Child of Mary
Girl joins Rosary society to express devotion to Blessed Mother
By Erick Rommel
Head Staff Writer
MANVILLE — Kristina Cigler is no different than many other 10-year-old girls. She loves cats, is a Junior Girl Scout and enjoys karate, in which she has achieved a blue belt. But the Hillsborough resident is different from her friends in at least one way. She is a member of her parish Altar Rosary Society.
“I like to be involved in church whenever I can,” she said. In addition to belonging to the Altar Rosary Society for Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Kristina attends parish religious education classes and belongs to its children’s choir and youth group. She also assists with the parish Easter basket blessing and helps deliver gifts for its Christmas giving tree.
“She doesn’t realize how active she is because we’re so involved,” said her mother Carol Cigler, who volunteers at the parish, teaches religious education and recently received certification for completing the diocesan CARE program. Her father, Mike Cigler, also teaches religious education and is involved with the Knights of Columbus. Her brother, 15-year-old Michael, is an altar server.
“A lot of kids go to church because their parents say so,” Mike Cigler said. “I want [my children] to know its okay to show your faith. They should be proud to say they’re devoted.”
When asked if she recalls when she first became involved with the church, Kristina said she does not remember. “That was a long time ago,” she said, “Probably when I was three or four.”
Meeting Mary
Kristina first became interested in joining the Altar Rosary Society in April when her family was chosen to host a prayer statue of Our Lady of Fatima. The statue, which is maintained by a prayer group, travels from house to house across the state.
Before its arrival, Kristina rarely prayed the Rosary. That changed once she joined the groups of people who nightly came to her home to pray in front of the statue. “Now I say it every night,” she said.
The statue affected more than just Kristina; it affected her whole family. “When something happened and we were fighting in the house, [Mary’s] face was solemn,” Kristina recalled. “When we were happy, she was smiling.”
“We were on our best behavior because Mary was here,” Mike Cigler said. “It was odd.”
When the time arrived for the Our Lady of Fatima statue to travel to another family, Kristina was upset. “I didn’t want her to leave,” she said. “It’s like she was really here.”
Joining a community
A member of the Sacred Heart Parish Altar Rosary Society who prayed at the Cigler’s home suggested Kristina join the organization. Kristina considered the suggestion. Withouth consulting her parents, she spoke with her pastor, Redemptorist Father Boguslaw Augustyn. He encouraged her to write him a letter with her request.
A few days later, Kristina did just that. “It was a positive surprise,” Father Augustyn said. “She expressed interest and justified it.”
Father Augustyn presented the letter to Theresa Kaschak, president of the Altar Rosary Society. “No one that young has ever joined,” Kaschak said.
The society voted and accepted Kristina as a member. “I was so shocked,” Kristina said. “I thought I wouldn’t be able to be allowed in.”
Kristina prays the Rosary with the other members of the society at their monthly meetings. She also assists with bake sales and helps with the children’s Mass. “Hopefully other young people have the ambition to do this also,” Kaschak said.
“Kristina is very dedicated. She knows Sacred Heart is her spiritual home,” Father Augustyn said. “That’s what is so special about this girl. She has much deeper understanding than other children her age. I consider it a gift.”
Future plans
Kristina is now thinking of ways to encourage others her age to become more involved with church. She would like to speak to the congregation at the end of Mass and ask parents to bring their children to church. She also wants more activities for young Catholics listed in the parish bulletin and intends to write letters to kids she knows to invite them to become more involved.
As she grows older, Kristina plans to continue her parish involvement and perhaps even expand it. “I’d like to start a Children of Mary group,” she said. “I want them to realize it’s not just prayers, it’s helping other people.”
Kristina has one other ambition. “Maybe I can become president of the Altar Rosary Society,” she said.
Father Augustyn said that ambition is within her reach. “There’s no doubt in my mind she could be president, or be on the pastoral council or be involved in different ministries,” he said. “When she turns 18 or 20, she can run anything in the parish. She’ll run it well.”
*The attached/referenced article was originally published in The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, and is protected under U.S. and international copyright law