Bishop's Appeal donors gather for evening prayer
By Kathleen Ogle
Managing Editor
PISCATAWAY — Mary was held up as a model of stewardship as members of the Bishop’s Guild and the new Fidelis Society gathered for evening prayer in the chapel of the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center Oct. 7, the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.
The prayer service was led by Msgr. William Benwell, vicar general and moderator of the curia.
The Bishop’s Annual Appeal supports a wide variety of pastoral, educational and charitable ministries. The theme of this year’s appeal is “Continuing the Mission of Christ,” a reminder to the faithful that they carry forward the work of Christ himself under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
This year’s goal is $6.5 million.
In a reflection, Father Sylvester J. Cronin, executive director of the Department of Stewardship and Development, called Mary the first steward of Jesus Christ and discussed the ways she can assist the faithful in the practice stewardship. Referring to the Gospel story of the wedding at Cana (Jn 2:1-12), he said that Mary models the path of true stewardship through four steps:
• Participating in a close relationship with Jesus.
• Paying attention to the needs of the people around her.
• Asking Jesus to fulfill those needs.
• Allowing herself to be an instrument in the Lord’s providence.
“We must ask for the grace to approach our stewardship with the Blessed Mother,” Father Cronin said.
Speaking on behalf of Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski, who was unable to be present, Msgr. Benwell conveyed his profound thanks for the benefactors’ generosity to the diocese and its many ministries over the years.
“Tonight we inaugurate a new group within our Bishop’s Appeal benefactors, the Fidelis Society, people who have faithfully given to the Bishop’s Appeal for a decade,” Msgr. Benwell said.
Msgr. Benwell related how Bishop Bootkoski, as shepherd of the Diocese of Metuchen, relies on the faithful of the diocese to assist him. He thanked attendees “for being his assistants, his collaborators.”
He also acknowledged the “uncertain and precarious financial times” during which this year’s appeal is being conducted and reminded attendees of the needs of the poor.
“He wanted to remind us all that in tough financial times those who suffer first and who suffer the most are the poor and vulnerable,” Msgr. Benwell said. “So while we may have fears and uncertainties about our own financial condition and our own financial future, there are many in our midst, our brothers and sisters in Christ, who are even worse and whose situation will deteriorate if our economy worsens.”
Further, Bishop Bootkoski is increasing his own personal contribution to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal “to make up for those who are not able to give as much as in the past,” Msgr. Benwell said. “The bishop will never ask you to do anything that he is not willing to do himself.”
At a reception following the prayer service, Tim Rudderow, a member of St. John the Evangelist Parish, Lambertville, gave a presentation about why he and his wife, Judy, support the Bishop’s Appeal.
Rudderow, a convert to the Catholic faith, said he was inspired to become a Catholic when, one Sunday while attending Mass with his wife, he heard a visiting priest speak about a charitable effort for the poor in Haiti.
“We were captivated by his presentation, by the passion he showed in his concern for these people, but also by the happiness that radiated from him that he was able to do something about it,” Rudderow said.
“What I realized then was this concept, that we show our faith by our actions, was at the heart of the Catholic tradition and that true happiness comes from giving and sacrifice. I decided then and there to become Catholic,” he said.
Rudderow said while the demands of running an investment business limited the time he and his wife have for hands on charity work, they were in a position where they could support the work of others.
“What we have decided to do is to work to empower those people who are dedicating themselves to charitable efforts by supporting them financially,” he said.
“That is where the Bishop’s Annual Appeal fills a special place for us. With this one annual gift, we can support an impressive range of ministries.”
Of the many ministries supported by the Bishop’s Appeal, Rudderow mentioned hospital chaplaincy, Catholic schools, religious education and RCIA, the ministry that helped him become a Catholic.
“As we move away from the physical economy of our parents to one based more on information and knowledge, the visceral satisfaction that earlier generations felt with the completion of a job is certainly diminished. One can become spiritually drained,” he said.
“But by helping others, by turning our success back to the needy, we can find that happiness. Judy and I thank Bishop Bootkoski and all who work on the appeal for providing us such an excellent opportunity to be of service.”