A day of recollection was held at St. Anthony Church, St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Parish, Hammonton, on Sept. 26 for secretaries of the Camden Diocese. In attendance were more than 130 secretaries, plus administrators and Bishop Dennis Sullivan. Left photo, Father Christopher Markellos speaks to the group. Right, secretaries talk in church after Mass.
Left photo above courtesy of The Hammonton Gazette
They don’t administer the sacraments. They don’t take religious vows or preach.
And yet, as any priest or parish worker will tell you, the parish would be lost without them.
The parish secretary performs “clerical” duties but her role and skills extend far beyond the ability to schedule appointments and order supplies.
Usually the first parish representative a person – and often that person is in distress – comes in contact with, a parish secretary has to be committed to the ideals of the church, looking out for the best interests of the parish staff and the parishioners
Parish secretaries have to be “witnesses to Christ,” in the words of Dominican Sister Peggy Devlin, who was the presenter for the Parish Secretaries Day of Recollection, held Sept. 26 at St. Mary of Mount Carmel Parish in Hammonton.
Some 130 secretaries from around the Diocese of Camden gathered for Mass with Bishop Dennis Sullivan, and an all-day presentation with Sister Peggy, who spoke on the important role of secretaries in the life of the church.
As secretaries are usually the first person visitors to the parish encounter, Sister Peggy said, it is important that these secretaries be “hospitable, kind, welcoming and patient.”
In order to best emulate these qualities, and be effective witnesses of Christ, she said, secretaries must nourish their spiritual life, in such ways as the day of recollection.
Bishop Sullivan, as well, addressed the audience, speaking on his desire to provide opportunities for secretaries to become spiritually energized and recognize their role in providing witness to the faith.
Secretaries left the day appreciative, and energized by Sister Peggy Devlin and Bishop Sullivan.
The retreat was “a wonderful day. Refreshing, reflective,” said Rita Custis, from St. Josephine Bakhita Parish in Camden, adding that it was “very nice to be able to pray together with other secretaries…the bishop was very welcoming and the Mass was a wonderful expression of unity when we could all pray together.”
“It was a very nice day, and it’s very nice to be recognized,” said Janice McCann, from Emmaus Catholic Community in Mount Ephraim. “I was glad I attended,” she said, adding that the day gave her “a chance to step away from everything and relax.”
Lisa Weiss, from St. Joseph in Somers Point, appreciated “the affirmation we received from Sister Peggy and Bishop Sullivan, and the reminder that we have to see the face of Jesus in all of those we meet, especially on a difficult day. Both Sister Peggy and Bishop Sullivan shared tremendous words of wisdom that I wish all lay persons and staff could hear.”
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