“The Call to Stewardship” is a periodic series profiling individuals and families throughout the Diocese of Camden who have shown an inspiring response to the call to Christian stewardship highlighted in 1 Peter 4:10: “As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”
It was the last full week of March in 2019, and Courtney and Kathryn (Kaye) Malcarney were sent to Atlantic City by Father Jim Dever, at that time pastor of Christ the King Parish, Haddonfield, to the Convocation of Leaders for the Camden Diocese. (Father Jon Thomas is the current pastor.) Both retired, the Malcarneys were uncertain of what to expect when they arrived. As Kaye describes the event: “It was a real eye-opener.”
At the Convocation, attendees were able to hear music ranging from Gospel choirs to Latino praise music. They heard speakers addressing issues related to contemporary life in the church, focusing on youth and young adults, Hispanic ministry, liturgy and catechesis. Perhaps most importantly, they met for workshop sessions with other members of their own parish to focus on concerns at the parish level.
Today, more than a year and a half later, these two long-time stewards have been witnesses to the fruit that came to pass at Christ the King as a result of that diocesan-wide gathering. A parish Eucharistic Day of Service led by Merri Votta was held at Christ the King in November of 2019, drawing 80 people ranging in age from 3 to 89 to work on projects at the parish and in the community. And close to Kaye’s heart was helping to found Christ the King’s chapter of parish nurses, which provides education and blood pressure screening at events for the parish.
The instinct to serve others began years ago for both the Malcarneys, who met while they both were students at Georgetown University, Courtney a senior pre-medical student and Kaye a freshman in nursing school. Courtney cites the Jesuit tradition: “men and women for and with others” as the inspiration to give back, and both recall the many inspirational people in their family backgrounds.
Courtney adds, “It’s easier for people who’ve been raised [with serving] to then have the same gift to instill in others.”
Kaye goes even further, offering admiration for people who’ve been given little, and yet have the kind of generous hearts that allow them to “still give to others.”
The generous stewardship displayed by Kaye and Courtney has now spread to the youngest generation of the family. Fellow parishioner and pastoral council member Robert Tulini says, “The Malcarneys have faithfully served Christ the King Church and School for many years. Now I see that stewardship shine in their granddaughter, Grace … and her younger brother Timmy.”
Children of Tim and Marnie Malcarney, both have served as altar servers, and Grace, now a sophomore in high school, serves as a lector at Mass. Rebecca Malcarney Dixon, daughter of Courtney and Kaye, is a third grade teacher and enrollment director at Christ the King school, where family roots run deep.
The Malcarneys are inspired by a sense of gratitude for all that they’ve been given. Kaye offers sympathy for the “many people who’ve had bad breaks in life.” Especially in their hospital work, both Malcarneys were able to find great satisfaction in being able to serve many women and children from all walks of life.
Courtney began and then served as head of the Women’s Health Division at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, in Camden, which became the first hospital in South Jersey to accept transports of high-risk maternal patients.
Meanwhile, Kaye worked as a pediatric nurse before staying home to raise their children. Courtney founded the Obstetrics Division at the Osborne Family Health Center that is still serving the community today. And Kaye was able to work as a nurse part time, sometimes at Courtney’s medical practice, and sometimes at Christ the King School, which all of their children attended. When she returned to work full-time, she was at Lourdes Hospital in maternal health.
But family has also been at the heart of life for the Malcarneys. Speaking fondly and at length of their six children and 18 grandchildren, Kaye and Courtney see so much goodness and kindness in all of the younger generation. They recognize in them a real inclination to give back to others.
“I think the most important thing you can do in raising children is to be positive whenever you can,” says Kaye, adding, “Keep them close, and have an open door.”
Today, both Malcarneys serve as Eucharistic Ministers in the parish, although while the pandemic is underway, like most who serve, they remain on standby. Once social distancing restrictions are lifted, they anticipate returning to help distribute holy Communion both for weekday Masses and on Sunday, too.
Before the advent of COVID-19, Courtney went weekly to the Brandywine Nursing and Rehabilitation Center to administer the Eucharist in a small service offered for Catholic residents. Both Kaye and Courtney are active participants in the Senior Ministry at Christ the King as well, enjoying monthly speakers and fellowship with other members in the parish who are over 60.
Clearly, for this couple that exudes love of faith and love of family as a way of life, there will be plenty of opportunities to offer service with and for others in the future.
The mission of the Office of Stewardship is to help the disciples of Christ who live in the Diocese of Camden to live out Christian charity in a sacrificial way that “we might understand the grace that comes from giving back from our blessings so that in all things God may be glorified.” For more information, contact Deacon Russell Davis at 856-583-6102.
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