By Rose O’Connor |Correspondent

For almost 100 years, Mount Carmel Guild, an outreach agency of the Diocese of Trenton, has served needy families in the City of Trenton and the surrounding areas. On Oct. 25, the Guild honored six women who also serve the community during the 18th Annual Gala in Trenton Country Club – Susan Evans, volunteer, St. Paul Parish, Princeton; Carole Moore, director of the children’s choir in St. Paul Parish, Princeton; Sister of St. Joseph Dorothy Payne, president of Trenton Catholic Academy, Hamilton; Judith Persichilli, member of St. James Parish, Pennington, and interim president and CEO of Catholic Health East and Trinity Health; Maureen Smitley, former administrator in St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square, and Karen Vernon-Stewart, a member of St. Mary Parish, Bordentown, owner of Petal Pushers.

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The women were recognized for their service to the residents of Mercer County.

The annual gala is the Guild’s largest fundraising event. This gala was the organization’s second largest in attendance, with almost 300 guests acknowledging and supporting the recipients and the work of Mount Carmel Guild.

“This is our single largest fundraising event for the entire year,” board trustee, Brian J. Duff, explained. “We operate on an extremely efficient yet tight budget.”

Daughter of Charity Sister Joanne Dress, diocesan executive director for Catholic Social Services, led the gathering in an opening prayer and offered remarks on behalf of Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M.

"Mount Carmel Guild provides wonderful service to the Greater Trenton area fulfilling Its mission of providing hope and preserving dignity," said Sister Joanne, who reflected on how the Guild has a food assistance program that provides and average of 1,800 bags of food per month to those in need as well as emergency assistance and holiday programs. The Guild’s nursing program provides free, in-home nursing and home health services to seniors whose Medicare insurance has been exhausted and have no alternative means of care.

Acknowledging the six women honored at the Mount Carmel Guild gala, Sister Joanne commended their service "in their respective fields" and how they are "truly an inspiration to us all."

"They embody the mission of the Guild which is about “providing hope and preserving dignity,“ she said.

Susan Evans, St. Paul Parish, Princeton, was acknowledged for work with the Girl Scouts, where she leads two troops in Princeton and organizes events for the Princeton Service Unit of Girl Scouts. She also has taught religious education for over 20 years in the diocese in both St. Paul Parish and St. Ann Parish, Lawrenceville. She acknowledged her own mother who instilled in her the desire to serve others. “It’s how I grew up,” she said of volunteering.

Carole Moore has shared her musical talents with the children of St. Paul Parish since 1987, when she and her now late husband became members of the parish. She has shared her love of music and song by serving as leader of many choirs at St. Paul’s including the children’s, girl, and boy choirs. She also is the moderator of the Teen Music Ministry in the parish. Her work with Music Together, an early childhood musical education program, has brought music curriculum to schools worldwide.

As a Sister of St. Joseph of Philadelphia, Sister Dorothy Payne has dedicated much of her life to Catholic education and has served as associate superintendent of education for the Diocese of Trenton, and has served as the president of Trenton Catholic Academy at McCorristin Campus, Hamilton, since its creation in 2005. She has represented the diocese on the National Catholic Educators Associate Planning Committee and has served as a trustee for the Mount Carmel Guild. She was awarded the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Award, the highest medal awarded to the laity by the papacy, last October at the Eucharistic Congress.

She acknowledged the Mount Carmel Board of Trustees for all of their work. “Mount Carmel Guild saves lives,” she stressed. “They are a blessing to their community, they’re an organization that goes around doing the simple things daily to provide service to all of those who they minister to.”

She also recognized Bishop Emeritus John M. Smith, who was in attendance, for his role in the establishment of Trenton Catholic Academy, “doing us the honor of forming our school … as he was one of our greatest supporters.”

Registered nurse, Judith Persichilli, is the former chief executive officer of St. Francis Medical Center, Trenton, and is currently the president and CEO of Catholic Health East. She was recently appointed the interim president and CEO of a new ministry that will be born as a result of a consolidation of Catholic Health East and Michiganbased Trinity Health. She has served on many community boards and agencies and has received several awards for her leadership in nursing and healthcare as well as humanitarian awards including the Benemerenti Medal, bestowed by Pope Benedict XVI for exceptional service to the Church. She resides in Pennington with her husband, the Honorable Anthony Persichilli, mayor of Pennington. She recognized the preferential option for the poor and vulnerable that are unique to Catholic hospitals and lauded Mount Carmel for their dedication to the poor. “At the end of the day, the Mount Carmel Guild is always there,” she said.

Maureen Smitley has been involved with early childhood education for almost 30 years in St. Gregory the Great Academy, Hamilton Square, where she has also been a parishioner since she herself was in kindergarten. In addition to serving as the director of the pre-school, Smitley also serves as the administrator of the Academy. On the parish level, she is active with the evangelization team and volunteers her time organizing and participating in hospitality activities, celebration and mission events. She acknowleged that she tries to live her life by the mantra accredited to St. Francis of Assisi, “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”

“Mount Carmel Guild is the true hero of our community and deserves our support this evening,” local business owner, Karen Vernon-Stewart, said after receiving her award. She is the president of Petal Pushers and its subsidiary, Magnolia-Exquisite Floral and Event Décor. She has spent many years in service to Mercer County by volunteering as a mentor of the Future Business Leaders of America in Mercer County College, and as the first female vice president and president of the Hamilton Township Rotary. She volunteers her time in Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, and is beginning her 15th year as a mentor in Kuser Elementary School in Hamilton. This year’s honorees were selected by the board’s fundraising committee and received a plaque from Mount Carmel Guild. Mount Carmel Guild was established by the Bishop Thomas J. Walsh and a dedicated group of women from the diocese in 1920. The Guild’s work of charity can be categorized into two groups, emergency assistance and home health nursing. According to the president of the board of trustees, Benedict J. Gioe, an average of 611 clients received more than a three-day supply of groceries monthly in 2012. The Guild has also assisted clients with situations involving the shut-off of utilities and the acquisition of necessary prescription medications. This past Thanksgiving the Guild provided 850 families with a holiday meal.

One full-time nurse and two parttime registered nurses visit approximately 50 patients weekly or bi-weekly. This nursing care includes managing of medications, blood pressure monitoring, and providing the necessary medical care that allows patients to maintain the autonomy and independence in their own homes.

As federal, state and local budgets are reducing contributions to non-profit organizations such as Mount Carmel Guild, the Guild continues to fulfill its mission daily.

“We provide quality client services with kindness and compassion,” executive director, Marie Gladney, expressed. “All of our services are free of charge to clients and patients.”

For more information on how to donate to the Mount Carmel Guild, visit www.mcgtrenton.org.