IMEC students encouraged to follow St. Joseph’s example

Gathering in fellowship, faith and reflection, 91 of the 123 Hispanic students of the Diocese of Camden’s Instituto de Ministerio Eclesial de Camden (IMEC) formation program recently participated in the annual daylong retreat at the Saint John Paul II Retreat Center in Vineland.

It was “an important moment for students to meet each other, find community and feel as one diocesan family,” said Andres Arango, Bishop’s Delegate for Hispanic Ministry and director of evangelization in the Diocese of Camden.

IMEC is the diocese’s three-year certified program for lay ministry formation. Coursework includes sacred Scripture, theology, spirituality and pastoral skills so that students can gain effective tools in ministering to their own communities.

In this Year of Saint Joseph, the July 17 retreat theme focused on the spouse of Mary and foster father of Jesus. Father Ariel Hernandez, pastor of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, Newfield, served as the keynote speaker.

Father Hernandez gave powerful witness to the life of Joseph and encouraged the IMEC students to “serve as he did, with a spirit of humility,” Arango noted.

Taking the priest’s words to heart was Luis Mounier, who is wrapping up his second year of coursework at Divine Mercy Parish in Vineland. Calling the day a blessing, Mounier, a lector at his parish, said the IMEC program has “increased my faith, while also giving me a desire, hunger, to learn more about it.”

His wife of 27 years, Ana, is taking the course with him. “She motivates me,” he said.

Father Hernandez said the day “gave us time for intellectual formation, which we always need, and it was also a special time that was set apart from our ordinary lives where we were able to receive spiritual graces.”

In addition to Vineland, IMEC classes are also underway in Blackwood, Camden, Bridgeton, Ocean City and Hammonton. For more information, call 856-583-6170.