Golden Faith
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By Joseph Sapia, Rosemary Daniels and Dorothy K. LaMantia Correspondents
The prayer-filled contributions of older Catholics in this papal Year of Faith were explored and strengthened throughout the month of May in the Trenton Diocese. Hundreds of maturing adults eager to share fellowship and faith gathered in four parishes, one in each of the four counties of the diocese, for the Spirituality/ Education Days for Maturing Adults sponsored by the diocesan Department of Pastoral Care.
Spirituality Day for Maturing Adults: Burlington County gallery of photos
Spirituality Day for Maturing Adults: Mercer County gallery of photos
Spirituality Day for Maturing Adults: Monmouth County gallery of photos
The workshops, entitled “The Gift of Faith in Our Year of Faith,” featured spiritual presentations by Msgr. Walter Nolan, host of the diocese’s “The Catholic Corner” cable television show, and Father William J. Lago, chaplain in Monmouth University, Long Branch, and newly assigned pastor of sister parishes Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Highlands and St. Agnes, Atlantic Highlands.
An informative educational presentation by Doris B. Hudak, who went on a walking pilgrimage to Spain at the age of 76, was offered at each workshop. Hosts of the four workshops were St. Raphael/Holy Angels, Hamilton, May 1; St. Isaac Jogues Parish, Marlton, May 8; St. Catharine Parish, Holmdel, May 15, and St. Pius X Parish, Forked River, May 22.
During his two presentations, May 8 and May 15, Msgr. Nolan, known for his personality and good humor, entertained the group while recognizing their gift of faith.
The 80-year-old priest reflected upon the changes he has seen during his many years of ministry, including the advent of modern technologies. Admitting a reliance on his Blackberry, Msgr. Nolan combined spirituality and anecdotes to encourage participants to learn to adapt to the changes of life.
Msgr. Nolan reminded participants that it is the Year of Faith, and, especially, a year called to holiness, prayer, fasting and alms giving.
Referring to the Second Vatican Council's Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church, he said, “We are all called by ‘Ad Gentis’ to be missionaries, people of God animated ‘by love with which we are loved by God who desires that we should love one another with the same self love.’”
This call to holiness is supported by the vows through Baptism of chastity, poverty and obedience, Msgr. Nolan stated, explaining, “Chastity is seeing through the heart as Jesus saw … leading to compassion because God is compassionate, God is loving kindness. Poverty is the gift of simplicity which leads to trust in the loving God. Obedience is the virtue that gifts us with listening and hearing the word of God. Prayer is the key to listening to God.”
Finding God and having peace, said Msgr. Nolan, is knowing that “we are loved unconditionally by God. This love is covenant love not contract love.”
Father Lago drew parallels between Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s declaration of the Year of Faith and the parable of the mustard seed during his presentations May 1 and 22.
“Take a step back and use this as a spiritual retreat,” urged the priest. He asked his audience to meditate on how their faith has grown since the tiny mustard seed stage at their Baptism to its fullness now at their maturity. Quoting from the papal letter, Father Lago invited them to use the day “to shed light on the joy and enthusiasm of our encounter with Christ, and rediscover the journey of faith in new ways.”
In asking, “What are the Top Ten Reasons that you become joyful and excited about your Catholic Faith?” he engaged the audience and drew upon their personal spiritual experience. Father Lago enriched their responses, which included, “Celebrating Eucharist,” “Prayer,” “Words of absolution,” “Mary,” and “Realizing that the Holy Spirit enables us to be another Christ,” with quotes and from Sacred Scripture and Catholic saints and thinkers.
Hudak, 83, strode into each presentation, wearing hiking boots and floppy hat, knapsack on her back, hiking stick in hand. The Middletown resident recounted her May 2006 walk of the Camino de Santiago, or Way of St. James, a pilgrimage to Compostela in northern Spain. At 76, Hudak walked about 73 miles over eight days.
“Sometimes, when things are negative, we get very upset with life,” Hudak told the group. “I have found, if we hang in there, what was negative is my positive – and that’s my message to you.”
“Although my feet walked that pilgrimage, I didn’t do it alone,” Hudak said. “I needed the prayers of those back home.”
Information was available to participants, who were 55 and older, about diocesan ministries and services for seniors. “We’re looking to expand the spirituality in the lives of maturing adults,” said Janis W.
Bell, coordinator of the Ministry for Maturing Adults in the diocesan Department of Pastoral Care.
Seniors are “full of experience, knowledge and wisdom,” Bell said.
So, the diocese hopes the event would provide information on senior services and that attendees can share what they gathered at the event, Bell said. She said each parish should have a seniors group.
During Mass for one of the workshops, Father Phillip C. Pfleger, pastor of St. Isaac Jogues Parish, reminded congregants of their innate gift of patience.
“You have more patience than you’ll ever need, you just have to use it,” said Father Pfleger in his homily. “Same with God. You have more God than you need, you just have to use God.” He later told the congregation, “I’m thrilled to offer the space (of) our church. No matter which parish we belong to, we’re one Church.”
Participants were also treated to entertainment from local musicians and singers Tom DelMoore, who performed at the Mercer and Burlington County workshops, and Bruce Foster, who sang for the Monmouth and Ocean County events.
Maturing adult attendees were unanimous in their enthusiasm and appreciation for the store of knowledge and spirituality offered in the workshops.
“We come every year,” said Theresa Moitozo, 80, of Delran, who attended with her husband, Dave, 82. “It’s spiritually uplifting. We get a lot out of it.”
Susan Troutman, 60, of Hainesport said she came for “fellowship and friends.” She said she learned “life is good, to look for good in everyone.”
Three St. Benedict Parish members were no strangers to the annual event. Carol Byrne noted, “It’s always a lovely day. We see people we haven’t seen in a year. And the speakers are always great.” Ann Schafer chimed in, “These gatherings really make us sit back and think about life.”
Fellow parishioner Mary Jane Carey, a regular follower of Msgr. Nolan’s radio and TV ministry, was interested in hearing his thoughts in person.
“As a spiritual day, it’s just outstanding. It’s also a social day. I love to see all the friends from various parishes that I’ve met over the years. I’ve been coming to these annual meetings since the beginning.”
Irene McCarthy of St. Mary of the Lake Parish, Lakewood, commented, “We’ve been coming for a few years, and it gets better and better. We enjoy visiting the different churches, meeting the people, and representing our parish, too. We take so much away.
Her husband, Jim, added, “Tonight we have our RENEW group, and we will share what we heard today with our group.”
Gina Kaminski from St. Barnabas Parish, Bayville, said, “Every year we come. I look forward to it, because I really need it. It brings you back to the faith. Father Lago was so interesting. I just kept listening.”
“My whole Wednesday Scripture sharing group came today,” said Martha June Palan of St. Theresa Parish, Little Egg Harbor. “It’s amazing. I have never been able to get to one of these before. We need this every once in a while to refresh us. It’s like the Lord is saying, ‘Here are a few more gifts,’ and they have ripple effects when we bring them back to our communities.”
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By Joseph Sapia, Rosemary Daniels and Dorothy K. LaMantia Correspondents
The prayer-filled contributions of older Catholics in this papal Year of Faith were explored and strengthened throughout the month of May in the Trenton Diocese. Hundreds of maturing adults eager to share fellowship and faith gathered in four parishes, one in each of the four counties of the diocese, for the Spirituality/ Education Days for Maturing Adults sponsored by the diocesan Department of Pastoral Care.
Spirituality Day for Maturing Adults: Burlington County gallery of photos
Spirituality Day for Maturing Adults: Mercer County gallery of photos
Spirituality Day for Maturing Adults: Monmouth County gallery of photos
The workshops, entitled “The Gift of Faith in Our Year of Faith,” featured spiritual presentations by Msgr. Walter Nolan, host of the diocese’s “The Catholic Corner” cable television show, and Father William J. Lago, chaplain in Monmouth University, Long Branch, and newly assigned pastor of sister parishes Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Highlands and St. Agnes, Atlantic Highlands.
An informative educational presentation by Doris B. Hudak, who went on a walking pilgrimage to Spain at the age of 76, was offered at each workshop. Hosts of the four workshops were St. Raphael/Holy Angels, Hamilton, May 1; St. Isaac Jogues Parish, Marlton, May 8; St. Catharine Parish, Holmdel, May 15, and St. Pius X Parish, Forked River, May 22.
During his two presentations, May 8 and May 15, Msgr. Nolan, known for his personality and good humor, entertained the group while recognizing their gift of faith.
The 80-year-old priest reflected upon the changes he has seen during his many years of ministry, including the advent of modern technologies. Admitting a reliance on his Blackberry, Msgr. Nolan combined spirituality and anecdotes to encourage participants to learn to adapt to the changes of life.
Msgr. Nolan reminded participants that it is the Year of Faith, and, especially, a year called to holiness, prayer, fasting and alms giving.
Referring to the Second Vatican Council's Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church, he said, “We are all called by ‘Ad Gentis’ to be missionaries, people of God animated ‘by love with which we are loved by God who desires that we should love one another with the same self love.’”
This call to holiness is supported by the vows through Baptism of chastity, poverty and obedience, Msgr. Nolan stated, explaining, “Chastity is seeing through the heart as Jesus saw … leading to compassion because God is compassionate, God is loving kindness. Poverty is the gift of simplicity which leads to trust in the loving God. Obedience is the virtue that gifts us with listening and hearing the word of God. Prayer is the key to listening to God.”
Finding God and having peace, said Msgr. Nolan, is knowing that “we are loved unconditionally by God. This love is covenant love not contract love.”
Father Lago drew parallels between Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s declaration of the Year of Faith and the parable of the mustard seed during his presentations May 1 and 22.
“Take a step back and use this as a spiritual retreat,” urged the priest. He asked his audience to meditate on how their faith has grown since the tiny mustard seed stage at their Baptism to its fullness now at their maturity. Quoting from the papal letter, Father Lago invited them to use the day “to shed light on the joy and enthusiasm of our encounter with Christ, and rediscover the journey of faith in new ways.”
In asking, “What are the Top Ten Reasons that you become joyful and excited about your Catholic Faith?” he engaged the audience and drew upon their personal spiritual experience. Father Lago enriched their responses, which included, “Celebrating Eucharist,” “Prayer,” “Words of absolution,” “Mary,” and “Realizing that the Holy Spirit enables us to be another Christ,” with quotes and from Sacred Scripture and Catholic saints and thinkers.
Hudak, 83, strode into each presentation, wearing hiking boots and floppy hat, knapsack on her back, hiking stick in hand. The Middletown resident recounted her May 2006 walk of the Camino de Santiago, or Way of St. James, a pilgrimage to Compostela in northern Spain. At 76, Hudak walked about 73 miles over eight days.
“Sometimes, when things are negative, we get very upset with life,” Hudak told the group. “I have found, if we hang in there, what was negative is my positive – and that’s my message to you.”
“Although my feet walked that pilgrimage, I didn’t do it alone,” Hudak said. “I needed the prayers of those back home.”
Information was available to participants, who were 55 and older, about diocesan ministries and services for seniors. “We’re looking to expand the spirituality in the lives of maturing adults,” said Janis W.
Bell, coordinator of the Ministry for Maturing Adults in the diocesan Department of Pastoral Care.
Seniors are “full of experience, knowledge and wisdom,” Bell said.
So, the diocese hopes the event would provide information on senior services and that attendees can share what they gathered at the event, Bell said. She said each parish should have a seniors group.
During Mass for one of the workshops, Father Phillip C. Pfleger, pastor of St. Isaac Jogues Parish, reminded congregants of their innate gift of patience.
“You have more patience than you’ll ever need, you just have to use it,” said Father Pfleger in his homily. “Same with God. You have more God than you need, you just have to use God.” He later told the congregation, “I’m thrilled to offer the space (of) our church. No matter which parish we belong to, we’re one Church.”
Participants were also treated to entertainment from local musicians and singers Tom DelMoore, who performed at the Mercer and Burlington County workshops, and Bruce Foster, who sang for the Monmouth and Ocean County events.
Maturing adult attendees were unanimous in their enthusiasm and appreciation for the store of knowledge and spirituality offered in the workshops.
“We come every year,” said Theresa Moitozo, 80, of Delran, who attended with her husband, Dave, 82. “It’s spiritually uplifting. We get a lot out of it.”
Susan Troutman, 60, of Hainesport said she came for “fellowship and friends.” She said she learned “life is good, to look for good in everyone.”
Three St. Benedict Parish members were no strangers to the annual event. Carol Byrne noted, “It’s always a lovely day. We see people we haven’t seen in a year. And the speakers are always great.” Ann Schafer chimed in, “These gatherings really make us sit back and think about life.”
Fellow parishioner Mary Jane Carey, a regular follower of Msgr. Nolan’s radio and TV ministry, was interested in hearing his thoughts in person.
“As a spiritual day, it’s just outstanding. It’s also a social day. I love to see all the friends from various parishes that I’ve met over the years. I’ve been coming to these annual meetings since the beginning.”
Irene McCarthy of St. Mary of the Lake Parish, Lakewood, commented, “We’ve been coming for a few years, and it gets better and better. We enjoy visiting the different churches, meeting the people, and representing our parish, too. We take so much away.
Her husband, Jim, added, “Tonight we have our RENEW group, and we will share what we heard today with our group.”
Gina Kaminski from St. Barnabas Parish, Bayville, said, “Every year we come. I look forward to it, because I really need it. It brings you back to the faith. Father Lago was so interesting. I just kept listening.”
“My whole Wednesday Scripture sharing group came today,” said Martha June Palan of St. Theresa Parish, Little Egg Harbor. “It’s amazing. I have never been able to get to one of these before. We need this every once in a while to refresh us. It’s like the Lord is saying, ‘Here are a few more gifts,’ and they have ripple effects when we bring them back to our communities.”