Rose admits there have been unexpected blessings over the 2 1/2 months she and her family have been sheltering in place at home.

High on her list of blessings: the ability for Rose and husband, Bob, to work from home. Bob, a theology teacher in Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft, can virtually teach his classes, while technology helps keep Rose connected to her work as campus minister and marketing director in Trenton Catholic Academy, Hamilton.

She is happy to be home more to help her two young daughters with their schoolwork, and she feels fortunate to participate in online Masses each morning before starting work. Each night, she finishes her day praying with her parish community in an online family evening Holy Hour.

“I love my job and working, but I would not have had the opportunity to attend daily Mass if life were ‘normal’ right now,” said Rose, a member of Mary, Mother of the Church Parish, Bordentown, referring to the hectic pace her family is accustomed to keeping. Along with jobs and schoolwork, one daughter is a dancer and the other is a competitive gymnast.

Rose and her family are among the Diocese’s faithful who are sharing their experiences in “Stories of Hope,” the new video series produced by the diocesan Department of Multimedia Production. Each segment of the series features a positive reflection or witnesses shared by faithful from around the Diocese as they deal with the challenges of daily life brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Rose’s story, the first in the series, was released May 27.

“I recognize how lucky I am that I have the opportunity to stay home while so many others are on the front lines fighting the coronavirus, including my sister and brother-in-law,” Rose says in her family’s segment, titled “Coping with Lifestyle Changes.” “I pray for them and for all who are on the front lines and all those who are suffering from the coronavirus.”

The “Stories of Hope” videos may be viewed on the diocesan YouTube channel. New reflections will be added each week.

Upcoming reflections include:

• May 29: Students from Donovan Catholic, Toms River, present a compilation of short messages on how they are dealing with the pandemic.

• June 1: Youth ministry members from St. William the Abbot Parish, Howell, discuss how technology allowed them to help their community and continue to meet as a group through online meetings.

• June 3: Members of the Ball family discuss how they are coping with the pandemic at home.

• June 5: A Donovan Catholic student named Savannah shares her story.