By Mary Stadnyk | Associate Editor

Religious education should be more than just teaching students about the Catholic faith. It’s an education that’s also intended to teach them how to build and be a part of a community.

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Such was the message students, their family members and catechists representing the Diocese’s Holy Innocents Society chapters were reminded of when they came together for a Mass and luncheon held Nov. 2. Hosted by the Burlington County chapter, this year’s Mass was celebrated in St. Joseph Church, Beverly, a worship site of Jesus the Good Shepherd Parish, Riverside, by Msgr. Joseph Rosie, pastor of St. Paul Parish, Princeton.  A luncheon followed the Mass in the Riverton Country Club.

As she looked out to the gathering of some 160 in attendance, Pat Hertz, president of the diocesan Federation of Holy Innocents Society, reflected on how the Nov. 2 event was designed to recognize the work of the society which is a diocesan -based ministry that has as its mission to provide religious education and sacramental preparation for persons with physical and developmental disabilities. The society operates through its county chapters in six centers: Jesus the Good Shepherd Parish, Riverside; Burlington County; Divine Mercy Parish-Holy Cross Church, Trenton, Mercer County; St. Mark Parish, Sea Girt, and St. Mary Parish, New Monmouth, Monmouth County; St. Martha Parish, Point Pleasant, and St. Justin the Martyr Parish, Toms River, Ocean County.

“This is a day for us to celebrate who we are as a community,” said Hertz, who noted that next year, the diocesan federation will mark its 50th anniversary and the plan is to have a golden jubilee celebration Oct. 24 in St. Justin the Martyr Parish.

Speaking of the students enrolled in the society, Mertz said in all there are about 130 who are of varying ages with disabilities including Down Syndrome, autism and cerebral palsy. The centers provide religious instruction, sacramental preparation as well as activities that are recreational and social in nature. The students attend weekly instruction as well as Mass and are trained to serve as altar servers, readers and music ministers. She noted how some chapters, such as the one in St. Justin the Martyr Parish, have two sessions, keeping in mind that there are some adult students who have an appreciation for learning more about the Church and topics such as Lectio Divina.

In his homily, Msgr. Rosie reflected on the Feast of All Souls, noting how it was a day when the universal Church is mindful of “all who had shared the gift of faith before us and those we commend and have given back to God.”

“Today is not a day to be sad; it’s a day for us to rejoice in God’s faithfulness, to learn about him and building his kingdom here on earth,” said Msgr. Rosie.

“We might miss the people in our lives that we have given back to the Lord, but today is also a day for us to remember that they are in heaven and that one day we will be in heaven with them. A bigger celebration awaits us.”

Catechists in attendance expressed gratitude for the opportunity to celebrate their special ministry of service to the Holy Innocents Society.

For Bill Anderson, a catechist in St. Justin the Martyr Parish for 15 years, told of how he became involved with the Holy Innocents Society through his sister-in-law, who had Down Syndrome.

“I saw how the Holy Innocents Society helps those special folks to feel welcome and a part of the Church and I wanted to be part of that,’ said Anderson, noting that although his sister-in-law died about five years ago, he and his wife continue to serve in the society.

As she looked at her disabled adult son, David, Joan Skudera of Christ the King Parish, Long Branch and president of the Monmouth County chapter, reflected on becoming involved with Holy Innocents Society in 1971 and the impact the society has had in her family’s life.