By Rose O’Connor and Lois Rogers, Correspondents

Parishes around the Diocese observed Catechetical Sunday the weekend of Sept. 15-16, recognizing catechists for the important role they play in handing on the faith to the next generation.

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s an act of love,” Joan Lope of the religious education office in St. Rose of Lima Parish, Freehold, said following Mass Sept. 16.

Catechetical Sunday, held each year on the third Sunday in September to recognize the men and women who serve as catechetical ministers, had as its theme this year “Enlisting Witnesses for Jesus Christ.” Many parishes in the Diocese held special commissioning ceremonies of their catechists and blessing of parents and guardians.

“Thank you for your ministry, your care, your concern and your love,” Father James Conover, pastor in St. Rose of Lima Parish, said in blessing the catechists for volunteering their time to the faith formation of approximately 900 children enrolled in the program.

Referring to the day’s Gospel reading in which Jesus asked Peter, “But who do you say that I am?” Father Conover, in his homily, said, “the first Catechism lesson is here.”

“Jesus explains that you must know that this Savior must suffer and be put to death,” he said. “Jesus does not need admirers. Jesus needs followers. Jesus said that there is no suffering, no death that is eternal with him.”

Directing his message to the catechists, Father Conover said, “This great love is what you share with our kids. You show them the Cross and the Death of our Lord, but most important, you show them the Resurrection. You share that kind faith; the living faith that encourages us to follow Jesus no matter what. Today we are called to carry the Cross with joy. That is what we share with our children – how to be followers of Jesus from death to life.”

Similar messages were conveyed in the parishes of St. Luke, Toms River, and Mother of Mercy, Asbury Park.

At the noon Mass Sept. 16, Father Robert Grodnicki, pastor in St. Luke Parish, exhorted those who teach religious education and in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults to rededicate themselves to the mission of handing on the faith and witnessing the Gospel.

He also urged parishioners to consider the importance of the programs to the future of the Church and how much the Church needs the cooperation of individuals.

“This is a day when people who don’t have children, for instance, get an indication of what goes on here every night,” said Father Grodnicki, noting that at the same time, 15 community groups are on campus for their activities.

“We have become our own evangelists,” he said. “It’s a place where everyone is welcome.”

In his homily the same day in Holy Spirit Church, Asbury Park – one of two worship sites of Mother of Mercy Parish – Divine Word Father Miguel Virella, pastor, recognized religion teachers.

“They do a great job teaching the children, and they are essential to the parish,” he said. “I am grateful to all the men and women who teach our children.”

A number of catechists indicated how their interest in ministry was sparked through observing the service of other teachers.

Karen Ketchum, a catechist in St. Rose of Lima Parish for 18 years, began volunteering when her own children were religious education students. After her children had moved on from their faith formation, Ketchum continued in her ministry.

“To see the kids’ faces when they understand something and to share my faith, that keeps me coming back every year,” she said.

Blanca Chiriboga, coordinator of religious education in Mother of Mercy Parish – where this year, some 332 children were expected in religious education classes and about 50 young people and a sprinkling of adults would enter the RCIA – recalled beginning as a volunteer in 2008 as a way to be with her children as they attended religious education classes in Neptune’s Our Lady of Providence Parish. She continued as that parish merged with three greater Asbury Park area parishes – Holy Spirit, St. Peter Claver and Our Lady of Mount Carmel – to become Mother of Mercy.

“I used to bring the kids, and I got very involved. I started going to different classrooms – second grade, third, seventh – I just loved it,” she said, noting that by 2011, there was an opportunity for her to join the staff as a bilingual secretary and eventually she became full time.

Chiriboga, who is in her second year as CRE and also serves as RCIA coordinator, sees the annual commissioning as a wonderful opportunity for everyone to rededicate themselves to the role each catechist plays “in this united parish mission of faith.”

“We are so happy that the parents are engaged and the children are interested and coming in,” she said.

Teresa Frasetto has devoted herself to the religious education program in St. Luke Parish since 1992. She was first assistant to the director of the program and is now coordinator of religious education to 41 catechists and more than 500 students.

“Being with the kids, knowing that they are growing in faith, that they know their prayers, you know you are making a difference,” Frasetto said. “I see the effect it is having on the generations. People who were students when I first arrived are now bringing their own children to the program.”

In Mother of Mercy Parish, catechists Jenny Gomez and Lourdes Hernandez smiled as they told of feeling upbeat about the 2018-2019 religious education year.

“We come to teach them that God loves them. We want to build everyone up,” Gomez said.