By Christina Leslie | Correspondent

The old adage “the more things change, the more they remain the same” received prayerful consideration throughout the month of May throughout the Trenton Diocese. Hundreds of maturing adults eager to share fellowship and faith gathered at four parishes, one in each of the four counties of the diocese, for the Spirituality/Education Days for Maturing Adults sponsored by the Department of Pastoral Care.

Entitled “Finding God within ourselves: One Constant in our Lives of Change,” each workshop featured both spiritual reflections by clergy and practical safety tips from an officer of the local offices of Emergency Management. Hosts of the four workshops were St. David the King Parish, West Windsor (May 9); St. Gabriel Parish, Marlboro (May 16); St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish, Toms River (May 23), and Holy Eucharist Parish, Tabernacle (May 30).

Msgr. Walter Nolan, recently retired pastor of St. Paul Parish, Princeton, and moderator of “The Catholic Corner” cable talk show, encouraged attendees to view life as an ongoing process of change. During presentations May 9 and 23, he shared examples of the changes he experienced during his many years of ministry and God’s guiding hand upon him, aiding his growth as a priest.

Dominican Sister Donna J. Ciangio challenged listeners to take a fresh look at their lives and the value of prayer during her presentations on May 16 and 30. Sister Donna, a former national and international coordinator for RENEW, a parish renewal process, currently serves as director of church leadership consultation at Caldwell College, offering instruction on a new way to approach daily prayer through thoughtful contemplation of Mary and the Rosary.

“We must constantly be in the state of Annunciation,” Sister Donna stated as she showed classical paintings of the angel Gabriel’s visit to the young Mary. She informed the group of the Rosary’s metamorphosis from a leather pouch of pebbles carried by Irish laity praying outside monastery walls to the rope of beads Catholics now carry to count upon as they pray for Mary’s intercession with her Son. “Prayer is a discipline in which we commune with God; it grows as we practice it,” Sister Donna concluded.

For the workshop’s educational component, adults were offered practical tips on preparing for natural and man-made disasters by each county’s Office of Emergency Management. Michael Oppegaard, acting director of the Monmouth County OEM, reminded the attendees in Marlboro May 16 of the flooding, damaging winds and long-term electrical loss suffered by local residents during last summer’s Hurricane Irene, and advocated they create a family disaster plan before the next catastrophic event befell the area.

“We had about 3,000 people in shelters during the storm; many were unprepared for that,” Oppegaard said frankly. “Community preparedness was the weakest link.” The acting director recommended residents stay informed of risks and evacuation routes; create a family communications plan and set a meeting place outside the danger zone; compile both home and travel disaster supply kits of medications, food, clothing, and special items for children and pets; and protect their property from potential storm damage. Websites such as www.ready.gov and www.FEMA.gov also give residents valuable, timely information in times of disaster.

Holy Mass was celebrated during each workshop. Father Eugene J. Roberts, pastor of St. Gabriel Parish, reminded the May 16 congregants of God’s constancy in their lives. Encouraging the congregation to use the gift of the Holy Spirit to touch the lives of others, Father Roberts said, “Pentecost is ongoing. Each day we rise to a new level of faith, to a new understanding of faith. We have to come back to tell the world he walks among us and continue [that message] when we feel people aren’t listening.”

Father Martin McGeough, C.M., diocesan coordinator of prison and jail ministries, delivered the homily May 23 at St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish. He spoke on the values of compassion, kindness, generosity and forgiveness detailed in the letter of St. Paul to the Colossians and stressed to participants that these values were important throughout their lives. Father McGeough asserted that even Ebenezer Scrooge, Dickens’ protagonist in the classic “A Christmas Carol,” put on those values and wore them for the rest of his life.

Following a box lunch, participants enjoyed a sing-along complete with songbooks, cowbells and bell-bejeweled bracelets. Many waved American flags as they sang traditional and patriotic songs whose words were adapted to reflect Christian values.

Dolores Lessone of St. Thomas More Parish, Manalapan, marked her second Spirituality Day sitting at a table with a group of fellow parishioners. “You always come away with something to think about and change,” she observed. Mary Ann Crouse of Ascension Parish, Bradley Beach, agreed. “It’s good to take time out to think about God,” she said. Tom Latza of St. Rose Parish, Belmar, enjoyed the presentation on the Rosary and noted, “I liked Sister Donna’s meditation on the decades and will think about it later.” Bernice Biegem of the hosting parish was grateful to attend the workshop close to home. “It’s my first time here, and I really found it informative and spiritual.”