“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.”
Dr. Joseph and Patricia Kuchler have a heart for stewardship, the foundation of which lies in the faith and values instilled by their parents as well as a Catholic education. The couple met in the 1960s while students at Camden Catholic High School, and both came from Catholic elementary schools – Saint Lawrence and Saint Cecilia, respectively.
They credit positive role models for helping direct their futures. “At Camden Catholic, the priests and Sisters of Mercy made a difference in our lives,” Pat Kuchler said.
For Dr. Kuchler, the biology courses taught by priests and chemistry lessons taught by nuns increased his love for the sciences. His teachers’ influence contributed to his decision to go into medicine.
“After high school, I started pre-med courses at Saint Joseph’s University [in Philadelphia]. I really liked it, especially once I began clinicals, where I saw the values the doctors had. I was very impressed with the surgeons and the great care they took of their patients. I wanted to be like them,” Dr. Kuchler said.
He attended medical school and went on to become a cardiothoracic surgeon. Pat Kuchler also felt a calling to care for others and chose a career in nursing.
Their strong faith and desire to make a difference continued after they married and began raising children. They joined Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish, Gibbsboro, in 1980 and sent their children to Catholic school, encouraging them to get involved in service. As a result, over the years, the Kuchlers have supported many parish and diocesan initiatives as dedicated stewards. Their son, Joseph, became a lector as a young adult – a service he continued on campus when he went to law school. Today, he serves as a member of the Knights of Columbus.
“We’re all happy to help out however we can,” Dr. Kuchler said. “Pat and I support Catholic Strong and the Catholic Ministries Appeal. I like how the appeal provides funding for numerous ministries.”
Dr. Kuchler also volunteers as a school board member for Our Lady of Mount Carmel Regional School in Berlin.
Msgr. Louis Marucci, their pastor, said, “I am struck by the gratitude the Kuchlers feel for their blessings. It’s extraordinary. Not only that, their humility stands out. I am in awe of Dr. Kuchler for taking on the significant leadership role as the parish representative on the school board while he has such a demanding job. He has a kindness, a compassion that he brings to that role.”
Though they have many blessings, the family has also faced sorrow. Their son Mark’s wife, their daughter-in-law, passed away nine years ago. Their granddaughter, Ava, now in eighth grade, was just 5 years old.
“That was a very difficult time,” Pat Kuchler said. “The bereavement support group at Saint Andrew’s, led then by retired Sister Alma Gallagher, was a phenomenal help to me. Grief can strike in many ways, but if you have faith, you can get through it.”
The Kuchlers know it is important to be there for their son and granddaughter, who continue to live with them today.
“You can see that the effect the Kuchlers have had on their granddaughter is very special. Their nurturing influence of love and faith has helped her grow,” Msgr. Marucci said.
With her grandparents providing an example of stewardship, Ava has become involved in the parish’s youth ministry – serving meals to the elderly, collecting supplies for those in need and fundraising for Ukraine.
Throughout the years, her grandparents and father have been involved in many activities at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, too.
“We really value the Catholic school education and felt it was essential for our children, and then our granddaughter, to attend,” Dr. Kuchler said. “We wanted to help make memories for all the kids, so we’ve supported every event that we were able to.”
Pat Kuchler agreed. “The Catholic schools help young people develop a value system, have faith in God, support their local communities, their families and the Church.”
She continued, “Developing a lifelong connection to the Church helps you continue growing throughout your life. I do by listening to the homilies each week. One that really struck me recently was Msgr. Marucci’s homily about everyday holiness.”
That homily focused on how people are called to be the best they can be in any circumstance. It contained the message that saints aren’t the only ones who are extraordinarily good and holy, and challenged parishioners to live saintly lives.
Faithful stewards Dr. Joseph and Patricia Kuchler have answered that call throughout their lives.
The mission of the Office of Stewardship is to help 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 Stacy Napolitano, associate director of major gifts and stewardship for the diocesan Office of Development, at 856-583-6126.
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