By Mary Stadnyk, Associate Editor
With the new catechetical year set to officially begin on Catechetical Sunday, Sept. 15, nine women and men are poised to begin new leadership assignments in parishes around the Diocese of Trenton.
Lauren Cittadino is the new parish catechetical leader in St. Theresa Parish, Little Egg Harbor, where she has been a member since 2018. Her catechesis experience includes assisting with the first-grade class since last year.
Tracy Craig, a sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade catechist for 16 years in St. Joan of Arc Parish, Marlton, is now the parish catechetical leader. Craig succeeds Jessica Donohue, who became director of the diocesan Department of Catechesis.
Deacon Anthony Cullen brings some 25 years’ experience in catechesis to his role as parish catechetical leader/director of faith formation in St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel. In the Diocese of Brooklyn, he was involved with religious education and the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), and in St. Benedict Parish, he has been active with youth ministry, OCIA, youth and adult faith formation. He has also taught sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade religion in St. Benedict School.
Guadalupe Marin, a resident of Manahawkin and member of St. Mary Parish, Barnegat, is the new parish catechetical leader in Mother of Mercy Parish, Asbury Park. Her previous catechetical experience includes helping in the religious education program for Spanish-speaking students in St. Joseph Parish, Toms River, for two years and serving as a second-grade catechist in Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Lakewood, for four years.
Grace McClellan is excited to be of service as the new parish catechetical leader in her home parish, St. Francis of Assisi, Long Beach Island. The Surf City resident’s professional background is primarily in special education, and she is developing a Family Faith Formation class for children with special needs. The class, titled The Cupertino Class, is named after St. Joseph of Cupertino, patron saint of students and of those who struggle with learning.
Kathleen McGrorry of Avon-by-the-Sea is the new parish catechetical leader in St. Catharine-St. Margaret Parish, Spring Lake. Her home parish is St. Teresa of Calcutta, Bradley Beach, where she has taught faith formation, serves as youth minister and directs the parish’s Vacation Bible School. She has also taught faith formation in St. Gabriel Parish, Marlboro, and St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold.
Jennifer Morello is on familiar turf in St. Veronica Parish, Howell, having received her Sacraments from First Reconciliation through Matrimony there. Her previous experience includes four years of teaching religious education in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, where she taught students in multiple grades from second through eighth.
Mary Kate Sternik, the new coordinator of religious education/parish catechetical leader in Holy Innocents Parish, Neptune, brings a wealth of experience to her new position. For 11 years, she taught in Catholic Schools, the first three of which were in Pennsylvania. She spent the next eight years in the Diocese of Trenton at St. Leo the Great School, Lincroft, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, Asbury Park. She also served as coordinator of religious education for Mother of Mercy Parish, and last year she volunteered as a sixth-grade catechist in Holy Innocents Parish before she was named to her new position.
Michelle Trussell, a resident of Toms River, is the new parish catechetical leader in her home parish, St. Luke, Toms River. She has served there as the sixth- and seventh-grade catechist and also is the parish’s safe environment coordinator and an OCIA assistant