For children and families across the diocese, September marks the return, not only to school, but to formal religious education, as well. Parish programs of various shapes and sizes providing faith formation, experiences of prayer and worship, and, often, opportunities for service, are shepherded by catechetical leaders who also serve as role models and witnesses to the faith for young disciples. Meet this year’s new catechetical leaders:

Julio Alvarez
St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton 

While Julio Alvarez is thrilled to be stepping into his new role as coordinator of religious education at St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, serving his parish is something that is all but new.

“I have been involved in my parish for roughly 15 years,” said the 43-year-old, who has served as a catechist in the parish religious education program, Confirmation and RCIA classes. In his new positions, he will also be in charge of faith formation for the parish as well as religious education for youth.

Alvarez moved to Lawrenceville from Puerto Rico in 1997, and after searching for a Spanish-speaking parish, he found the local Cathedral along with his parents and sister, and the rest is history. Ever since joining his newest parish community, faith formation has become a passion and a calling.

“For me, it is very important,” he said. “You are not only learning about your faith, but you are receiving the Sacraments. You commit to be a follower of Christ.”

Aside from fostering increased faith formation among fellow teachers, he said that his primary goal is to make sure young Catholics receive the tools to build a life of faith, and to integrate both prayer and service into their lifestyle.

That same formation has also led him to consider whether a vocation, potentially the diaconate, is in his own future with the Church.

Fillie Duchaine
St. James Parish, Red Bank

Fillie Duchaine, St. James’ new religious education coordinator, has transported her love of Catholicism across the East River to enrich the faith lives of the roughly 400 children in the Red Bank parish’s program. The Italian-Catholic Brooklyn native, baptized as Philomena after her aunt, will now share her city-honed skills guiding the 37 teachers and aides instructing suburban youth in the kindergarten through eighth grade.

Duchaine attended two years of college then graduated from the Diocese of Brooklyn’s three-year “Training in Ministry” course which immersed its students in scriptural text and sacramental study. She served the parish of her youth, Our Lady of Grace, in the Gravesend section of Brooklyn, for 25 years, 20 of them as head of its RCIA program. Duchaine and her husband, Ron, relocated to New Jersey six years ago; they have three grown sons, two of whom are on active duty in the Army.

Despite the “whirlwind, trial by fire” first-day orientation for parents and children, Duchaine was still upbeat in a recent conversation with The Monitor. “I am looking at [religious education] with an RCIA perspective,” she admitted. “At orientation, I spoke from my personal experiences, with faith sharing. Religious education is not just a class, not a subject to memorize. I asked parents and teachers to teach students how to pray, to lean on God. The Lord is a friend to take you through.”

The grandmother of “eight grandchildren with one on the way,” shared her philosophy of religious education with the same reverent marvel shown by her long-ago RCIA students. “Catholic faith will give you the tools for survival. It offers a way to survive what life brings,” Duchaine asserted. “It keeps you positive and loving, helps you to persevere. It’s a very positive faith, very uplifting. I hope I bring that to the program.”

Martin McMahon 
St. Ann Parish, Keansburg

Ask Deacon Martin McMahon to talk about himself, and he shuns the spotlight.

McMahon prefers to reflect the spirit of the Eucharistic prayer: “We thank you for counting us worthy to stand in your presence and serve you.”

Ordained a deacon on May 8, 2004, McMahon served in St. Mary, New Monmouth and St. Catherine Laboure, East Keansburg, and found meaning and purpose in working with the needy and the sick. 

As of July 1, McMahon moved to St. Ann, Keansburg where he serves as coordinator of religious education and pastoral associate. He credits his wife Marie, who was administrator of religious education in St. Mary, New Monmouth, with “preparing me for what’s being asked of me now.” McMahon attended public grammar schools in Jersey City.  His high school years took him to Marist High School in Bayonne then St. Aloysius High School for his senior year, where he met Marie, the love of his life.  Now married for 28 years and the parents of two sons, Martin, Jr. and Matthew, the couple always celebrates Feb. 18, the anniversary of their first date.

McMahon sees the hand of God in all he does. “I pray for the Holy Spirit to direct me as I minister to others.  I am not the brightest bulb on the tree, but I’m on it.  The Holy Spirit gives me the right words to say, and the right things to do in a situation.”

Pedro J. Moncada
St. Anthony of Padua, Hightstown

For Pedro J. Moncada, the greatest reward in serving in the ministry of religious education has been to “witness kids flourish into young adults living the Gospel of Christ through their lives.”

“I have seen many young men and women discern vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life. I’ve witnessed young couples courting each other while together they discern God’s will for their lives. I have seen youth rejecting the evils of alcohol, drugs, promiscuity and violence and for this reason I am truly looking forward to serving in St. Anthony of Padua Parish through the religious education program,” he said.

The new director of religious education in the Hightstown-based parish was born in Quito, Ecuador, and grew up in Brooklyn. Sixteen years ago, he and his parents and siblings moved to Dunellen, where he currently resides. Though he started out as an advertising art major in Seton Hall University, South Orange, he had a change of heart when he realized he might have a vocation to the priesthood. He transitioned to Immaculate Conception School of Theology, but continued his education at Seton Hall, earning a bachelor’s degree in education. He is currently working on a master’s degree in systematic theology.

While in the seminary, Moncada traveled on various missions sponsored by the Archdiocese of Newark, including two years in Estonia and several months serving in Oregon, Ohio, New York and New Jersey. He was mostly involved in youth ministry work, adult catechesis, lecturing, tutoring in various languages and evangelization. Upon his returning to Dunellen, Moncada worked as assistant director of religious education in his home parish, St. Mary, Plainfield.

Moncada said he anticipates the new religious education year to begin on an exciting note with the diocesan Eucharistic Congress in October and the start of the Year of Faith that announced by Pope Benedict XVI.

“I am convinced that the Holy Spirit will lead us throughout the year,” he said.

Nancy Riddell
Corpus Christi Parish, Willingboro and
St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Farmingdale

Nancy Riddell is doubly blessed to share her love of the Catholic faith with children in not just one parish, but two. She is the new director of religious education in Corpus Christi Parish, Willingboro, and the new catechetical leader in St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Farmingdale.

The wealth of educational credentials that Riddell brings to her new positions includes a bachelor’s degree in religious studies from Georgian Court University, Lakewood. She is currently pursuing graduate studies in theology in Georgian Court. On a diocesan level, she was commissioned a lay ecclesial minister through the Institute for Lay Ecclesial Ministry program in 2005, and has also completed several diocesan certificate programs including catechist, youth ministry and twice the Certificate Program for Administrators, in which she concentrated on religious education and the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults.

Parishes where Riddell has served prior to joining Corpus Christi and St. Catherine Parishes include St. David the King Parish, Princeton Junction, where she was director of youth ministry and later named associate director of religious education. In Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Mercerville, she was assistant director of religious education, and oversaw the youth ministry, adult faith formation and Renew 2000 programs and chaired the liturgy committee. In St. Anthony Parish, Hamilton, she was coordinator of religious education and chaired the discipleship committee, which served several charitable functions.

Riddell, who lives in Cranbury and is the mother of two grown sons, Roger and Ian, noted that she is looking forward to beginning her dual ministry in Corpus Christi and St. Catherine Parishes which she described as being “two very diverse communities” and working in collaboration with “two wonderful pastors and witnessing the growth and spirit of both parish communities.”

She also acknowledged enjoying “the fellowship of the adults who volunteer their time to the programs. I enjoy encouraging the adults to exercise their creativity in reaching out to the students. It is seeing the God given gifts being sown in a parish community that really brings me joy.”

Tammy Sablom
St. Catharine Parish, Spring Lake

Tammy Sablom, St. Catharine Parish’s new coordinator of religious education, had served as a catechist in the Spring Lake church’s program for the past decade, and spent several years assisting the parish director of religious education before assuming her new position in catechetical leadership. Beginning this September she will shepherd 28 teachers and aides in their instruction of about 600 children grades one through eight.

A native of Neptune, Sablom recently celebrated her 17th wedding anniversary with husband Jim; the couple has two teenage daughters. The stay-at-home mother is working towards a diocesan certificate for catechetical leaders.

Sablom believes Catholic education is a timeless answer to many modern problems. She advocates children learn their faith “for the morality of it. It is very important in today’s times and with today’s technology. We need to get back to our roots of faith to understand the world,” she asserted.

MaryPat Scordato
St. Mary of the Lakes Parish, Medford

In the eight years MaryPat Scordato has been involved in the Parish Religious Education Program in St. Mary of the Lakes Parish, Medford, she worked and ministered alongside former director of religious education, Kathleen Sheridan. Now with Sheridan’s recent retirement, Scordato steps into the role as the parish’s new catechetical leader, taking charge of a religious education program that has more than 1,200 children enrolled and operates under a team of more than 100 catechists, aides, office volunteers and helpers.

“Working in St. Mary of the Lakes is a pleasure,” Scordato said. “The PREP staff is comprised of the most amazing individuals who make it all look so easy. Our volunteers are angels; they show men every day what it means to walk with God. God certainly blessed me when he led me here.”

Scordato and her husband, John, have been married 32 years, and they are the parents of two grown daughters, Kate and Laura. Scordato is a graduate of Paramus Catholic High School, Caldwell College and she holds a master’s degree in teaching from The College of New Jersey, Ewing.

Though she worked in the “business world” for many years, Scordato has remained active in her faith as well. She was an involved parent when her daughters attended St. Ann School, Lawrenceville, and many years ago she also had an opportunity to serve on a diocesan level when she co-hosted the cable television show, Catholic Cablecast, which was produced by the Office of Communications. She also served as a catechist in the religious education program in Sacred Heart Parish, Mount Holly, the parish her family joined upon moving to Burlington County.

“I cannot pick just one part of ministry that I find the most gratifying, but I must admit I love lining up the second graders as they are about to receive the Sacrament of the First Eucharist,” Scordato said. “That is definitely a grace-filled experience for me.”

Tamara Seidle
Holy Spirit and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parishes, Asbury Park

Tamara Seidle, the coordinator of religious education for Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Holy Spirit Parishes, has a formidable task this year. She and her staff of 38 teachers and aides will bring together into one religious education program all of the children from the four parishes that were consolidated into  two – Holy Spirit and Our Lady of Mount Carmel parishes in July.

Seidle will be working in collaboration with Divine Word Father Florencio Lagura, parochial vicar for Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Holy Spirit Parishes, who has been assigned by the pastor, Divine Word Father Miguel Virella, to guide and support the Lifelong Faith Formation efforts of the parish.

The new CRE expects between 500 and 600 students ranging from grade kindergarten through seventh, with an eighth-grade class expected to begin next year; Seidle also expects members of the Haitian community might send their children to learn the faith.

Seidle, who was a member of the former Our Lady of Providence Parish in Neptune, served as altar server coordinator, reader and Eucharistic minister for years. The mother of nine children ranging in age from four to 21, Seidle is a recent breast cancer survivor who has taught religious education in both the Trenton and Metuchen Dioceses for over two decades.

She believes religious education is an essential building block in a child’s character development. “It’s going to form their lives,” Seidle said. “Every child will encounter a situation where they are tested, and if there is no answer to God, there will be no answer to life. They may not grasp everything,” she continued, “but they will go back to that foundation to help them.”

Darlene Wilson
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Community, Fort Dix

After more than 15 years as a parish musician and choir director, Darlene Wilson answered a call she long felt to lead a religious education program. In May, that aspiration became reality when she was named the new director of religious education in St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Community, Fort Dix.

In that capacity, Wilson, a member of St. George Parish, Titusville, will preside over a program that draws students from throughout the massive geography of what has become known as the “super base” comprised of Fort Dix, McGuire Air Force Base and Lakehurst Naval Air Station.

Wilson and her husband, William, a computer programmer, have been married for 23 years. They are the parents of two grown sons, Peter, 20, a student at Rowan University, Glassboro and Gavin, a high school sophomore.

Commissioned a lay ecclesial minister in 2010, she earned a master’s degree in theology from La Salle University, Philadelphia, during the intensive, three-year ILEM program.

This year, she is looking forward to shepherding the religious education of between 140 – 160 children of military families and adults stationed at the bases in Burlington and Ocean counties. The curriculum ranges from pre-school to adult education including the Rite of Christian Initiation, she said.

The joint base religious education program is under the auspices of the Archdiocese for Military Services, USA, providing chaplains and religious education programs all over the world, said Wilson who said she is thrilled to be embarking on her ministry in an atmosphere that truly reflects the worldwide communion of faithful.

“I followed the path God set before me,” said Wilson. She described the program, created for Catholics in military bases throughout the world, as “wonderful” for service personnel and their children. “It’s great for Catholics in the military. It means they don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time they move.”

Contributing to this story were Mary Stadnyk, news editor; Lois Rogers, features editor, and freelance writers Christina Leslie, David Karas and Dottie LaMantia.