By Joseph Sapia | Correspondent

As a sailor, Father Harold Cullen knows about wind at his back and moving forward. Father Cullen, pastor of St. Jerome Parish in West Long Branch, and St. Mary Parish in Deal, had just heard Father Joseph Creedon, a retired priest from the Diocese of Providence, R.I., say parishes should quit looking to the rowers of boats. Someone rowing a boat goes forward by looking backward, Father Creedon said.

“We need a lot more sailboat people,” said Father Creedon, the final-day speaker at this year’s Diocese of Trenton Priest Convocation held Sept. 10-12 in Avalon. “You have to catch the wind, the Spirit of God.”

Father Creedon’s approximately onehour talk tied in with this year’s convocation theme: “Stewardship,” or the idea of planning and carrying the planning forward.

“I was struck by the image of the rowboat and sailboat,” Father Cullen said. “You have to be in tune with the wind and currents.” Within days of the convocation – attended by about 160 of the Trenton Diocese’s approximately 250 active, retired and visiting priests – Father Cullen was to meet with St. Jerome’s pastoral council. He will bring up the point about being creative. “Step back and think about the parish,” Father Cullen said. “Think creatively and in a new way about the parish, what we can do.”

Msgr. Casimir “Casey” Ladzinski, retired pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Bay Head, who later gave the homily at the closing Mass, said Father Creedon “talked out of experience.”

“We all have a ministry in the Church,” Msgr. Ladzinski said. “Once you’re baptized, you’re in the ballgame. If everybody does their part, they win the ballgame.”

The convocation has been an annual event in the diocese for about 30 years, said Msgr. Thomas J. Mullelly, episcopal vicar for clergy and consecrated life.

This year’s stewardship theme was suggested by the priests, as will next year’s theme.

The convocation has “multiple importance,” said Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M.

“The topic, we hope, will resonate and be of some assistance in their ministry,” Bishop O’Connell said.

The convocation, according to the bishop, also allows priests to mingle with one another.

“The spirit has been outstanding,” Bishop O’Connell said. “They’ve enjoyed the prayers and Masses together. Any time I have to be with the priests is a joyful time.”

The setting, too, was relaxing: the Golden Inn Hotel and Resort on the oceanfront. Dress fit the atmosphere: shorts and jeans; polo and Hawaiian shirts; sneakers, flip-flops and sandals.

with our brother priests,” said Father Joseph A. Jakub, pastor of Corpus Christi Parish in Willingboro.

Get-togethers that are large gatherings of the diocese’s priests are rare, held perhaps a few times a year, according to those attending.

“I think for most guys that’s the highlight: pray with one another, talk with one another and hopefully, grow in priestly identity,” Father Jakub said.

“The camaraderie is excellent,” said Father Angelito I. Anarcon, pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Farmingdale. “And, of course, the prayers. We extend the opportunity to talk, sit down, share prayer life and experience in the parish,” he said.

Convocation speakers were Bishop Donald F. Hanchon, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit, on Wednesday, and Michael Murphy, executive director of the International Catholic Stewardship Council, which advocates stewardship in the Church, on Tuesday.

On the convocation’s last day, Father Creedon was asked to focus concretely on stewardship.

“If we’re not happy with what we’re doing, it’s apparent (to parishioners),” said Father Creedon, adding priests are a group not being properly replenished. “…How vibrant is your parish. And how vibrant do you want it to be?”

Father Creedon noted how practicing the faith is on the decline.

Father Creedon said, “If it wasn’t for immigrants, our numbers are going down.”

Provide a Church that nourishes and the hungry will come, Father Creedon said.

Perhaps the Catholic Church should follow reality television – “What if we had a program, ‘Parish Makeover’?” Father Creedon said.

“(Former Speaker of the House) Tip O’Neill used to say, ‘All politics is local,’” Father Creedon said. “All church is local church.”

Instead of asking for volunteers – “Volunteerism is optional” – ask for disciples, Father Creedon said.

“We’re looking for disciples, stewards,” Father Creedon said. “We’re offering you opportunities to work on your Baptismal commitment.”

At Father Creedon’s church, parishioners maintain the lawn, rather than paid workers, he said.

“It invites ownership,” Father Creedon said. “If they drive in on Sunday and there’s a piece of paper on the lawn, they say, ‘Johnny, get that paper.’” Father Creedon suggested priests greet people at Mass, have terms for readers and extraordinary ministers of holy Communion so they do not become stale.

“Try to learn as many names as you can,” Father Creedon said. “If someone is sick, care about them. If somebody’s in a hospital, visit them.”

After Father Creedon spoke, Father Cullen told him his talk was very good.

“It challenged the way we do things,” Father Cullen said. “It made me think about the role I play with the parish.”