Catholic Charities, Diocese of Camden is proud to honor and recognize this year’s Disciples of Mercy honorees – individuals or small ministry per deanery who exemplify mercy by reaching out to those who are poor and vulnerable on a local level in South Jersey.
“Our Disciples of Mercy make me think of Pope Francis’ reflections on Recovering Kindness in ‘Fratelli Tutti.’ It seems to me that our honorees have chosen to give the gift of themselves and their service as acts of kindness that the Pope says ‘frees us’ from indifference to others. These acts of kindness are a wonderful gift practiced by our honorees, and in the Pope’s words, ‘help make other people’s lives more bearable,’” said Kevin Hickey, executive director of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Camden.
The honorees:
Mary McGinley
Mary, Queen of All Saints Parish, Pennsauken
Mary McGinley has been directing the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry at her parish for the past 20 years. Through her leadership, organizational skills, adaptability and ability to draw in volunteers, she’s transformed the food pantry from a small group that only provided meals to families during holidays into a year-round thriving parish-based community filled with volunteers from all walks of life. She has always ensured that there’s a role for everyone to fill – from those who are retired to high school students and former food pantry recipients who have volunteered after they no longer needed assistance.
Her skills were especially crucial during parts of the pandemic, when there were up to 70-80 families a week coming to the pantry, causing her to double her efforts: packaging boxes, filling out paperwork, arranging shopping to get extra food for new clients, coordinating efforts among volunteers, and working with foodbanks, government agencies and the community. She has been an example of compassion and mercy to all those she encounters.
Catherine E. Rainey
Saint Simon Stock Parish, Berlin
Over the decades, Catherine Rainey has found creative and new ways to serve populations in need. For over 25 years, she taught children with sensory and behavioral challenges, providing them with therapy and skills necessary to achieve a fuller and more productive life. She’s volunteered as a juvenile probation counselor, with the South Jersey Breast Cancer Coalition in Berlin, and she became trained in disaster relief to help families after Superstorm Sandy struck in 2012.
In addition to serving in her parish as a Eucharistic minister, lector, Pastoral Council member and running the parish thrift store, Rainey has been involved with the Saint Vincent de Paul Society for 10 years, serving as president since 2015. There, she has kept the mission alive, and has stayed actively involved with the many services, providing food, assistance with clothing, utilities, emergency shelter, transportation, emergency medical and prescriptions, home visits to determine individual and family needs, Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets, and Christmas toys/gifts for children. She has stayed actively committed to recruiting new members, and she has been a constant example of a humble servant who has demonstrated compassion and shown great dignity for those she has served.
David Tanzola
Catholic Community of the Holy Spirit, Mullica Hill
Five years ago, David Tanzola made the transition from serving on the parish Pastoral Council to expanding its Social Justice Ministry. While staying involved in many of the parish ministries, he reflected on the social teaching of “welcoming the stranger” when the refugee crisis was at an all-time high, and began organizing panel discussions with refugees and migrants in the Diocese, giving them a voice and an opportunity for Catholics to encounter and accompany these newcomers.
He was the first volunteer in the “Walk with Me” Mentorship program, where he was matched with a young refugee boy from Damascus, Syria, who had faced enormous childhood trauma when he was forced to flee his home country with his siblings and his parents. Tanzola became a father figure to this young man, changing the trajectory of his life by spending time with him every week – offering advice, mentorship and guidance. He became a beloved member of the family, guiding them through the many challenges that refugees face. Tanzola has served as a humble model of what it means to step outside one’s comfort zone and put faith into action through meaningful service, solidarity, accompaniment and bridge-building.
George ‘Chip’ Henry Wimberg IV
Saint Gianna Beretta Molla Parish, Northfield
George “Chip” Henry Wimberg has served his parish and community, and has excelled in guiding, leading and inspiring others, especially young people, in understanding Catholic social teaching and becoming more active Catholics outside the walls of their churches. The now 21-year old has been an invaluable asset to the Diocese’s Summer in the City program for years, first as a participant, and most recently as a leader. He has led projects at Catholic Charities’ center in Atlantic County – serving vulnerable families, organizing food pantries and thrift stores, and making the center a more welcoming environment for people to be served.
Wimberg has a firm understanding of how to welcome, accompany and serve the poor with dignity. He reminds other young people of the needs of their and humbly acts as a role model for those looking to carry out works of mercy.
Lawrence ‘Bud’ Birmingham and members of the All Saints Food Pantry
Parish of All Saints, Millville
For years, Lawrence “Bud” Birmingham and the members of the All Saints Food Pantry have worked tirelessly to ensure that the vulnerable members of the community are fed. They carry out this work in Cumberland County, where the food insecurity rate among children is ranked the highest in the state of New Jersey at 16.7 percent, and tied with Cape May County as the most food insecure county for all persons (11.3 percent). This group of dedicated individuals never stopped thinking about those in need, even throughout the pandemic.
Under Birmingham’s leadership, the food pantry members oversee the entire process of food collection and distribution – from placing the orders for food, filling out and completing necessary paperwork, arranging for transportation, unloading delivery trucks, sorting items, and bagging and sorting food. The group works closely with individuals and families to make sure that each of their specific needs are met. They carry out this work with great humility and with a sense of compassion and welcome, ensuring that all are treated with dignity throughout their work.
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