Celine Fowler -- St. Joseph Parish, Toms River
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
With a nod to the past and an eye toward the future, Celine Fowler has recommenced her long-time mission as director of religious education in St. Joseph Parish, Toms River.
Fowler, who headed the program for two decades, had devoted her efforts to the active social concerns committee in St. Joseph Parish for four years. But when the pastor, Father G. Scott Shaffer, asked her to consider returning to the religious education program this fall, she quickly agreed.
“I just recycled myself back in,” said Fowler, a member of the parish since 1987. She said she is looking forward to reconnecting with the team of catechists in St. Joseph who function as a family.
“I’m happy to do it again,” she said.
Fowler brings to the ministry a wide scope of experience gleaned from her years as an educator and administrator in Catholic schools in Philadelphia and around New Jersey including St. Raymond School, North Cape May, where she was the principal,
St. Teresa School, Runnemede and Annunciation School, Philadelphia.
She graduated from Little Flower High School, Philadelphia, and went on to receive a bachelor of arts degree in English, with a minor in music from Immaculata College (now University), Immaculuata, Pa., and a master’s degree in administrator from Rowan University (then Glassboro State College).
Over the years, she also received certificates in various educational disciplines from Georgian Court University, Lakewood.
Among the goals she is setting for the religious education program attended by approximately 1,000 youngsters in kindergarten through eighth grade is revamping and reinvigorating the program for seventh and eighth graders.
Based on a youth ministry model, the students will gather on two Sundays per month for the 5 p.m. Mass with contemporary music. After Mass, they’ll attend small group sessions with catechists where they can discuss a wide range of topics on subjects that affect them.
Working with the members of the religious education team and the ministry to adults, Fowler said the intention is to reach out to families as a whole, encouraging parents and children to engage in parish life as they enter into a fulfilling relationship with Jesus.
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With a nod to the past and an eye toward the future, Celine Fowler has recommenced her long-time mission as director of religious education in St. Joseph Parish, Toms River.
Fowler, who headed the program for two decades, had devoted her efforts to the active social concerns committee in St. Joseph Parish for four years. But when the pastor, Father G. Scott Shaffer, asked her to consider returning to the religious education program this fall, she quickly agreed.
“I just recycled myself back in,” said Fowler, a member of the parish since 1987. She said she is looking forward to reconnecting with the team of catechists in St. Joseph who function as a family.
“I’m happy to do it again,” she said.
Fowler brings to the ministry a wide scope of experience gleaned from her years as an educator and administrator in Catholic schools in Philadelphia and around New Jersey including St. Raymond School, North Cape May, where she was the principal,
St. Teresa School, Runnemede and Annunciation School, Philadelphia.
She graduated from Little Flower High School, Philadelphia, and went on to receive a bachelor of arts degree in English, with a minor in music from Immaculata College (now University), Immaculuata, Pa., and a master’s degree in administrator from Rowan University (then Glassboro State College).
Over the years, she also received certificates in various educational disciplines from Georgian Court University, Lakewood.
Among the goals she is setting for the religious education program attended by approximately 1,000 youngsters in kindergarten through eighth grade is revamping and reinvigorating the program for seventh and eighth graders.
Based on a youth ministry model, the students will gather on two Sundays per month for the 5 p.m. Mass with contemporary music. After Mass, they’ll attend small group sessions with catechists where they can discuss a wide range of topics on subjects that affect them.
Working with the members of the religious education team and the ministry to adults, Fowler said the intention is to reach out to families as a whole, encouraging parents and children to engage in parish life as they enter into a fulfilling relationship with Jesus.
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