Rosemarie “Chick” McGinty, the first lay woman named director of a diocesan office, dies
November 2, 2021 at 8:58 p.m.
Mrs. McGinty’s service to the Church of Trenton began in her home parish, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Maple Shade, where she was a catechist and went on to be named the parish’s director of religious education.
In 1976, she joined the Diocesan Chancery staff as associate director of the Office of Religious Education, a position she held for 12 years, before she was named office director, a position in which she served for 15 years.
During her 27-year tenure, she oversaw or initiated the development of adult education centers in each of the Diocese’s four counties that assisted some 5,000 catechists to meet certification requirements. Under her leadership, the office also created a certification course for parish program administrators and made available a variety of grants and scholarships to aid catechists, coordinators and directors in enhancing their qualifications.
In an interview with The Monitor, she was reported as saying, “The primary goal of the office is to develop administrative leadership in the parishes,” she said. “We’re here to help the people to learn to do it themselves.”
When she retired in 2003, Mrs. McGinty reflected on her own status as being the first lay woman director of religious education and then the first lay woman to become director of a diocesan office. She stated that she was mindful of how the Second Vatican Council had opened the door to the laity and also maintained that lay persons must have the credentials to reach religion.
“They have a responsibility to be prepared and formed,” she said. “Their work in the Church is not an entitlement.”
Terry Ginther, diocesan chancellor and executive director of pastoral life and mission, remembered Mrs. McGinty as being a “pioneer on the diocesan staff and widely respected among national catechetical leaders.
“She was tireless in her efforts to develop a professional corps of parish catechetical leaders,” Ginther said. “Her drive to form masters-qualified leaders made catechist training widely available at the local level to more than 5,000 catechists over the years. She was an inspiration to many women Church leaders who have followed in her footsteps.”
Ginther said she appreciated all she learned and the support she received from Mrs. McGinty over the years. “I met Chick during my service in the parish from 1994 to 2002 and we worked together on the RCIA sub-commission of the Diocesan Liturgical Commission, on catechist formation and adult faith formation,” Ginther said, adding that Mrs. McGinty had offered her an associate director position on the diocesan staff in December of 2002 in preparation for her retirement in June 2003.
“It was a humbling experience to become responsible for the Certificate Program she had designed,” Ginther said.
“We stayed in touch after her retirement. As ministry took me into different areas of Church life, she remained a friend and valued advisor," she said. “Chick was one of the first people to call me after Bishop O’Connell appointed me to the role of chancellor. She wanted me to know that she would be praying for me. I hope she will continue to do so from her new vantage point in heaven.”
Mrs. McGinty was predeceased by her husband Joseph A. McGinty. She is survived by two daughters, Mary (William) Flanagan, and Rosemarie (Charles) Simone; her grandchildren, Elizabeth (Anthony) Chambers-Hickman; Sarah (Eric) Linder; Rachel (Domenick) Pascarella, and Abigail (Luis) Camacho; four great grandchildren; two sisters, and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will include a Mass of Christian Burial Nov. 5 at 11 a.m. in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 236 E. Main Street, Maple Shade with Father Joel Wilson, pastor, serving as principal celebrant of the Mass and homilist. Terry Ginther will read a letter on behalf of Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. To view a livestream of Mrs. McGinty’s funeral Mass, visit https://my.gather.app/remember/rosemarie-mcginty
Mrs. McGinty will be laid to rest in at New St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Diocese of Trenton Religious Education Directors (T.R.E.D.): https://dioceseoftrenton.org/trenton-religious-education-directors.
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Mrs. McGinty’s service to the Church of Trenton began in her home parish, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Maple Shade, where she was a catechist and went on to be named the parish’s director of religious education.
In 1976, she joined the Diocesan Chancery staff as associate director of the Office of Religious Education, a position she held for 12 years, before she was named office director, a position in which she served for 15 years.
During her 27-year tenure, she oversaw or initiated the development of adult education centers in each of the Diocese’s four counties that assisted some 5,000 catechists to meet certification requirements. Under her leadership, the office also created a certification course for parish program administrators and made available a variety of grants and scholarships to aid catechists, coordinators and directors in enhancing their qualifications.
In an interview with The Monitor, she was reported as saying, “The primary goal of the office is to develop administrative leadership in the parishes,” she said. “We’re here to help the people to learn to do it themselves.”
When she retired in 2003, Mrs. McGinty reflected on her own status as being the first lay woman director of religious education and then the first lay woman to become director of a diocesan office. She stated that she was mindful of how the Second Vatican Council had opened the door to the laity and also maintained that lay persons must have the credentials to reach religion.
“They have a responsibility to be prepared and formed,” she said. “Their work in the Church is not an entitlement.”
Terry Ginther, diocesan chancellor and executive director of pastoral life and mission, remembered Mrs. McGinty as being a “pioneer on the diocesan staff and widely respected among national catechetical leaders.
“She was tireless in her efforts to develop a professional corps of parish catechetical leaders,” Ginther said. “Her drive to form masters-qualified leaders made catechist training widely available at the local level to more than 5,000 catechists over the years. She was an inspiration to many women Church leaders who have followed in her footsteps.”
Ginther said she appreciated all she learned and the support she received from Mrs. McGinty over the years. “I met Chick during my service in the parish from 1994 to 2002 and we worked together on the RCIA sub-commission of the Diocesan Liturgical Commission, on catechist formation and adult faith formation,” Ginther said, adding that Mrs. McGinty had offered her an associate director position on the diocesan staff in December of 2002 in preparation for her retirement in June 2003.
“It was a humbling experience to become responsible for the Certificate Program she had designed,” Ginther said.
“We stayed in touch after her retirement. As ministry took me into different areas of Church life, she remained a friend and valued advisor," she said. “Chick was one of the first people to call me after Bishop O’Connell appointed me to the role of chancellor. She wanted me to know that she would be praying for me. I hope she will continue to do so from her new vantage point in heaven.”
Mrs. McGinty was predeceased by her husband Joseph A. McGinty. She is survived by two daughters, Mary (William) Flanagan, and Rosemarie (Charles) Simone; her grandchildren, Elizabeth (Anthony) Chambers-Hickman; Sarah (Eric) Linder; Rachel (Domenick) Pascarella, and Abigail (Luis) Camacho; four great grandchildren; two sisters, and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will include a Mass of Christian Burial Nov. 5 at 11 a.m. in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 236 E. Main Street, Maple Shade with Father Joel Wilson, pastor, serving as principal celebrant of the Mass and homilist. Terry Ginther will read a letter on behalf of Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. To view a livestream of Mrs. McGinty’s funeral Mass, visit https://my.gather.app/remember/rosemarie-mcginty
Mrs. McGinty will be laid to rest in at New St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Diocese of Trenton Religious Education Directors (T.R.E.D.): https://dioceseoftrenton.org/trenton-religious-education-directors.