Renewed and Sent on Mission by the Eucharist

Ways to Share Gifts

Pledging: Choosing to pledge with your desired payment schedule over time may allow you to be more generous. Monthly reminders will be sent.

Gift By Check: Whether your gift is a onetime, paid-in-full gift or an installment of a pledged gift, please make your check payable to: Diocese of Metuchen-Bishop’s Annual Appeal Foundation.

Gift By Credit Card: Complete your gift and credit card information on your pledge card or visit our secure online giving site at https://diometuchen.org/BAA.

Gift Of Appreciated Stock Or Securities: Federal tax laws allow a charitable deduction for the full market value of stock or securities on the date they are gifted. For information on making such a gift, please contact the Office of Stewardship & Development at 732-562-2432.

Prison Chaplains

Ministering to those experiencing pain, confusion and fear, and those preparing for death is the role of the clergy assigned to Hospital Ministry. There as 12 hospital chaplains who respond to calls at every hour of the day and night providing sacramental and pastoral presence when it is needed most. Whether it is the critical care unit, same-day surgery or the emergency room, the hospital environment can be emotionally erratic, ranging from quiet and somber to absolutely chaotic. At all times, the presence of the clergy and the grace of the sacraments bring the compassionate love of Christ to those who are facing difficult and often frightening times.

The Diocese of Metuchen also has 2 priests assigned as Prison Chaplains who go to where Pope Francis calls “the uncomfortable zone” and minister to some of the most outcast members of society, the prisoners. Even though their own families may forget them, the Catholic Church does not forget. Through prayer, the sacraments and by the presence of the clergy, we offer them the grace, peace, loving concern and the forgiveness of Christ.

Sent on Mission

Matching Your Gift: Corporate matching gifts are a great way to maximize your personal contribution. Go to www.matchinggifts.com/diometuchen or call 732-5622432 for more information.

Leadership Giving

You are invited to join the community of benefactors who provide the leadership that inspires others to support the pastoral, educational and charitable ministries of the Diocese of Metuchen.

Members contribute to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal at the following levels:

• CIRCLE of STEWARDS: $50,000 and above

• CATHEDRAL CIRCLE: $25,000 - $49,999

• MITRE CIRCLE: $10,000 - $24,999

• SHEPHERD’S SOCIETY: $5,000 - $9,999

• BISHOP’S GUILD: $2,500 - $4,999

• DISCIPLES’ SOCIETY: $1,000 - $2,499

• FIDELIS SOCIETY: $500 - $999

For 5 consecutive years

Legacy Society

The Legacy Society is our way of celebrating the generosity of Catholic friends who are providing for the future of the Church through a planned gift. Have you remembered your parish, parish school or a ministry of the Diocese of Metuchen in your Will or estate plan? If so, please let us know so we can express our thanks for your commitment to advancing the mission of the Church by honoring you as a member at

All funds received from the 2023 Bishop’s Annual Appeal will be used, without exception, to provide the services described below.

Jesus gave us the gift of the Eucharist and through it we are “Renewed and Sent on Mission.” As disciples of Christ nourished by the Eucharist, we are called to spread His love and care to our world today. One important way to give glory to God and accomplish His works here on earth is to participate in the Bishop’s Annual Appeal. Please prayerfully consider making a gift today. Thank you and God bless you.

“Our Czech Provincial accompanied me by train to Gratz, Austria, where I was able to pray by the graveside of our foundress. I asked her to intercede that I would have a ‘double portion of her spirit,’ and I continue to pray for this each day.”

Franciscan Sister Marie Therese Sherwood 60 YEARS

When Franciscan Sister Marie Therese Sherwood started school as a child at Assumption Parish, Jersey City, she could hardly have imagined it would be her first steps toward religious life.

Sister Marie Therese’s vocation began at home. Her parents, Anne and Thomas Sherwood, were active in their parish. “My brother, John, younger sister, Annie, and I joined them in church services and parish events,” said Sister Marie Therese. “John became an altar server and I, a member of the children’s choir.”

At school, the children were taught by the School Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, which was a blessing for Sister Marie Therese. “During my elementary school years, I began to feel a call to religious life. At the time, I wasn’t focused on a particular ministry. I just wanted to belong to Christ, to truly be his spouse.”

After high school, she entered the novitiate of the School Sisters of St. Francis, Bethlehem, Pa., where she earned a degree in elementary education and taught in several schools.

With a growing desire to learn more about her Franciscan roots, Sister Marie Therese participated in an internship in spiritual direction and directed retreats in Cincinnati. She spent several months at Our Lady House of Prayer, Phoenix, offering spiritual direction and days of retreat.

“During this time, I realized my ministry to God’s people was moving in another direction. I began to delve deeper into our congregational history and the life and writings of our foundress, Mother Frances Antonia Lampel,” said Sister Marie Therese. “What shone through in her writings was our congregation’s charism [the Spirit’s gift to the Church]: in religious life, we should ‘strive for intimate union with God in the midst of apostolic service.’”

Sister Marie Therese continued her studies at the Institute of Pastoral Ministry at St. Joseph’s College, West Hartford, Conn., where she earned a certificate in spirituality. This led her to minister in retreat centers in Bethlehem, Pa.; Mahwah, and the Center for Spiritual Direction, Springfield, Mass.

Sister Marie Therese served as novice director on the Province Forma- tion Team and served on regional and national Formation Conferences, traveling nationwide. “I spent several months at our Formation House in Trichur, India, teaching aspirants and postulants.” She also participated in classes with novices in the Franciscan Studies program, sponsored by the Franciscan Institute, St. Bonaventure University (N.Y.).

In 2005, Sister Marie Therese was asked to join a team charged with writing the first international formation program for the School Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis. This meant spending three weeks at their motherhouse in Prague. There, she received a great gift: “Our Czech Provincial accompanied me by train to Gratz, Austria, where I was able to pray by the graveside of our foundress. I asked her to intercede that I would have a ‘double portion of her spirit,’ and I continue to pray for this each day.”

For the past 17 years, Sister Marie Therese has served at St. Matthias Parish, Somerset, as pastoral minister of social concerns, collaborating with other pastoral associates and parish staff.

“I am inspired by our volunteer parishioners who work alongside me in the ministries of bereavement and caregivers support groups, Lazarus and funeral teams, assisting families that are preparing a funeral Mass for deceased loved ones,” she said.

She is also spiritual director of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul chapter, a cantor and choir member, and “feels privileged to journey with the sick, homebound, and nursing home parishioners and the ministers who bring them Eucharist each Sunday.”

In the future, she noted, “When I am no longer in active ministry, and with health of body, mind and spirit, I will continue volunteering in outreach to the poor and those in need. With my last breath, I hope to pray in the words of St. Francis of Assisi, ‘I have done what was mine to do. May Christ teach you what is yours.’”

Kaylynn Ebner

With courage poured out from the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Maria del Rosario left for the United States without knowing any English. She put her trust in God alone who was leading her every step of the way.

Discalced Carmelite Sister Rose Marie Hernandez

50 YEARS

Discalced Carmelite Sister Rose Marie of the Sacred Heart, (N. Maria del Rosario Hernandez), was born in Mexico City in 1953 as one of 14 children. Because of the persecution in Mexico in the late 1920s, there were many martyrs for the faith, which impressed a strong Catholic faith in the Mexican people for the next generations.

Because this inherent faith encompassed the lives of her devout Catholic parents, Sister Rose Marie’s family was blessed to have two of their daughters become Discalced Carmelite Nuns: Maria del Rosario and Anna Maria Hernandez.

Through the encouragement of Salesian Sisters and while spending much time praying before the Blessed Sacrament, Maria del Rosario at age 18 experienced a deep call from the Lord to become a consecrated religious. The biggest difficulty though for her would be to leave her loving family behind to pursue her call. Yet, God’s grace is sufficient!

With courage poured out from the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Maria del Rosario left for the United States without knowing any English. She put her trust in God alone who was leading her every step of the way.

Maria del Rosario met a cloistered Carmelite nun from the United States and, after some time, she further discerned her vocation to enter the Discalced Carmelite Order in answer to Our Lord’s call to union in holiness with him in community life. Both she and her sister entered the Carmelite monastery in Bryant, Texas. Six months later, Maria del Rosario was clothed in the Holy Habit of the Order and took the name Sister Rose Marie of the Sacred Heart.

To pray for priests, for the conversion of sinners and to forget self while developing a divine union with God which is the so called “SCIENCE of the SAINTS” have been Sister Rose Marie’s most important intentions and aspirations in life.

Because of the decreasing number of vocations and some deaths of the religious, their monastery had to close. However, Sister Rose found a warm welcome with the Carmelite nuns in the monastery in Flemington, where God continued to lead her to his abundant blessings. Sister Rose Marie’s many talents are serving her sisters well with her sewing skills, crafts, and baking, but above all with her spirit of faithful prayer and continual joy and humility. Her radiant smile and laughter truly light up the Flemington community!

`Sister Rose Marie encourages anyone who is considering a possible religious vocation to spend much time before Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament asking him to give them the light to know where he is leading them and the courage from their confirmation grace to carry it out.

Courtesy of Discalced Carmelites

Sister Hortensia sees God as the center of her life, with Jesus as her special friend and companion.

Mercy Sister Hortensia Leticia Diaz 25 YEARS

Sister Hortensia Leticia Diaz is celebrating her 25th year as a Sister of Mercy. She entered the Sisters of Mercy Sept. 2, 1998 and became a novice at the House of Mercy in Missouri on Aug. 15, 2000. She took her first vows June 22, 2002. The following year she served at Marylawn of the Oranges in South Orange, as School Secretary.

From May 2002 to 2010 Sister Hortensia worked for Catholic Charities in Bridgewater, in three different roles: Family Advocate, Coordinator of Volunteers, and Office Operations. During that time, she made her final vows on Sept. 17, 2005.

Before Sister Hortensia chose to devote her life to God as a Sister of Mercy she worked at First Savings Bank, Woodbridge, for 17 years. At the same time, she facilitated the Divorced and Separated Ministry in her parish, Our Lady of Peace, Fords.

Sister Hortensia was born in Havana, Cuba, to a working-class family. Her mother was a homemaker who taught her homemaking skills, and Sister Hortensia developed a love for sewing, crocheting, knitting, and embroidering. Her mother also taught her how to pray and talked to her about God. Her father was a self-employed carpenter who loved his craft and loved music. Her parents always stressed that her priority was her school and studies.

Dr. Wilfredo Alvarez was the principal of the private school Sister Hortensia attended from sixth to ninth grades. He was very much an influential person in her life growing up. Sister Hortensia’s grandparents were instrumental in her life growing up, too. She had many aunts and uncles who guided her and nurtured her spiritually. Her Aunt Sheila and Uncle Enrique were very instrumental in the development of her relationship with God because they took her to Mass with them.

Sister Hortensia’s neighborhood was very diverse and she was exposed to people from a variety of cultures, enjoying the gifts of their friendship. Some- time later after finishing high school she felt a turning point in her life. A new friend offered her a new job in a nearby parish office. She accepted the position and from the very first day she knew that she was on the right path. It was the first time she had come in close contact with vowed religious sisters and she felt the grace of God guiding her in this direction. Apparently God’s plans included a detour into marriage and motherhood.

The Lord blessed her with two wonderful sons, one of whom has since gone home to the Lord. Her marriage gradually disintegrated when her sons were very young, and she divorced her husband. These events helped her to become the woman she is today and helped her to grow spiritually and closer to the Lord. She realized that the only way to approach the big task ahead of her of reconstructing her life, was by holding on to her faith by way of prayer and reception of the sacraments. And, along the way, her life has been enriched as she never expected. Sister Hor tensia sees God as the center of her life, with Jesus as her special friend and companion.

In 2013, Sister Hortensia suf fered a stroke and lost her abil ity to bake, do needlework and all things she used to enjoy doing. She is pres ently living at McAuley Hall Health Care Center, Watchung, where her ministry of prayer is a blessing to many.

– Sue Getz

As for what advice Sister Annelyth would give to women considering consecrated life, she responded: pray and seek God’s will and be open to notice his responses through people and the circumstances of the day.

Christian Charity Sister Annelyth Pandi 25 YEARS

Christian Charity Sister Annelyth Pandi said that she had no expectations as to what life in a religious community would be like when she was first considering a consecrated life, so she focused on her desire of why she was entering this new life – to return the love of Jesus.

The youngest of seven children, Sister Annelyth’s parents and two of her brothers have passed away. “I got my happy disposition from my papa and being faithful from my mama,” she said. “The love that I received from my sacrificing mama and the affirmation I received from my papa helped me to be who I am today.”

Sister Annelyth attended grammar and high school in Lianga, Philipppines. Her favorite subject was English and her favorite teacher was Lina Ibra, who was there for her during the challenging times of adolescence.

In March 1994, Sister Annelyth received her Bachelor of Secondary Education degree at the Philippine Normal University.

Subsequently, Sister Annelyth moved to the United States, which, she said, was the greatest spiritual experience for her. Before the day of her departure, Sister Annelyth clung to the Lord in prayer at her church, entrusting the journey that she had to undertake. When she arrived in America, she said the Lord blessed her with friends and the people and circumstances of St. Aloysius Parish, Jersey City.

Discerning her vocation, she prayed Psalm 25 for guidance to join either the Sisters of St. Joseph or the Sisters of Christian Charity. She said that she was guided to choose the Sisters of Christian Charity and on June 4, 1994, Pentecost, decided to answer her “call.” In November 1995, Sister Annelyth made her first visit to the Sisters’ motherhouse and said she felt at home.

After attending a discernment weekend in January 1996, she sent her application letter to the Sisters of Christian Charity and entered the commu- nity Sept. 12, 1996. She became a novice Aug. 21, 1998. Her first profession of vows was Aug. 16, 2000, and took her final vows Aug. 15, 2006.

Sister Annelyth said that her religious name is a coined name of papa (Amando), mama (Nesie) and herself (Lyth). She said that she received her name when she became a novice. She chose Pentecost as her feast day.

While in the United States, Sister Annelyth attended St. John Paul II’s papal Mass at Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands in 1995. She said that it strengthened her desire to enter religious life.

In 2010, the Sisters of Christian Charity assigned Sister Annelyth to its Philippine Mission for the Blind for a year.

“Our congregation was started because of the blind children in Paderborn, Germany, in 1849,” noted Sister Annelyth.

In 2018, she got a gift to travel to Kenya and Tanzania. On one of the days, The Apostles of Jesus Aids Ministry took her group to the Masai Village in Kenya. Today, Sister Annelyth serves as parish catechetical leader, lector, cantor and choir member at St. James Parish, Basking Ridge.

As for what advice Sister Annelyth would give to women considering consecrated life, she responded: pray and seek God’s will and be open to notice his responses through people and the circumstances of the day.

As she reflects on her 25 years with the Sisters of Christian Charity, Sister Annelyth said, the reason that she entered the community is life can be found in verse three of “Lord You have Come:” “returning love, the love you gave me.”

Sue Getz