By Mary Stadnyk | News Editor

Eight women marked a major milestone in the journey of their own faith lives and their commitment to serving in ministry when they were commissioned as lay ecclesial ministers for the Diocese of Trenton Dec. 15.

The commissioning ceremony took place during Morning Prayer held in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, with Father Douglas Freer, diocesan vicar for Catholic education, presiding.

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The newly commissioned lay ecclesial ministers and their parishes are: Joan Celiano, St. Mary Parish, Colts Neck; Deborah Gallucci, St. William the Abbot Parish, Howell; Donna Goodwin, Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Trenton; Linda A. Mueller, St. Joan of Arc Parish, Marlton; Lucy Premus, St. Rose of Lima Parish, Freehold; Janice Szarko, St. Anselm Parish, Wayside; Patricia Werthwine, St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square, and Kimberly Williams, St. Mary Parish, Colts Neck, and Precious Blood Parish, Monmouth Beach.

With the commissioning of the new class, the diocese now has 124 lay ecclesial ministers serving in the diocese in various areas of ministry in parishes and on diocesan levels. Each of the eight women has completed the three-year diocesan Institute for Lay Ecclesial Ministry program which provides for the spiritual, human, intellectual and pastoral formation of its candidates. Among the ways lay ecclesial ministers can serve include as directors/coordinators of parish religious education programs, pastoral associates, music ministers, parish business administrators and Catholic school educators.

Celiano is a resident of Manasquan, and currently serves as director of religious education in St. Mary Parish, Colts Neck. Gallucci lives in Howell and is employed as a certified public accountant with Neral & Co. Her parish ministries include serving on the parish council, chairperson of the fundraising committee and prayer shawl ministry.

Along with her membership in Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Goodwin, a resident of Lawrenceville, serves as coordinator of the diocesan Respect Life Ministry. Mueller lives in Marlton and serves as coordinator of religious education in St. Joan of Arc Parish. Freehold resident Premus serves on the baptismal preparation team and started the Jesus, Mommy and Me faith-based toddler/pre-school program in St. Rose of Lima Parish. Szarko resides in Clark and works as a professor of early childhood education in Borough of Manhattan Community College. In St. Anselm Parish, Szarko is active with the RCIA. Werthwine currently resides in Hamilton Square and is a member of St. Gregory the Great Parish where she is a member of the adult faith formation team. In addition, she is a certified spiritual director, and prior to joining St. Gregory the Great Parish, had been active in spiritual direction and perpetual adoration ministries in other parishes. Williams is a resident of Lincroft and the youth minister in St. Mary Parish, Colts Neck.

“What a great joy it is to be here to formalize eight leaders’ commitment to service, collaboration and to the Church’s teaching” through commissioning, said JoLynn Krempecki, associate director of the diocesan Department of Lay Formation, as she acknowledged the eight candidates.

Father Freer, in his homily, extended his own appreciation as well as that of Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., to the ILEM candidates for their willingness to participate in the ILEM program and their dedication to serving in ministry as lay ecclesial ministers. He also acknowledged all who came out in support of the candidates on their special day, namely the family members who journeyed with their loved ones over the past three years.

Father Freer referred to the reading that was proclaimed (Phil. 1:2-6, 9-11), in which St. Paul speaks of the gifts of faith, ministry and joy, and exhorted the ILEM candidates to carry out their respective ministries using those gifts.

During the rite of commissioning, Father Freer led the congregation in the renewal of their baptismal promises and then blessed the ILEM pins that were given to the candidates along with a certificate.

In keeping with the ILEM tradition, the newly commissioned lay ecclesial ministers showed their gratitude for the formation they had received through the ILEM program by presenting a monetary gift to the diocese’s Hurricane Relief Effort.

“This year, we realize that so many in our diocese have experienced devastating loss and ongoing suffering due to Hurricane Sandy,” said newly commissioned Szarko, in presenting the donation to Father Freer.

“May (this gift) speak of our commitment to live out our calling to serve the people of God in a formal relationship with the Church,” Szarko said.

“ILEM has been part of my journey to grow in my faith and I appreciate the opportunity to be recognized by the Church and to learn more about my faith on a deeper level,” said Premus.

Werthwine told of how ILEM helped to enhance her own understanding of the Catholic faith and “be better equipped to answer people’s questions about the faith.”

Though ILEM required a “lot of hard work,” Werthwine said that to now be commissioned is a “wonderful culmination of that hard work and it’s wonderful to share this day with my family and friends.”

“Today is like a new beginning for me in my ministry,” said Werthwine, as she reflected on her commissioning day.

Pastors of ILEM candidates such as Father Thomas Triggs of St. Mary Parish, Colts Neck, and Father James Conover of St. Rose of Lima Parish, Freehold, had encouraging words about ILEM and the ways in which lay ecclesial ministers can serve in their respective parishes.

Father Triggs was pragmatic when he said that he relies on qualified women and men to help him implement his vision for parish life.

“Obviously, to have a good, progressive parish, and being that I’m the only priest in St. Mary Parish, I need help and there are people who want to help and that’s wonderful’” said Father Triggs.

Acknowledging the newly commissioned candidates from St. Mary Parish – Joan Celiano and Kimberly Williams – Father Triggs noted how both women serve in youth-related  ministries.

“There are parishes where nothing is available for the kids,” said Father Triggs. “It’s like the kids are confirmed and then they are gone. That’s a whole generation that we as Church need to do something with and for. At St. Mary’s, Joan and Kim are excellent people working with the kids.”

Father Conover said he believes “it’s absolutely vital that programs like ILEM and other lay ministries in the Church” be encouraged and greatly supported.

“There are men and women who serve in our parishes as lay ministers and especially those who serve as lay ecclesial ministers, and they have much to offer not only in terms of education but also in terms of presence and of being a source of encouragement to their fellow parishioners,” he said.

Father Conover advises anyone who might be considering ILEM to “talk with other lay ecclesial ministers about their experiences.”

“That’s how vocations start and are nourished — through contact with others who are doing it,” he said.

Whether it is the priesthood, religious life or lay ecclesial ministry, “I think making a life commitment to any kind of vocation comes through other people,” said Father Conover.