Filippini Sister Carolyn Houck, who has amassed more than 40 years of experience as a parish catechetical leader, principal and teacher, has become the newest PCL in St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square.
Sister Carolyn, who joined her religious community in 1964, earned an associate’s degree in elementary education from Villa Walsh, Morristown; a bachelor of science degree in that field from Seton Hall University, South Orange, and a master’s degree in religious studies from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Wynnewood, Pa. In addition, she earned a religious studies certificate from the Sacred Heart Congregation of Clergy, Rome.
She has served in a number of capacities in the Trenton Diocese over the course of her years of service, including retreat work in St. Joseph by the Sea, South Mantoloking; theology teacher in Villa Victoria Academy, Ewing, and principal in Holy Family School, Lakewood. Most recently, she served four years as parish catechetical leader in Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Trenton.
In addition to her role as PCL, Sister Carolyn also serves St. Gregory the Great Parish in adult faith formation, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and the GRACE (God Recognizes All His Children Equally) ministries for sensory-challenged young people.
Sister Carolyn, and roughly 50 other catechists, will begin the all-important task of supplying the Hamilton Square parish’s 840 religious education students with the building blocks to develop a closer relationship with the Lord. In addition, she will work collaboratively with Dr. Jason Briggs, principal of St. Gregory the Great Academy, to oversee religious education and sacramental preparation for those students. The longtime teacher of faith stated two goals for the upcoming year.
“We need to spend more time in preparation of the catechists, give them more enrichment and start a recruitment program,” Sister Carolyn said. “Also, it is important to get more parental participation.”
~ By Christina Leslie, correspondent