New synod commission begins work
By Chris Donahue
Staff Writer
PISCATAWAY — The diocese took another historic step in its relatively young life when the Commission for Synod Implementation met for the first time March 20 at the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center.
Comprised of members of the clergy, religious and lay people from a variety of backgrounds, the commission is charged with implementing the 59 norms promulgated by Bishop Paul. G. Bootkoski. The norms were gleaned from speak-up sessions of the first synod, which was held in conjunction with the diocese’s 25th anniversary.
Among the issues the commission will be addressing in the coming weeks is the eventual establishment of the Office for Implementation and prioritizing the norms, said Msgr. William Benwell, diocesan vicar general and an ex-officio member of the commission.
“An important part of the commission’s work will be dialogue and working with and getting on board with pastors, priests, deacons, religious, heads of diocesan offices and executive directors of departments,” he noted.
“This is not something that will be imposed by the implementation commission on departments and offices and parishes. This is an organic process that came out of the concerns of the people and it will be implemented working with all those groups; helping us to figure out the best way they can do it.”
Peg Garvey-Mitchell, facilitator of the Synod Commission, will assist the new commission in an interim capacity; Susan Kovach, administrative assistant, the chancery, will serve as interim support staff.
Members of the commission are:
Sara T. Acevedo
Sara T. Acevedo served as a speak-up facilitator with the Hispanic Community of Holy Trinity Parish, Perth Amboy and translated some of the material to Spanish. She also volunteered through the synod. She works in the diocesan Tribunal as an auditor and administrative assistant. She is a member of the parish council and the director of the Hispanic Choir at Holy Trinity.
Msgr. William Benwell
Msgr. William Benwell, diocesan vicar general and moderator of the curia, served as chairman of the Synod Commission. Bishop George W. Ahr ordained Msgr. Benwell to the transitional diaconate May 5, 1979, and Bishop John C. Reiss ordained him a priest in St. Mary Cathedral, Trenton, May 31, 1980.
Msgr. Seamus F. Brennan
Msgr. Seamus F. Brennan, pastor, Immaculate Conception Parish, Somerville, was ordained in Most Holy Trinity Cathedral at St. John College and Seminary in Waterford, Ireland, June 4, 1972. He has served as associate pastor, St. Barnabas Parish, Bayville; and St. Philip and St. James Parish, Phillipsburg; and pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish, Lambertville; and St. Matthew Parish, Edison.
Ted Ellis
Ted Ellis, a member of Immaculate Conception Parish, Somerville, served as a delegate to the first synod. In his parish, he serves as an extraordinary minister of the holy Eucharist; and is a member of the RENEW Core Group; stewardship committee; and an evangelization program. He owns an import-distribution business.
Clare Giangreco
Clare Giangreco served as a delegate to the synod; a member of the Synod Secretariat; facilitator for parish speak-up sessions; and liturgy subcommittee of the Synod Preparatory Commission. Giangreco is a member of the pastoral council, an extraordinary minister of the holy Eucharist and lector at St. Bartholomew Parish, East Brunswick. She is diocesan associate director of development, working in school development.
Erin Jones
Erin Jones was a delegate to the synod. She is a member of Sacred Heart Parish, also New Brunswick, where she is director of Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults; youth group advisor; lector; and extraordinary minister of the holy Eucharist. She was as an intern with diocesan Catholic Campaign for Human Development, and is about to begin an internship with the Cancer Institute of New Jersey, also New Brunswick.
Msgr. Gregory E. Malovetz
Msgr. Gregory E. Malovetz, pastor, St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Montgomery Township, represented the County Seat Deanery as a delegate to the synod. He has also served the diocese in numerous capacities, including membership on the presbyteral council and the Commission for Continuing Education of Priests. Msgr. Malovetz was ordained to the priesthood May 14, 1983.
Mercy Sister Elizabeth Mary O’Hara
Mercy Sister Elizabeth O’Hara of Mount Saint Mary, Watchung, served as a member of the Synod Commission and chairwoman of the Synod Sessions Committee. Sister Elizabeth professed her final vows Aug. 17, 1959, in Mount St. Mary. Sister Elizabeth has served the diocese on the World Trade Center Disaster Relief Program, Catholic Charities and is the diocesan advocate for sex abuse victims.
Cecelia (Cele) P. Regan
Cecelia (Cele) P. Regan of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Old Bridge, was a delegate at the synod and chairwoman of the Parish Life Topical Commission. She is parish catechetical leader at St. Thomas, where she has worked for 19 years.
Mercy Sister Alice Swartz
Mercy Sister Alice Swartz of Mount Saint Mary’s, Watchung, served as a delegate to the synod. She is chairwoman of the theology department at the Academy of Saint Elizabeth, Morristown, and an adjunct professor of theology at the College of Saint Elizabeth.
Judy Tabert
Judy Tabert of St. Thomas the Apostle, Old Bridge, was a member of the Synod Commission and co-chairwoman of the Topical Commission’s Caring for the People of God (Social Justice). Tabert has worked for the National Pastoral Life Center, New York, where she serves on Catholic Common Ground Initiative. She is also co-founder and immediate past president of the board of trustees of Milltown-based Interfaith Network of Care.
*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