By Lois Rogers | Correspondent 

Modern day good Samaritans is how Catholic Charities Diocese of Trenton staff and honorees were described Sept. 22 at the organization’s annual Guardian Angels Dinner Dance.

“Looking out, I see angels around the tables,” said Vito Nardelli, board of trustees chairman. “Because of you and the work you conduct, no challenge is too great for this agency to overcome.”

Photo Gallery:  2018 Guardian Angels Dinner Dance

The gala, which drew more than 400 to the Hyatt Regency, Princeton, celebrated Catholic Charities’ service and advocacy and all who assist in the mission. Awards were given to individuals and parishes in the Diocese’s four counties for their contributions to the organization.

The evening, said Marlene Laó-Collins, Catholic Charities, executive director, is “our opportunity to spotlight the extraordinary honorees – kind and altruistic individuals” and the many ways “all of you have lived the call to help neighbors in need in our communities.”

She acknowledged the leadership of Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., who “through numerous writings, homilies, sharing of his own person experiences and presentations on the redemptive message of Jesus, gives us guidance to live out our faith and demonstrate the compassion for the least among us.”

Bishop O’Connell, Catholic Charities board of trustees president, offered the invocation, expressing gratitude for the work of Laó-Collins, the staff and all those who support the organization.

Laó-Collins spoke of how prayer that doesn’t lead to action is worthless. “Action and prayers together lead to empowerment by providing behavioral health care and social services to more than 100,000 people a year regardless of religious affiliation.”

Rather than “getting lost in the numbers,” however, she urged the crowd to focus “on the individual faces tonight” of those who had joined in the journey.

Personal Stories

Catholic Charities’ wide reach in the Trenton Diocese came into focus as Vladimir and Rachelle St. Phard, co-chairs of the event, presided over a presentation that showcased the individuals, parishes and corporate sponsors that were honored.

Residents of East Windsor, the couple have devoted their time to community service in memory of their son, Jacob “Coby” St. Phard, an athlete and senior in Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, who took his life in 2016.

Their presence added to the personal and moving moments as awards were handed out by Laó-Collins and Nardelli. All joined in a standing ovation as Guy Pue was given the Client Achievement Award.

Pue, who has schizophrenia and has battled drug addition, began his road to recovery in 2002. With the help of his mother, Elizabeth, he sought assistance in Catholic Charities’ Program of Assertive Community Treatment for assistance.

In accepting his award, the self-effacing Pue thanked the agency for helping turn his life around. He now works as a landscaper, painter and bricklayer and often assists the PACT team in helping others start their recovery.

Lights of Hope

Four Light of Hope Awards were given out during the evening. The honor recognizes a person or organization in Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean Counties for his/her support and commitment to the work of Catholic Charities in the community. Honorees were Sacred Heart Parish, Riverton; St. Paul Parish, Princeton; Mary Lee of St. Leo the Great Parish, Lincroft, and Opdyke Furniture Inc., Point Pleasant Beach. 

Father Robert Holtz, Sacred Heart Parish pastor, spoke of his parishioners’ devotion as he accepted the award on behalf of the Burlington County community.

“This is about people doing good, anonymous work as they live out their faith. It’s humbling to see all the work that they do,” and even more humbling, he said, that “I’m the one here and they are doing all the work.”

In accepting the award for the Princeton community, Msgr. Joseph N. Rosie, pastor, shared how the Mercer County parish and school are following in the tradition of the Religious Sisters of Mercy, who founded the school. Parishioners and students he said, continue to “live that charism” of service and social justice by reaching out beyond the walls, as the sisters did, to share the Gospel.

Lee, a retired school nurse, brought home the Monmouth County award for her devotion to Catholic Charities over 18 years, where her special focus has been on causes that benefit children. “Who doesn’t want them to have a level playing field?” she asked. “Who doesn’t want to do things that help them feel at home?”

Since 2003, Ocean County’s honoree, Opdyke Furniture, has been the site of an annual fundraiser to benefit Catholic Charities’ Providence House of Ocean. The fundraiser was the brainchild of the proprietors – Audrey Edelhauser and her sisters-in-law, Gigi and Lynn Opdkye.

“Giving back is a nice way to help,” the company’s representatives said, and working with Catholic Charities is a great partnership.

Community Outreach

This year’s Corporate Citizen of the Year Award went to J. Knipper and Company, a Lakewood-based health care marketing and pharmaceutical sampling firm, which has donated printing of the Guardian Angels Dinner Dance programs for four years, allowing all revenue generated through ads to support Catholic Charities.

As he accepted the award, Deacon Jim Knipper of St. Paul Parish, Princeton, called on the employees to stand up and take a bow. “With this award, you are honoring all the employees,” he said. “It is [we] who are blessed with employees of passion and compassion.”

The presentation of this year’s Richard J. Hughes Catholic Charities Diocese of Trenton Humanitarian Award was bittersweet as the late governor’s son, John, announced it was time for him to retire and that he was bestowing the award for the last time.

The recipients, Paul J. and Margo Hooker of St. Mark Parish, Sea Girt, are longtime supporters of Catholic Charities, driven to donate financially for more than 23 years, they said, by their passion for social justice.