Service was instilled in Joann Held at a very young age
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
Joann Held grew up in Northern Illinois where her parents taught her and her to always be on the lookout for ways to serve.
Held, who holds a bachelor of science degree in meterology, arrived in New Jersey in 1973 when she accepted a job offer. She and her husband, Isaac, relocated to Pennington in 1979.
Held recalled attending a liturgy committee meeting in St. James Parish, Pennington, in the fall of 1984 and at the end of the evening, the pastor, Father James McConnell, asked her to chair the Advent committee, an activity she greatly enjoyed and was happy to also help with Christmas preparations as well. Little did Held know that her Advent committee participation would lead her to becoming the chair of the parish’s liturgy team, a position she has held for almost 35 years.
Over the years, Held said she has had the pleasure of working as a volunteer liturgy coordinator, under the tutelage of three “wonderful pastors: Father McConnell, Msgr. Ronald Bacovin and Msgr. Michael J. Walsh.
“I love working on all aspects of liturgy, but my favorite part is singing,” said Held, who sings in the Adult Choir, the Contemporary Christian Choir and the Festival Choir. She also directs a small choir and serves as a cantor.
Held said she find joy in being able to work with children, especially instilling in them a knowledge and love of liturgy.
“I have the pleasure of meeting regularly with our [parish] religious education students, teaching them about the liturgical year” and teaching them about sacramentals such as about how ashes for Ash Wednesday are made by burning palms from the previous year or about Holy Days of Obligation.
Her favorite activity is “the behind-the-scenes tour” for the second graders during their First Holy Communion retreat.
Held admitted that it was after retiring from a career in Air Pollution Control with the NJDEP in 2005 that she found more ways to serve in her local community, namely the Hopewell Valley Green Team, Pennington Farmers Market, Pennington Environmental Commission and the Hopewell Valley League of Women Voters.
“Thanks to my Mom and Dad for pointing me in the right direction so many years ago,” Held said of her love for service.
[[In-content Ad]]Related Stories
Saturday, December 27, 2025
E-Editions
Events
Joann Held grew up in Northern Illinois where her parents taught her and her to always be on the lookout for ways to serve.
Held, who holds a bachelor of science degree in meterology, arrived in New Jersey in 1973 when she accepted a job offer. She and her husband, Isaac, relocated to Pennington in 1979.
Held recalled attending a liturgy committee meeting in St. James Parish, Pennington, in the fall of 1984 and at the end of the evening, the pastor, Father James McConnell, asked her to chair the Advent committee, an activity she greatly enjoyed and was happy to also help with Christmas preparations as well. Little did Held know that her Advent committee participation would lead her to becoming the chair of the parish’s liturgy team, a position she has held for almost 35 years.
Over the years, Held said she has had the pleasure of working as a volunteer liturgy coordinator, under the tutelage of three “wonderful pastors: Father McConnell, Msgr. Ronald Bacovin and Msgr. Michael J. Walsh.
“I love working on all aspects of liturgy, but my favorite part is singing,” said Held, who sings in the Adult Choir, the Contemporary Christian Choir and the Festival Choir. She also directs a small choir and serves as a cantor.
Held said she find joy in being able to work with children, especially instilling in them a knowledge and love of liturgy.
“I have the pleasure of meeting regularly with our [parish] religious education students, teaching them about the liturgical year” and teaching them about sacramentals such as about how ashes for Ash Wednesday are made by burning palms from the previous year or about Holy Days of Obligation.
Her favorite activity is “the behind-the-scenes tour” for the second graders during their First Holy Communion retreat.
Held admitted that it was after retiring from a career in Air Pollution Control with the NJDEP in 2005 that she found more ways to serve in her local community, namely the Hopewell Valley Green Team, Pennington Farmers Market, Pennington Environmental Commission and the Hopewell Valley League of Women Voters.
“Thanks to my Mom and Dad for pointing me in the right direction so many years ago,” Held said of her love for service.
[[In-content Ad]]