By Chris Leslie | Staff Writer


The mood within St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, was that of a joyous, faith-filled family reunion during the annual Diocese of Trenton Catholic Schools Mass Oct. 15.

More than 800 students, teachers, administrators and parents representing 32 elementary and eight high schools in Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean counties shared their love of Catholic education and witnessed Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., declare, “Catholic schools help us to see the world through Jesus’ eyes and exist to help us answer the question, ‘What Would Jesus Do?’”

“For us as Catholics and Christians, the phrase ‘what would Jesus do’ is a great reminder, a great message for all of us to ask every day in all the things we do,” the Bishop said in his homily. “We find the answer here at Mass. Make it a point never to miss Mass because that’s what God asks of us: to love him in return and spend an hour a week with him. That’s how our Catholic faith grows.”

Hosted by the diocesan Office of Catholic Education, the Mass showcased the gifts of many students. Dozens led the opening procession, some bearing flags and banners emblazoned with the names and logos of their academic homes, others carrying 41 tokens of missionary life such as totems, carved bowls, tapestry, musical instruments and photographs. Others served as acolytes, readers, intercessors and choir members. In addition, 15 priests of the Diocese served as concelebrants alongside their Bishop at the annual celebration of Catholic school education.

Father Peter James Alindogan, director of the diocesan Office of Missions, noted the Mass, which was being held just days before World Mission Sunday, noted the presence of about a dozen priests, brothers and religious sisters in attendance and highlighted their work in spreading the Gospel message. In the past, these missionaries had been instrumental in presentations at diocesan elementary and secondary Catholic schools known as “Mission Reach-out Days.”

One such religious, Sister Lisa Valentini, a member of the Missionary Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, shared stories from her experience of 41 years of missionary service in Peru, Mexico, Haiti and the Dominican Republic in witness and song. The religious joked that her Irish-Italian background and strong will made her a challenge to her teachers, but a nun’s request to consider the religious life took root in her.

Reminding the students of Jesus’ admonition to the disciples to be fishers of men, Sister Lisa told the students, “Your mission is to go out into the world.” The sister then slid a guitar strap over her shoulder and encouraged the students to accompany her as she sang the song “This Little Light of Mine,” in both English and Spanish.

Following Sister Lisa’s humorous presentation, and as a reflection of the strong Marian devotion inside the cathedral named for the Blessed Virgin, Father Alindogan later led the students in praying a decade of the Rosary, using rosaries which had been blessed by the Bishop and distributed that morning.

In his homily, Bishop O’Connell noted the answer to the query “What Would Jesus Do?” may well be evident within their families and faith community, but more difficult to find in their schools and neighborhoods.

“Our teachers in Catholic school guide us and help shape our understanding of the world around us,” Bishop O’Connell said, adding that the faith-based institutions of learning “help us see the world through Jesus’ eyes…help us answer the question ‘What Would Jesus Do?’”

A highlight of the day of faith came after the reception of Holy Communion when JoAnn Tier, diocesan moderator of Catholic Education and superintendent of Schools, presented awards to a Catholic educator and two elementary schools of the diocese which had been recognized nationally for their excellence in mission.

Ann Reap, principal of Trenton Catholic Academy’s Lower School, was recognized for being named a 2015 National Distinguished Principal by the National Association of Elementary School Principals, one of only 59 elementary and middle school principals honored from across the nation and abroad. Reap had journeyed to the organization’s Washington awards ceremony; Sister of St. Joseph Dorothy Payne, the Hamilton school’s president, accepted the award from the Bishop on Reap’s behalf.

Tier also recognized two schools of the Diocese which had been named 2015 Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence by the United States Department of Education and the Council for American Private Education. Holy Cross School, Rumson, and Our Lady of Good Counsel School, Moorestown, were two of only 335 in the country, 50 of them private, to earn the honor.

Tier presented Holy Cross principal, William Belluzzi, and Our Lady of Good Counsel principal, Dr. Frank McAneny, with the gift of a plaque and a golden apple as their respective pastors, Father Michael Manning and Father Damian McElroy respectively, stepped forward from the group of concelebrants seated in the sanctuary to join the educators.

Catholic school students, faculty and staff alike proclaimed their pride in faith-based education and a God-centered curriculum.

Victoria Adams, a junior in Donovan Catholic High School, Toms River, noted, “It’s great to see how many different schools come together; this is proof of the presence of God.”

Sixth-grade student Kathryn Sebastian of St. Mary of the Lakes, Medford, reflected on the beauty of the Cathedral’s ornate ceiling, stained glass windows, statues and niches.  “I can learn more about Jesus,” she said, “and how he is expressed in the art of the Cathedral.”

Patricia Lieb-Nardi, the school’s art teacher, echoed, “One student told me, ‘This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see all this beautiful art, and it’s especially great to be present for a Mass with the Bishop’.”

JoAnn Giordano, who began her tenure as principal of St. James School, Red Bank, in September, called the Catholic Schools Mass inspirational and was happy to have students from her school gather with their peers from around the Diocese “to pray together.”

This Mass brings about “such a sense of unity,” said Giordano. “Even though we come from different schools, I feel that we are all one here at this Catholic Schools Mass. We are bringing to the forefront how strong we are being united in prayer.”

As a first-time visitor to the cathedral, Shannon Smith, an eighth grader in St. James School, marveled at the beauty and vastness of the worship space and reflected on how happy she is to receive a Catholic education in an environment where there is a “tight-knit community, people are close and strong in their faith.”

Up in the choir loft, Emily Swenarton and Liam MacKay commented on how excited they were that the choir from St. Rose High School, Belmar, was asked to provide the music for the Catholic Schools Mass.

“This is so great,” said Swenarton, as she commented on how hard the choir members worked to prepare for the Mass, as MacKay, her St. Rose classmate, commented on the “impressive” cathedral.

After the Mass, JoAnn Tier commented on the “wonderful day” it was to bring students from around the Diocese together and regarded how it was an event that “exceeded our expectations.”

“I loved the fact that we incorporated World Missions this year,” said Tier. Through Sister Lisa and Father Alindogan’s presentations, she said, “it’s an opportunity for students to hear how they are each called and are able to make a difference in the lives of others.”

McAneny, from Our Lady of Good Counsel, sat alongside the members of the school’s student council from grades four through eight. In addition to being recognized for the school’s good work, the Mass is a tradition that supports their mission, he said. “It’s good to see my colleagues all here for the same reason: we believe in Catholic education.”

Susan Buffa, the sixth- and seventh-grade religion teacher in St. Mary School, New Monmouth, was glad that her students were able to travel to the cathedral and see other students from around the Diocese.

“This is beautiful to bring us all together,” she said. “It’s great because it helps us to realize that we are part of a bigger community and the students can see that we are part of a vast Diocese.”