practice their faith when attending Mass in person was not
an option. “Each week we would break open the Readings and provide discussion questions,” she continued. “Even then, not all parishes were equipped with the ability to livestream a virtual Mass, so Faith at Home was all they had. We also linked them to other places to watch Mass online.”
Josue Arriola, director of the Department of Evangelization and Family Life, added, “The secular world picks up on Christmas, and you see it everywhere – but with Holy Week it’s nothing like that. “We wanted to prepare families so they could be ready. Many were not used to being together for weeks, and we needed to have something out there to help them grow in their faith and relationships – couples and families both,” he said. Since churches have reopened and use of the Faith at Home online resource
FAITH AT HOME Passing on the Making Faith Come Alive for Your Family
Prepare for Mass and grow in the faith
by…
tion of our Lord on learning about the Feast of the Transfigura August 6th. of Mary on August • celebrating the Feast of the Assumption 15th. Pray a Hail Mary each day. of August: St. Maximillian • getting to know some of the saints St. Monica. Kolbe and St. Augustine and his mother, home parish. Read here • returning to in person Mass at your to Mass after you for the latest guidelines. How to return haven’t been in a while. your family each day. • praying an Our Father together with
•
A U G U ST 2 02 1 S u n d ay Mass R eading s before you attend. To prepare for Mass, read the Gospel posted below with Following Mass, discuss the question your family. me will
whoever comes to August 1st – “I am the bread of life; in me will never thirst.” never hunger, and whoever believes What might you need (Jn 6:35) Do you often feel empty inside?
to change in your life? came down from August 8th– “I am the living bread that live forever;” What are heaven; whoever eats this bread will celebrate the Eucharist so some of the ways we can prepare to more fully? When was the that we experience this sacrament last time you went to confession? Mary’s great trust in God August 15th - Elizabeth recognized and blessed is the and said, “Blessed are you among women, words? Let’s take this fruit of your womb.” Recognize these and let’s pray a Hail time to thank God for our Blessed Mother Mary. to nd - Jesus asked his disciples, “Do you also want 22 August that question? Can we leave?” How would we respond to to whom shall we answer as Simon Peter answered, “Master, life.”? go? You have the words of eternal can defile that outside from th enters that “Nothing August 29 – from within are what person, but the things that come out defile us? How can we defile.” What is in our hearts that may make a change in those habits? on the The readings of the day can be found Bishops Website United States Catholic Conference of
BY DENISE CONTINO
Director, Department of Catechesis
O r dinary Time | A ugust 2 021
alive for: Making the Faith comemonthly) Check the links below (updated
Young Adults and 39 are part of Young people between the ages 18 a variety of the young adult community and experience life stages. Learn More >
Newly Married something Two people coming together to form where one didn’t completely new - a brand new family exist before. Learn More > Families with Young Children a tremendous Becoming parents for the first time-This is for blessing but also a tremendous challenge. 0-5 years old. parents with children who are between Learn More > Families School-Aged Children children (6-12 years Catholic families with school-aged same basic goal: to old) a diverse group, but all have the provide a solid form loving, caring relationships and reach their full foundation for children so they can human potential. Learn More > Families with Adolescents who are dealing Parents of teenagers (13-18 years old) n, faithwith so many pressures to raise purpose-drive filled kids. Learn More >
Single/Marrie d Adults with no kids at Single adults or those who are married children and are home. Many parents have launched Learn More > entering into the “empty-nest” stage.
port you T h e Dioc ese of Trenton is here to sup
Golden Years who’ve Singles or couples in their golden years are now called to embraced their vocational calling and financial adjust to such changes as retirement, , and challenges, health issues, losing independence end-of-life issues.
Learn More >
and your family.
found on our webpage: d i o c eseoftr sites. Additional information can be Links provided are from trusted Catholic
enton. org / faith-at-h ome.
The diocesan Faith at Home resource is transitioning to a monthly column. The tools produced for the past year and a half are still available on the Diocese's website, https://dioceseoftrenton.org/ faith-at-home. Courtesy photo
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hinking back to my childhood of how the faith was passed down in my family, I have to say that it was a natural process. I remember in my parents’ bedroom stood a large statue of the Blessed Mother that belonged to my maternal grandmother. I recall being a little girl and looking up and seeing this queen, the Mother of God in my parents’ room, I was always in awe of her. I knew she was special with the doily that she stood upon. My family always celebrated the holidays with families and friends. Christmas and Easter were high holy days for us, and since we are Italian, filled with an abundance of food. Passing on the faith to our families does not have to be difficult – it is part of who we are, our lifestyle of being Catholic Christians.
10 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE September 2021
Observing your family, have you thought about how you are passing on the faith to your children, godchildren, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, husbands, wives, parents, siblings, friends, etc.? All baptized persons are called to pass on the faith; we look to the Lord and Savior who seeks, encounters and welcomes all people in their current life situation. We see Jesus encounter many in the parables, the good Samaritan, the prodigal son, the woman at the well and many more. Jesus met people exactly where they were in their life. We are called to pass on the faith to others! How can you do this? Are you afraid? Are you asking, “how can I get started?” Here are three simple tips to help you to pass the faith: Religious items in your home can be placed in visible spaces. This simple act will help you pass the faith to others. If you were to look around your home, do you have religious symbols to show that you are Catholic? Take inventory of your home and see if you have any religious items in visible places; if not, how can you get started? You could start with
PASSING ON
feature in print, online has waned, Faith at Home will move to a monthly column published both in The Monitor Magazine and online at TrentonMonitor.com. “As Advent approached last year, we moved from a weekly to a seasonal resource,” Contino explained. When fewer people were clicking to view the resources on the diocesan website, “We decided that a column could give families and couples concrete ways to increase practice of the faith in their homes, and how to evangelize,” she said.
“It's always good to ... keep encouraging [the faithful] to grow in faith.” “It’s always good to talk directly to [the faithful], to keep encouraging them to grow in faith,” Arriola said. With the monthly column not tied specifically to the Sunday readings, but more broad faith-based material, he noted, “We now have the opportunity to think outside the
the Faith
box and offer practical ideas.” Topics that Faith at Home will address in the months to come include cultivating a prayer life, the virtues of gratitude and forgiveness, how to use the Bible at home, going to Mass with young children, and tips to highlight the penitential seasons of Advent and Lent. Both English and Spanish language versions of the column will be available. “We also want to encourage parents and couples not to give up, to keep trying,” Arriola added. “We have to learn to do good things, it doesn’t come naturally … it challenges me as a father to start first, because I’m not going to ask my children to do something that I’m not doing.”
faith through simple acts a crucifix: hang one above your front door or a bedroom door. Think about setting aside a table for religious items: religious statues, rosary beads, a bible and a candle. You can get started how-
Jesus is inviting us to grow in prayer all the time, and it is never too late to begin. ever you want. By visibly showing others these items, your home is a witness to your faith – very similar to the Blessed Mother Statue in my parents’ bedroom. I am as in awe today as I was as a little girl when I look at that statue that still stands there. Prayer in the home – whether you already pray in the home, or you think you do not pray enough, or perhaps that you do not pray at all. The good news is that Jesus is inviting us to grow in prayer all the time, and it is never too late to begin. You can start by teaching the youngest members of the family the “Sign of
the Cross.” As simple as this is, we must teach our youngest family members the basics. Perhaps add a prayer before meals or before bedtime. Whatever type of prayer you add, it is a beginning and a way to pass on the faith. Love one another. St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta said, “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” By loving one another you are passing on the faith; God is love, when we love others, we share the Lord. As you contemplate how you are passing on the faith to those in your family, think simple, start small and love one another.
The Marian statue gracing Denise Contino’s childhood home was a constant reminder of her family’s Catholic faith. Photo courtesy of Edna Nicolosi
September 2021 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 11
In Focus
Nine parish catechetical leaders begin new assignments
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ith the start of the new catechetical year on Sept. 19, which is observed as Catechetical Sunday, nine parish catechetical leaders will begin new ministry assignments, overseeing faith formation activities including religious education programs. Following are profiles on the new leaders.
EXPERIENCED PCL JOINS ST. JOAN OF ARC TEAM As Jessica Donohue begins her journey as the new parish catechetical leader in Marlton’s St. Joan of Arc Parish, she’s looking forward to “getting to know the children, families and parishioners who have all been so very kind and welcoming” since she arrived in July. The St. Joan of Arc religious education program serves 800 children from first through eighth grades, said Donohue, who came to St. Joan of Arc with 12 years of experience in religious education. As recovery from the pandemic continues, there will be a mix of live and virtual attendance with first, second and seventh grades attending in person and grades three through six attending virtually, said Donohue. The ministry, she said, “plays a primary role in strengthening the connection families have to the Church and their faith and I find that in accompanying them, my faith is often renewed and enriched too.” Members of Sacred Heart Parish, Mount Holly, Donohue and her husband, Michael, are the parents of two sons, Jake and Owen. Her attachment to catechetical ministry began in 2009 when the boys were enrolled in the parish school and she was helping out in the parish.
“I was asked by the new DRE at the time, Dr. Eileen Hoefling, to be her assistant when she began her tenure in the parish. Aside from having gone to ‘CCD’ myself, I had very little experience with our religious education program before that.” Shortly thereafter, she went through the Diocesan Catechetical Leadership program and realized “that I felt I was being called to the ministry as a career. Dr. Hoefling was a great mentor to me during our time together and my pastor, Father John Czahur, was and still is a wonderful mentor to me as well,” said Donohue, who served the program at Sacred Heart until coming to St. Joan of Arc. Donohue, who holds a bachelor’s degree in comparative literature from Rutgers University and a master’s degree in religious education from Felician University, Lodi, is currently halfway through a master’s in theology from Holy Apostles College and Seminary, Cromwell, CT. Donohue calls “working with families, children and volunteers” in catechetical ministry, “simply one of the greatest blessings of my life. I consider it an incredible privilege when parents come to the parish for support in raising their children in the Church.” Lois Rogers, correspondent
LOVE OF GOD, LOVE OF NATURE DRIVES NEW CATECHIST Barbara Kane’s love of nature and love of God will prove to be a winning combination in her new role as parish catechetical leader in Sacred Heart Parish, Mount Holly. Kane earned a bachelor’s degree in natural resource management from Rutgers University’s Cook College. She shared that
12 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE September 2021
prior to the birth of her two children with husband Ryan, “I combined my love of nature and my love for children by teaching students about the environment, as they are the caretakers of all God’s creation.” Kane, whose family had been members of the Mount Holly parish since her son Justin’s Baptism in 2001, became involved with the religious education program when her daughter, Madelyn, began first grade. “I loved seeing her excitement as she talked about learning about Jesus in class,” Kane remembered. “I wanted to be part of that excitement and started volunteering as a hall monitor and an aide. When they needed a seventh-grade catechist in 2007, I began teaching.” Ten years of volunteering led to her hire as the program’s administrative assistant in 2018, then her current leadership role in the first through eighth grade program of about 300 students. Religious education summer and fall programs have been supplemented with a family program for remote learning during the pandemic. “Serving in catechetical ministry means that I’m able to make a difference in the lives of our children, helping them grow in their faith as they journey toward becoming confirmed members of the Catholic Church,” said Kane, who finds the process important and rewarding. “In my new role, I most look forward to seeing the children’s smiles as they listen and learn from their catechists, who I love to work with and also learn from every week. We are excited to help our families learn and grow in their faith.” Christina Leslie, correspondent
LIFELONG CATECHIST HEADS PROGRAM IN VISITATION PARISH Joanne Martone is the newest PCL in Visitation Parish, Brick, but her service in educating children in the faith long predates her current position. “I began volunteering as a catechist when I was in high school,” Martone recalled. “I was an assistant for many years working with multiple grade levels. When it came time to enroll my son in first grade, he asked if I could teach his class. He is now in 8th grade and I have been with my stu-
PASSING ON dents ever since.” Martone earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Georgian Court University, Lakewood. She also holds a New Jersey teacher of Spanish certificate, a principal certificate and a supervisor certificate. She and her husband, Fred, have two children, Giana and Anthony. In addition to her religious education work, Martone also volunteers as a cantor at the Brick parish. Visitation’s religious education program currently serves about 600 students in grades 1 through 8. Martone is eagerly awaiting the program to begin this fall, noting, “I am looking forward to developing activities throughout the year for families. I am excited to have the opportunity to work with all leaders, ministries and families within our parish, meeting and working with leaders in other parishes in our Diocese and beyond.” The call to service is universal, the catechist said. “We are all called to serve, utilizing our talents to evangelize and become effective apostles for Jesus. Serving in catechetical ministry is a calling to lead others to Jesus and the beauty of our Catholic faith.” Martone attended her first Mass at the parish in 1976 at the age of three, she said proudly, and has been a parishioner ever since. “My faith journey was planted, rooted and nourished in the parish of Visitation. The experience and opportunities given to me by those in leadership in our parish has not only helped me grow in faith it has also allowed me to help others grow in faith,” she said. “Through prayer and discernment I heard the Holy Spirit say, ‘Bring my children to me.’ I am answering His call.” Christina Leslie, correspondent
CATECHETICAL MINISTRY THE JOY OF A LIFETIME As Mark Russoniello, the new parish catechetical leader in Freehold’s St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral tells it, serving in
this ministry is the joy of a lifetime.” He became the Co-Cathedral’s parish catechetical leader June 21 taking on full responsibility of the program for 975 youngsters from grades 1 through 8, following the retirement of Lisa Clark. “In what other job would I be able to spend my day thinking and talking about God,” asks Russoniello, who freely admits it took him 50 years to come to this reality after a varied career that ran the gamut from working on Wall Street and then in municipal government in Jersey City to 15 years in social services to reach this point. He said it was like a “proverbial lightning bolt” struck when he became involved in catechesis. He had been home schooling his son Luke in religious education and when it came time to prepare for Confirmation, the parish policy required in-person instruction. After careful thought, he began as a volunteer catechist for his son’s class. After Luke was confirmed, he continued volunteering through a period of unemployment and a return to the school for a master’s degree in public administration from Seton Hall University, South Orange. “As I was completing my degree, I was hired to serve as pastoral associate at St. Leo the Great Parish, Lincroft,” while continuing to serve as a volunteer catechist, and his dedication to the ministry grew over time. “After several years, I was asked to expand my responsibilities to include the Faith Formation ministry and direct oversight of the religious education program.” Russoniello holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Hamilton College, Utica, N.Y.; a master of pastoral theology from St. Joseph College, Standish, Maine. He is a Doctor of Ministry candidate (2022) from the Graduate Theological Institute, Oklahoma City. He said it’s exciting to bring the “experience from St. Leo’s to a totally different community and move forward. Noting that the 2021-2022 program will remain primarily remote, Russoniello anticipates
the Faith
“a time when we can return to some degree of in person instruction. … This is a challenging time to take up the ministry in a new community. At the same time, the challenge forces planning for and implementation of new ways of ‘doing’ ministry” that will support “the growth of the entire family in their lives of faith.” Lois Rogers, Correspondent
LONG-TIME CATECHIST HEADS ST. CLEMENT PARISH RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM Some might label Tom Sweeney, the new parish catechetical leader in St. Clement Parish, Matawan, as a problem solver in his own right, but the educator is just following his Master’s example to “work with what you have.” The long-time catechist began his service to the children of the parish due to a religious sister’s plea from the ambo some 25 years ago, he recalled. “At Mass, Sister Mary called out to the congregation to help teach religious ed, saying, ‘God will give you the strength and the wisdom,’” he remembered. “I decided to try it, and I loved it from the first moment.” His rewarding time with the firstgrade class led to the program director’s request he take on a tougher challenge: instructor of the seventh and eighth grade students as well as leadership in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults process for teenagers. Sweeney took multiple courses through the Diocese and set off on the new educational path. The program supports about 400 students in grades one through eight. “I have loved sharing our faith with our young people, and I especially love and welcome their questions as they grow and seek understanding,” he noted. “I am looking forward to continuing the great work of my predecessor and also helping answer questions especially Continued on 14
September 2021 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 13
In Focus
Parish Catechetical Leaders Continued from 13
during these challenging times. Sweeney believes “The main reason people lose their faith is that they don’t have their questions answered. There are no dumb questions. I love learning about my faith, and I know enough to know that we shouldn’t be embarrassed about what we don’t know. We can find out the answer together.” Sweeney and his wife, Susan, have three daughters, Allison, Jenna and Samantha; one son, Andrew, and two grandchildren, Nicolette and Douglas. When asked how he could inspire potential catechists just as Sister Mary had inspired him so many years ago, Sweeney recalled the miracle of Christ feeding the thousands with just a few loaves and fishes. “When the disciples told Jesus the people were hungry, Jesus didn’t just jump in and solve the problem,” Sweeney said. “He first asked them, ‘Well, what do you have? I will do the rest, I will work with what you have.’” Christina Leslie, Correspondent
AS PCL, FORMER YOUTH MINISTER HOPES TO BUILD A STRONG FOUNDATION OF FAITH After 16.5 years in youth ministry in St. Mary of the Lakes Parish, Medford, Linda T. Xerri sees her new role as parish catechetical leader there as one where she can help young families begin their journeys in religious education with a focus on the great importance of faith. That’s the message Xerri shared recently when she spoke to families at all parish Masses as she began her ministry with the program where some 400 students in grades 1-8 are expected by the time enrollment concludes. “I am simply there to walk with them and remind them that God loves them,” said
Xerri, who has a certificate in youth ministry from the Trenton Diocese. “He sent Jesus as proof of that love and through the Holy Spirit, each of us can be a witness to God’s love in our world by living and loving like Jesus.” Xerri, who was hired in 2005 as the part-time youth minister for the parish, was responsible for youth activities for children in grades 6 through 8 and helping in the religious education department with Confirmation preparation. In 2010, she took on full-time responsibilities as the parish youth minister up to and including grade 12. In 2017, she also began serving as the religion coordinator in St. Mary of the Lakes School, helping to plan liturgies and prayer services and also assisted the teachers with their catechist certification process and provided supplemental religion curriculum material to them as needed. She attended the University of Delaware, majoring in communications and English-journalism and recently completed courses with Notre Dame Step toward a certificate in theology with a concentration in doctrine which is expected to be completed in 2022. She and her husband, Sam, are the parents of three children: Grace; Nicholas and Paul. Reflecting on this new opportunity, Xerri said that “the most important gift we can give our children is the gift of faith. This faith was instilled in me as a child by my parents and grandparents and has helped me through many bumps in the road. “My hope is to accompany young families as they begin their faith journey with their own children so that they walk through life living and looking through the lens of faith.” Parish catechetical leaders also beginning new positions are: Bonnie Campbell, Sacred Heart Parish, Riverton, in addition to her role as parish catechetical leader in Corpus Christi Parish, Willingboro Father Nicholas Dolan, St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Red Bank, and the Orator of St. Philip Neri Tracy Miller, St. Peter Parish, Point Pleasant Beach
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TOP RIGHT: First graders participate in an activity during the Radiant Joy summer religious education program in St. Mary Parish, Middletown. Courtesy photo BOTTOM RIGHT: Julia Cullen, pastoral coordinator of faith formation/elementary religious education in St. Mary Parish, Colts Neck, leads a tour of the church for students who attended the Summer Intensive Religious Education program. Mary Stadnyk photo
Summer
nurture MARY STADNYK Associate Editor
B
y 8:30 a.m. Aug. 19, the campus of St. Mary Parish, Colts Neck, was buzzing. It looked like it could have been the first day of school. The youngsters were there to participate in the parish’s Summer Intensive Religious Education Program taking place that week. As she escorted her now first-grade son, Gavin, to the parish’s Spiritual Center for check-in, Melissa Strouse expressed appreciation for the program which allowed Gavin “to focus on his religious education” as well as “retain and enjoy the information he was learning. “Gavin is coming home from class each day with a wealth of information that he is eager to share,” said Strouse. She especially appreciated how the catechists had the children write about the topics they discussed in a notebook and then each evening she had a chance to review the topic with Gavin. “I am very impressed with the activities to motivate children,” she said. SUMMER CATECHETICAL STAPLE This year, the Colts Neck parish was
PASSING ON
the Faith
take a tour of the church, hear talks about vocations and learn about the parish’s Edge and LifeTeen programs. “We encourage our families to attend weekly Mass and we give families an assignment for each of the seasons of the Church,” Dunne added. In Colts Neck, Julia Cullen, pastoral coordinator of faith formation and elementary religious education, said 180 students in grades one through six participated in the Summer Intensive, with 90 going online and the other 90 in-person. Seventh and eighth graders who are in the two-year Confirmation prep classes receive instruction during the academic year. Though the timeframe is much shorter during the summer, she said, students and their families are also required to attend a minimum of four out of a total of 20 of the various intergenerational programs that are offered during the year. The intergenerational programs are a mix of liturgical, social and community-service activities.
religious education programs
children in the faith one of 32 parishes in the Diocese to offer summer religious education programs as an alternative to a traditional weekly program held during the school year. Keeping in mind pandemic concerns, parishes like St. Mary and St. Mary, Middletown, offered their programs for two-week periods in July and August and made them available so that students could attend one week online and one-week in-person. “For the second week, the governor mandated mask wearing so we all put on our masks for week two,” said Peggy Dunne, religious education coordinator in St. Mary Parish, Middletown. She noted that of the parish’s 1,200 religious education student enrollment, 800 students chose to attend the summer Radiant Joy program. Of the 800, 400 chose the in-person program while the other 400 chose to go online. Regardless of when they attended, Dunne said that the students “are waking up and coming into a very joyous atmosphere in our
morning assembly where we pray together, learn together and have fun and sing songs of our love for Jesus.” Though summer religious education programs are offered in a different format from the traditional model, Dunne said the content presented in both is the same. During the summer, she said students had a chance to experience a Corpus Christi procession, attend Mass, receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation,
POSITIVE PROGRAM Dunne and Cullen have received positive responses from the parents Continued on 17
September 2021 THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 15
In Focus
In Their Own Words In keeping with this month’s IN FOCUS topic, The Monitor asked a few parishioners to share with us: “What is the most important thing you do at home to pass on the Faith?
“The most important thing we do at
home is that we all share with her our faith traditions, not only myself but her parents. She has her prayer cards and she loves coming to Mass; she knows the songs and sings along. We live our faith and we share our faith with her.” Kathy Monzo • grandmother to Audrey Opielski, 2, pictured below. Parishioners of St. Mary, Mother of the Church Parish, Bordentown.
"To pass along the rich Catholic faith to my children, it is essential for them to see me walk the Way of the Cross in everyday life. In doing this, I am not only offering up suffering and sacrifice for the good of my family, but also showing joy and closeness to Jesus. Our reading about the saints, and their walk alongside Jesus, provides all of us the example and tradition of the love one finds by walking this path." Kerry Muller • St. Aloysius Parish, Jackson
Audrey Opielski, 2, shows her Mary and Joseph dolls to Deacon Larry Finn after Mass at Mary, Mother of the Church Parish, Bordentown. Courtesy photos
"The most important thing is praying with your children and teaching them to pray. Praying in our home started when they were little with an easy Our Father and Hail Mary. As they grew, [it included] teaching them to have a relationship with God where they can talk to him about anything. It is equally important to do things out of love and to be thankful to God for the blessings he has given you." Gina Paparella • St. Barnabas, Bayville
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PASSING ON
the Faith
Virtual Faith Formation Conference offers early access for faithful
T
he Diocese of Trenton will join with the other dioceses in New Jersey to present “Say the Word / Una Palabra Tuya,” a no-cost, virtual faith formation conference to be held Oct. 21-24 which aims to inspire and equip catechists, teachers, volunteers, ministry leaders and families to know the faith better, grow as disciples of Jesus and evangelize. Hosted by Virtual Catholic Conference and sponsored by Our Sunday Visitor, the conference will offer participants the chance to attend multiple workshops in English and Spanish by nationally-known speakers directly from their computer screens. The Trenton Diocese’s Departments of Catechesis and Parish Life and Ministry also collaborated to bring the conference to the faithful. The five New Jersey Catholic dioceses have already joined with the 11 additional dioceses throughout the East Coast that make up the Southeast Catechist Conference to offer an early start on some of the workshops Aug. 12-15. In November 2020, all the dioceses held a virtual catholic conference for catechists across New Jersey. In the wake of its success, a combination of live events and recorded workshops in both English and Spanish will be available. Live events are still being formulated, and will be unique to New Jersey. Speakers slated to present workshops and keynote addresses include Julianne Stanz, Mark Hart, Joe Paprocki, Father Mike Schmitz, Father Robert Spitzer, Peter Le, Dr. Hosffman Ospino and Jose “Pepe” Alonso. Workshop categories include theology, methodology, intercultural ministries, youth ministries, Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, disabilities, adult faith and evangelization and discipleship. Registration for early access is open
on the Southeast Catechist Conference website at go.virtualcatholicconference. com/SCC2021Spanish in Spanish. Any-
one who registers for the Southeast Catechist Conference will be automatically registered for the N.J. Faith Formation Conference in October that will offer live (virtual) events for those in the N.J. dioceses. For those who do not take advantage of the early access, registration will take place in September. Further information may be found at go.virtualcatholicconference.com/scc2021.
Summer immersion catechesis program a success Continued from 15
regarding the summer religious education programs. “Both my children in grades three and eight could not stop talking about what a great time they both had spiritually,” said parent Gina Imbriano of St. Mary Parish, Middletown. Commending Dunne and the catechists, Imbriano added, “I know this was not an easy task for you to pull off, but you did an amazing job and the smiles on the kids’ faces prove it.” Cathie Accomando, a catechist in St. Mary Parish, Colts Neck, considered the summer program as “an opportunity for parents to immerse their children in religious education in just another way. “The interest in the Summer Intensive experience has indeed grown and I know as a catechist that it provides an intensive, yet beautifully designed curriculum from which the
students definitely benefit.” “This year’s program, as in the year’s prior, is a well prepared and joy-filled program,” she said, adding that even with virtual opportunities last year, which had their share of challenges, “I feel it was still very successful” in providing children with a kind, joyful and hope-filled experience. “The most vital components are introduced in this concentrated format and built on each day, providing great reinforcement as we progress throughout the two-week program. I know my students have a great base, and my hope is that their parents continue this beautiful journey with them throughout the rest of the year,” Accomando said. “I hope this experience gives them a little strength and a smile to face the year ahead, while providing them with a foundation of faith that will continue to sustain them throughout their lives.”
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