Top photo caption: Mission: Jersey 2026 participants sort food items during their visit to a Freehold outreach organization. Marianne Hartman photo
A message from Rayanne Bennett, Associate Publisher
I received an email from one of our wonderful principals this week and noticed the unusual salutation: Peace! Happy July 36th! 🙂 Â
I am sure this is a well-known quip among educators of all stripes, and understandably so. While we at The Monitor do not work according to a school calendar, the aspirational humor is not lost on us. The message is clear: Summertime goes too quickly for most of us – unless, of course, you are home every day trying to keep four youngsters occupied and out of each other’s hair.
From a Catholic news perspective, there is a slight slowdown during the summer, but you would never really know it from the pages of The Monitor. The Diocese, the parishes and even the schools often use these summer weeks to tie a bow on those large projects, plan special initiatives for the coming months, and make or embrace key changes in leadership and operations. That is what readers will find in this August issue.
Allow me to start with the changes we are announcing for The Monitor. I hope readers will take in the news about our staff changes as we welcome Kasia Anderson as managing editor and note a change in responsibilities for Joanne Kryzwulak, who will now serve as our advertising sales representative. (See page 30.)
As always, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., shares his insight, writing this month on the Feast of the Assumption and the call for prayers by the U.S. Bishops to end the spread of abortion. The Bishop has returned from his own summer break and is visiting with priests and others as he gears up for the busy months ahead.
Priorities on his schedule – among many other events – are the upcoming Mass for the Care of Creation on Sept. 1 (see page 16) and the Mass to commemorate the 25th anniversary of 9/11 (see page 29).
In addition to the Bishop, a consistent favorite focus for our readers is coverage of our priests. This month we bring readers two very special stories. First, the tremendous progress made by Father J.C. Garrett, who received a donated kidney made possible by a local organ donor. Readers not only get to follow Father Garrett’s journey but also meet the wonderful young woman who made a life-changing decision to help. (See pages 18, 19)
Another priest story – and long overdue – is that of Father Dave Swantek who, through his online ministry as well as his pastoral work over the years in Alaska, is serious about the mission of bringing Jesus to the world. (See pages 20, 21.)
Perhaps one of the most remarkable packages in this issue is that of MISSION: Jersey. We report on some 125 teens who set aside typical summertime activities to be of service to those in need. They offer us great inspiration, as does the teenage founder of one organization who makes hospital gowns for children and teens. Be sure to check out LIVING THE GOSPEL, beginning on page 10.
Whether you continue to consider this an extended July or are gearing up for an exciting new experience this fall, we hope that all of our readers make the most of the last weeks of summer. Remember to take The Monitor with you when you have your getaways. God bless!