Local clergy stand with individuals who were honored May 9 at Beth El Synogogue in Margate for their interfaith and ecumenical contributions. Pictured from left are Rev. Douglas Eberly; Father Joseph Wallace; Assemblyman Chris Brown, recipient of the Humanitarian Award; Sandi Shechtman, recipient of the Community Award; Rabbi Aaron Krauss; Sen. James Whelan, recipient of the Brotherhood Award; Father Robert Hughes, Vicar General of the Diocese of Camden; and Rev. Eric McCoy.
This past week after celebrating the memory and interfaith contributions of a priest of our diocese who died in 1984, Father Thom Schiavo, I was saddened to hear of the death of another of our priests, Msgr. Eugene Fitzsimmons, who contributed so much to the cause of Christian unity here in New Jersey.
Msgr. Fitzsimmons was the ecumenical officer for the Diocese of Camden almost 25 years ago. He was a mentor to me in the field of ecumenism as he was my predecessor in the ministry. The first two years of transition into the office of ecumenical and interreligious ministry in the early 1990s, Msgr. Fitzsimmons and I would attend gatherings of the ecumenical officers from the State of New Jersey. He was beloved by the ecumenical community for his wisdom, gentleness and dedication. He would regale the group with his encyclopedic knowledge of canon law, the Latin language and ecumenical trivia of all kinds! He will be greatly missed and may he rest in God’s loving presence.
Last Friday, Jews, Catholics, Protestants and Muslims gathered to honor the memory of another of our priests, Father Thom Schiavo. Father Thom was assigned to the former Blessed Sacrament Parish in Margate. He befriended the local Jewish leader, Rabbi Aaron Krauss, from Beth El Synagogue in Margate, and shared with him that his grandmother was Jewish. Of course, Rabbi Krauss will then tell you by Jewish law – “you are Jewish!”
They struck up a wonderful friendship until Father Thom’s untimely death at the age of 37. In his memory Rabbi Krauss instituted an annual “Father Thom Schiavo Interfaith Service,” where three people from South Jersey are recognized for outstanding contributions to interfaith cooperation and community service. Over the years many from our diocese have received one of these recognitions. I am proud to say I received the award 10 years ago and treasure its meaning.
This year’s award ceremony was once again held at Beth El Synagogue. Father Robert Hughes, Vicar General of the Diocese of Camden, presided at the ceremony with Rabbi Krauss. Father Hughes brought the greetings of Bishop Dennis Sullivan and the Diocese of Camden; he also emphasized the importance of the close and deep relationship between Catholics and Jews in our South Jersey area. With humor and warmth he spoke of the lasting contribution that Father Thom has left us all and he encouraged all present to continue the good work of walking together to foster the work of building community and interfaith respect.
The three recipients of the Father Schiavo Presentations were: Sen. Jim Whelan who received the Brotherhood Award, Assemblyman Chris Brown who received the Humanitarian Award and Sandi Schechtman who received the Community Award. The awards were presented by Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian. The normal Sabbath Service was enhanced by the giving of the awards and by music provided by the combined choirs of Beth El Synagogue Choir, Holy Spirit High School Choir and Holy Trinity Parish Choir. Prayers and poems were recited by various clergy from the local Catholic, Protestant and Islamic communities.
Sen. Jim Whelan said he was honored to receive the award for brotherhood and shared that it reminded him of his responsibility to foster unity. “It’s a lesson those of us in politics certainly need to be reminded of over and over again,” Whelan said. “When you receive an award like this, it reminds you to try that much harder.” He said it would encourage him as a civil servant to try to put aside our differences and work for the common good.
Assemblyman Chris Brown was selected for the humanitarian award in recognition of his military and community service. “To say it’s an honor and a privilege to receive the Father Thom Schiavo Memorial award is an understatement,” said Brown. “There are not enough efforts, like this ceremony, to build bridges of understanding among people with different beliefs, customs and traditions. I was fortunate to learn as a boy to appreciate the differences among us and yet, see what unites us.”
Sandi Schechtman, a member of Beth El, said of receiving her community award, “I’ve been fortunate to be able to help Beth El, not just financially, but I give of myself.”
Father Joseph D. Wallace is coordinator, Ecumenical and Inter-religious Affairs, Diocese of Camden.
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