Educating the educators
Catechists honored for continued learning
By Erick Rommel
Head Staff Writer
PISCATAWAY — Educating young Catholics is the task of hundreds of people at the parish level, many of them volunteers. But even though they are unpaid, they still need a solid background of knowledge to teach the faith to children.
Since the creation of the diocese, approximately 2,000 people have received training through the Catechist Accreditation in Religious Education program. Each year, they are recognized during an evening prayer program.
Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski and Msgr. Michael J. Corona presided over the CARE Evening Prayer June 13 in the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center chapel. The event has grown to include recognition of catechists who have completed other educational programs as well.
“Over the years it has evolved into every formation program that we have for catechists and parish catechetical leaders,” said Mary Kay Cullinan, diocesan director of religious education.
That evolution follows guidance from the U.S. bishops for revitalizing parish level education. “Catechist formation has been given resurgence, a new focus,” Cullinan said. “There has been a reemphasis by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on catechist formation.”
Meeting educational needs
When the CARE program — which provides 48 continuing education credit hours over the course of two years — began in 1987 it was the only basic accreditation program for catechists in the diocese. Those seeking advanced studies participated in the Felician College program. Upon completion, students receive 24 college credit hours and a certificate in religious studies.
The number of programs offered by the diocese increased in 1993 with the addition of a special education certificate. “Children with a variety of learning problems were coming to us and our catechists had to know how to deal with these learning challenges,” Cullinan said. “Our goal was that one person in each parish be trained in special needs. We’ve succeeded in that goal.”
Three years ago, the Office of Religious Education instituted the diocese’s first parish catechetical leadership training program. “CORE is strictly for the people who oversee programs in the parish,” Cullinan explained. Named after the certificate of religious education that participants receive, the program has two phases. CORE I is completed over the course of nine months and focuses on administrative skills. Completion of the second phase of the CORE program, called CORE Complete, takes about two years. It includes a greater focus on theology and is completed online through Providence College.
Joyful servants
During his reflection, Msgr. Corona discussed the servant ministry led by catechists and catechetical leaders. “We are amazed to discover the tremendous power that is released in us,” he said. “Our society today is literally teeming with people struggling desperately to make their lives more fulfilling, more rewarding. All such efforts will fail ultimately unless they are in harmony with Jesus’ formula for life enrichment.
“We will live fulfilling lives, Jesus tells us, only to the extent that we cast ourselves in the role of servant of all — as he did.
“Witnessing in the world is essentially communicating God’s living presence,” Msgr. Corona continued. “A simple act of love, which any Christian disciple can perform, can be more effective than thousands of words in thousands of books.
“Hopefully, it comes as no surprise,” he concluded, “that, like Jesus’ first disciples, we are being called to turn the world upside down; and we begin this process one soul at a time, one child at a time, one person at a time.”
Following evening prayer, Bishop Bootkoski joined the honorees at a
reception. “I salute the people who really give of their time and talent to share with others and show the presence of God in their lives,” he said.
Program graduates felt their hard work was worth the effort. “It was tough, but it was something I needed to do,” said Carol Bevilacqua of St. Joseph, High Bridge, who completed the CORE I program. “I wanted to get a broader understanding of the faith. I thought I knew, but there were things I needed to refresh and renew in myself.”
“The way the world is today, we need God in our lives,” said RoseMarie Gladstone from Sacred Heart Parish, Manville. She said the CARE program taught her to be a better catechist and a better teacher.
Even those with an extensive background in educational ministry said they benefited from the program. Mercy Sister Mildred Rossiter completed the CORE I program. She is the parish catechetical leader for St. Matthew the Apostle Parish, Edison. “Regardless of my past experience, you always learn something you’re meant to hear at that particular time,” she said. “I enjoyed hearing wisdom from the people who presented to us.”
“There was a lot of sharing,” said Camille VanHorn, a parishioner from St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish, Bridgewater. She felt the CARE program’s lessons provided practical information. “I use it in everything. I am now able to really talk to the kids on a one-to-one level. That is a big difference.”
“It was one of the most worthwhile things I have ever done,” said Linda MacKenzie, a catechist from Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish, South Plainfield, who completed the CARE program and instructs third grade students. “I’ve learned a lot about teaching children, seeing things from their point of view.”
“I plan on going again, even if I don’t get credit for it,” she added. “I want to keep learning.
Certificate recipients
Felician College
Religious Studies Certificate
Nancy Conley, Our Lady of Peace, North Brunswick; Joann Gill, St. James, Woodbridge; Elaine Incorvaia, St. Thomas the Apostle, Old Bridge; Patricia Martin, DOM; Ann Mulroy, Mary Mother of God, Hillsborough; Marie Vallo, St. Ambrose, Old Bridge; Rosemarie Walter, St. Anthony, Port Reading; Maureen Willenbrock, St. Ambrose, Old Bridge; Joan Zayac, St. Cecelia, Iselin
Special Needs Resource Personnel
Kathleen Hartman, St. Matthias, Somerset; Joann Keefe, St. Peter the Apostle, New Brunswick; Tara Murphy, St. Matthew the Apostle, Edison; Angela Whitehead, St. Matthias, Somerset; Arras Praskach, Jr., St. Matthew the Apostle, Edison
CORE I
Carol Bevilacqua, St. Joseph, High Bridge; Joann Keefe, St. Peter the Apostle, New Brunswick; Deacon Richard Kenton, Our Lady of Czestochowa, South Plainfield; Mary Larsen, St. Mary, South Amboy; Terri Leinenbach, St. Ann, Hampton; Diane Luceri, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Three Bridges; Sister Lucille Nalbone, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Three Bridges; Jacqueline Niederle, St. Joseph, High Bridge; Sister Mildred Rossiter, St. Matthew the Apostle, Edison
CORE Complete
Colleen Cahill, Nativity of Our Lord, Monroe Township; Patricia Dorsi, St. Mary, Watchung; Sister Carlotta LaRocca, St. Edward the Confessor, Milford; Sister Donna Marie LaSorta, Immaculate Conception, Annandale; Cynthia Nemeth, St. Thomas the Apostle, Old Bridge; Sister Loretta O’Reilly, St. Magdalen de Pazzi, Flemington; Marietta Spagnola, St. Patrick, Belvidere; Cecelia Regan, St. Thomas the Apostle, Old Bridge
CARE
Natalie Almeida, St. Cecelia, Iselin; Diane Bielen, Sacred Heard, Manville; Beatriz Castaneda, St. Cecelia, Iselin; Rosemarie Charneski, Sacred Heart, Manville; Carol Cigler, Sacred Heard, Manville; Nancy Domin, Sacred Heart, Manville; RoseMarie Gladstone, Sacred Heart, Manville; Joann Keefe, St. Peter, New Brunswick; Lucille Link, St. Peter, New Brunswick; Linda MacKenzie, Our Lady of Czestochowa, South Plainfield; Dorothy Michaloski, St. Andrew, Avenel; Kristina Olenchak, St. Cecelia, Iselin; Dale Painton, Our Lady of Czestochowa, South Plainfield; Maria Piccirilli, St. John, Dunellen; Camille VanHorn, St. Bernard, Bridgewater; Celeste Gibbons, St. Bernard, Bridgewater
*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