BLACKWOOD – Business professionals welcomed the return of the Catholic Business Network of South Jersey, both its current members and the soon-to-bes, which included young adults in the early stages of their careers but just as committed to their work and faith.
“This place feels like home,” Victoria Visco, owner and main instructor for Cherry Hill’s Happy Feet Dance Studio, said as she mingled with about 40 fellow business leaders in Our Lady of Hope’s parish hall the morning of Sept. 15. “I feel comfortable here, sharing my work and Catholic beliefs.”
Serving in her current position at Happy Feet since 2017, the same year she graduated from Rutgers University-Camden with a business management degree, Visco said she always strives to bring the kindness and Christianity that she grew up with to her business.
Visco, a graduate of Paul VI High School, Haddonfield, and parishioner at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Lindenwold, said she was excited to have the opportunity to “network and make some great connections” during the CBN meeting.
Sept. 15 served as the relaunch of the Catholic Business Network, which was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CBN seeks to provide fellowship and development to those pursuing the union of faith and industry, and come together to share insights and expertise deeply rooted in Catholic social teaching.
The morning started with Mass celebrated by Father Antony Savari Muthu, parochial vicar, in Saint Agnes’ chapel, followed by breakfast and networking. Father Joseph Szolack, parish pastor, addressed those gathered, thanking all for being leaders in their careers and praying that they “grow in wisdom and knowledge, and be able to better serve people in our faith community and beyond.”
Jim Turpin of Chelsea Wealth Management, Haddonfield – which sponsored breakfast – and a past CBN president said, “[It is] great to see, post-COVID, that we can get everyone back together and continue to grow the community of Catholic business people.”
The current president, Jeff Morris of Morris Graphics, Woodbury, agreed. “You could see [how everyone was] so excited to be here, networking together and strengthening each other’s faith,” he said, adding how that is consistent with the organization’s goal in providing fellowship and development in faith and industry. “The people are good people who want to do right for their employees and families and lead a good life.”
John Napolitano, a young financial planner from Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Lindenwold, and a 2022 college graduate from Pennsylvania’s Scranton University, has made it his career goal to help guide others in financial literacy. “If I can help people make good decisions, I feel that I’m doing a good job as a Catholic.”
A first-timer to the CBN breakfast, he said he was glad he attended. “It’s been good to connect. All of us want to help each other grow and be good leaders for the community.”
The Catholic Business Network of South Jersey meets the third Friday of every month at different parishes across the Diocese of Camden. Upcoming events are: Oct. 20 at Saint Simon Stock, Berlin; Nov. 17 at Holy Family, Sewell, and Dec. 15 at Saint Joseph the Worker, Haddon Township. All meetings begin with Mass at 8 a.m., followed by breakfast, fellowship, a guest speaker and networking opportunities. Individual memberships are $125 per year. Breakfast is $10 for members and $20 for non-members. The CBN is currently accepting sponsorships to cover the cost of future breakfasts.
For more information, including registration, visit cbnsj.org.
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