Catholic Charities Diocese of Camden will hold its 19th annual Dinner & Awards Ceremony next month, and among the evening’s highlights will be the recognition of men, women and ministries who make it their mission to serve the most vulnerable across South Jersey.
These Disciples of Mercy were recently selected by a committee and hail from each of the Diocese’s five deaneries. They will be recognized during the Dinner & Awards Ceremony – formerly the Justice For All Dinner – being held Oct. 11 at Resorts Hotel, Atlantic City.
This year’s guest of honor will be Dr. Ali A. Houshmand, president of Rowan University, Glassboro, who is known for his commitment to accessible and affordable education to lift up both the communities of South Jersey and individual Rowan students.
Tickets and sponsorship information can be found at catholiccharitiessouthjersey.org/CCAD. Every penny raised goes to those in South Jersey who are in need, regardless of their faith.
The 2023 Disciples of Mercy are:
Deanery 1: Cherryl Summers
For the past three decades, Cherryl Summers’ joy and dedication to feeding Camden’s hungry have been ever-present at Saint Bartholomew Church, Sacred Heart Parish, where three to four Saturdays a month she cooks and coordinates a soup kitchen.
She and a dedicated team of volunteers not only host the walk-in and dine-in Saturday kitchen, but once a month, Summers cooks and delivers meals to shut-ins. The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t stop the ministry – she shifted the effort to take-out only.
“I do what the Lord tells me to do, and I like helping people. What little I do to help somebody else is a gift from the Lord,” she said.
Father Vincent Guest, parish pastor, nominated Summers, writing, “In his apostolic exhortation ‘Rejoice and Be Glad,’ Pope Francis paid homage to ‘the saints next door.’ He referred to the lay faithful in our midst who live the beatitudes and the corporal works of mercy.”
“Cherryl Summers, humble as she is, would not want to be called a saint. However … to honor her would be to honor all the Black Catholic faithful who support her good work and who serve the poor in Camden through the St. Bart’s Soup Kitchen,” he said.
Summers thanked Father Guest for having confidence in the volunteers for “their devotion and commitment to feeding the hungry. It’s a great privilege to work with them.”
Deanery 2: Patricia Slater
Patricia Slater, longtime pastoral associate for Social Justice and Community Outreach at Cherry Hill’s Catholic Community of Christ Our Light, has always attempted to “speak in God’s name and speak on behalf of those who have no voice.”
“Serving the least of these is the touchstone of my life,” said Slater, who recently retired after 50 years of ministry. Parish efforts she helped organize include missionary trips to Guatemala and Kentucky; going to Congress with letters supporting food stamps; the parish Fair Trade Festival, and prayer vigils to protest the treatment of immigrants.
“When I see someone hurting, if I can, I’ll try to do something about it,” Slater said, adding that she makes it a priority to “call, visit and spend time with people.”
Her pastor, Father John Picinic, agreed. “Her commitment [is] second to none.” In nominating Slater as a Disciple of Mercy, he noted her excellent ministry of presence and unwavering kindness and compassion.
Other nominations for Slater noted that she “helps us to be people we are called to be” and “always has the best interest of everyone [at heart], no matter their race, creed or color … she has brought so many wonderful ministries to our parish and enables everyone involved to be the best co-worker possible.”
“I am getting this award because there are such generous people at Christ Our Light who do all the great work,” Slater said.
Deanery 3: Rose Otto
For 27 years, Rose Otto dutifully served with the Camden County Board of Social Services, motivated in her lifelong passion to “do God’s work to help those less fortunate.”
Retired since 2005, Otto now continues this calling at Our Lady of Peace Parish, Williamstown, as coordinator of the Social Concerns Ministry. She leads a volunteer effort that includes the parish food pantry, which serves 300 families a month, and outreach to the area’s most vulnerable.
Most recently, she and her team filled 230 backpacks with school supplies that went to children in her parish and other local faith communities.
“I’m grateful and blessed for what I have, so I want to help,” Otto said. Referencing the twice-a-week food pantry, where individuals can come and pick up sustenance for themselves and their families, she remembers the words of her mother: “Never deny someone a plate of food.”
Her pastor, Father Sanjai Devis, VC, who nominated Otto, believes Otto has a passion “to meet those people who are dealing with life’s challenges where they are, and become the tangible sign of God’s love to them.” As well, her fluency in Spanish “makes our Hispanic community feel welcomed.”
Otto praised the “cooperative team effort of the super-generous parishioners … who should definitely get all the honors,” and Father Devis for his contributions and support. “I’m just a vessel that helps everything along,” she said.
Deanery 4: Mike Brindisi
Whether it’s assisting his faith community as a parish trustee, Knight of Columbus, extraordinary minister, chairman of the summer BBQ or utilizing his professional construction prowess, Mike Brindisi has been a reliable hand to Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish, Brigantine, for almost 20 years.
“He’s been very generous to the parish, and has shown tremendous love, time and energy,” said the parish pastor, Father Edward Maher. “Mike’s also a great guy and family man.”
Remarking on the Disciple of Mercy honor, Brindisi said, “God has my life. Because of the blessings I’ve received, they should be shared with others.”
As founder of the Marlton-based Brindisi Builders, he performs pro bono maintenance work for the parish’s facilities, helped to build its parish hall, and renovated its church and center.
“What gets me up every day is knowing I’m His hands, doing His work,” Brindisi said. “No matter who I meet, I hope they get a glimpse of God in me.”
Brindisi praised his pastor and Saint Thomas parish, calling them “very vibrant and active. There’s a lot of good being done here, I’m glad to be a part of it.”
Deanery 5: Elizabeth and William Keller
What began as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich-making ministry four years ago for Elizabeth “Bette” and William “Bill” Keller, has become an expansive effort that now includes three SUVs packed to the brim with food donations – which are sent out every first Thursday to area communities and food pantries.
“We have to do more, live our faith, lift the burden of the suffering and bring dignity to our fellow man,” Bette Keller said.
The couple – Bette Keller a registered nurse and Bill Keller a retired Naval officer – have brought their joy and generosity to their parish of Saint Joseph, Sea Isle City, and the surrounding Cape May County faith communities and charities.
An active member of the parish’s Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court of Our Lady of Mercy, Bette Keller has led community outreach efforts that not only include food distribution, but also Easter baskets for children and a clothing drive for the at-risk youth residents of Atlantic City’s Covenant House.
The Kellers “are true gifts to our parish,” said Father Perry Cherubini, parish pastor. “They devote themselves to countless hours of work. I look forward to continuing to work with them and sharing their special ministry for years to come.”
Bill Keller calls Father Cherubini, and the parish community, “the real invigorating ones.”
His wife agreed. “They’re the most generous, loving people. If you ask for something, you’ll get it back ten-fold. They are a blessing.”
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