Blanca Chiriboga, a native of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, believes that the parish community should be one of welcome and solace for the faithful.
“At times the community has negative aspects that can draw our children away,” she said. “Our parish should be a place where families – both young and old – can reach out for support, education and guidance.”
Chiriboga recently accepted the position of coordinator of religious education in Mother of Mercy Parish, Asbury Park, a position she sees as an opportunity for her to help provide that type of outreach and support.
A graduate of Asbury Park High School, she earned her associate’s degree from Brookdale Community College, Lincroft. She later studied in Georgian Court University, Lakewood, as a part-time student, where she took courses in Spanish and education. She said that she is considering returning to GCU to complete her degree, possibly in theology.
Chiriboga joined Our Lady of Providence Parish – now a part of Mother of Mercy Parish – prior to her marriage, and has been a parishioner since 1989. She began in 2008 serving as a volunteer in the religious education program she now leads, an opportunity she attributes to building her familiarity with the various aspects of the program.
She joined the Sunday Spanish choir in her parish in 2010 while continuing to serve as a volunteer, and in 2011 she became the bilingual secretary for the program. That role involved a number of administrative tasks, as well as assisting with rehearsal for Sacramental celebrations and various meetings and workshops for catechists and parents.
In her newest role, Chiriboga expressed her hopes to continue working with children and adolescents to encourage “their spiritual growth and connection,” while helping to integrate new families into the parish community and working with the local and diocesan communities.
“Our parish can serve as a vehicle for positive growth in God and a belief system,” she said.