Catholic Charities of South Jersey will hold its 20th annual Dinner & Awards Ceremony on Oct. 24, and among the evening’s highlights will be the recognition of women, men 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 at Resorts Hotel, Atlantic City.
Chief David J. Harkins Sr., chief of police of the Gloucester Township Police Department and a permanent deacon in the Diocese of Camden, will receive Catholic Charities’ Saint John Neumann Award during the evening, as well.
Meet some of this year’s Disciples of Mercy; others will be highlighted in the Oct. 4 issue of the Catholic Star Herald.
Deanery 1: Rita Maldonado
For the past 14 years, Rita Maldonado has been a joyful, loyal, dedicated presence to all who enter the doors of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Camden.
Whether making sandwiches for the hungry, cleaning the pews, or greeting parishioners as an usher at weekday and Sunday Masses, Maldonado “is faithful to her work every day, and is always open to help those in need,” said Father Adam Cichoski, the Cathedral’s rector who nominated her for the Disciple of Mercy honor.
Maldonado said she was surprised, but very happy, to hear she had been nominated and chosen. “I got emotional,” she said.
Growing up Catholic in Puerto Rico, Maldonado made her way to the United States 24 years ago to make a better life for her and her son. She found her way to the Cathedral, where she began making sandwiches for the hungry.
Today, she continues her mission of making life better – for the people of Camden. “The greatest commandment is to love God and your neighbor, and I dedicate my life to that,” she said. “I see people here not only dealing with clothing, basic needs and physical hunger, but spiritual hunger, too. That motivates me to come here every day.”
When not volunteering at the Cathedral, she is busy in her third year of IMEC (Instituto de Ministerio Eclesial de Camden), the Hispanic lay ministry formation program.
“I don’t want to be a Catholic only on Sundays,” Maldonado said, adding that with her heart and two hands, she’s happy to make the Cathedral a home for all.
“I’m thankful to be here and to be embraced by the community. It makes me feel alive to be here and give what I have.”
Deanery 3: Saint Mary School, Williamstown
Through community service initiatives, Saint Mary School’s students, faculty, staff and parents have dedicated themselves to aiding the area’s poor and vulnerable.
One of the school’s cornerstones, says its nominating school pastor, Father Sanjai Devis, is the annual Day of Service.
“This day represents the pinnacle of our commitment to living out the Gospel values of compassion, empathy and service to others,” said Father Devis, pastor of Our Lady of Peace Parish, Williamstown.
For the past four years, the school’s Day of Service every November has seen Saint Mary’s preschool-eighth-graders work on individual class projects to show their care and support in ways such as collecting baby items for moms in need, gathering treats for seniors and emergency workers, making blessing bags for the homeless, and creating blankets for parish families during the winter months.
That’s not to mention the school’s other meaningful work throughout the year, including toy collections during Christmastime, and participating in the Diocese’s FaithFULL Food Drive and the Catholic Relief Service’s annual Rice Bowl campaign.
Upon hearing the school would be honored, Principal Patricia Mancuso said, “We’re humbled. … We do these things from the bottom of our heart, but it is nice for the students to get a pat on the back for the things that they do.”
She continued, “Our goal here at Saint Mary’s is to make good people, so that when they leave us, all these things [like service] will continue to be a piece of who they are.”
The students, as well, are pleased to be recognized for the time, talent and treasure they have utilized to help their brothers and sisters in need.
“It feels good to help other people and know that the work we do is changing lives for the better,” eighth-grader Jagger Raubertas said.
His classmates Laney Reilly and Lyla Lenhardt also expressed joy, not only in the meaning of their work, but also the impact they are having as young Catholics.
“It’s important to share our time and gifts to help others,” Reilly said. “That’s what it means to live as a Catholic, to live your life as Jesus, to help others and treat everybody with kindness and respect.”
“It’s amazing to get honored,” Lenhardt added. “It shows that even when you’re a kid, you can still make a big difference in the world.”
For more information about the Dinner & Awards Ceremony, visit catholiccharitiessouthjersey.org/CCAD.
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