Editor’s Note: The Diocese of Camden is holding a Job Fair from 3 to 7 p.m. Nov. 10 at the Catholic Church of Saint Mary, Cherry Hill. Employment opportunities are available in multiple departments across the Diocese’s six counties. In advance of the Job Fair, the Catholic Star Herald is spotlighting men and women who work for the Diocese and how the Church has been a satisfactory career destination for them. Job seekers are welcome to pursue the employment opportunities advertised on the diocesan website at camdendiocese.org/employment.
From managing finances and operating diocesan ministries, to supporting parish and school communities, there is a team of experienced professionals who work each day to support the faith community of the Diocese of Camden.
The myriad of positions offered at the diocesan level also provide a range of opportunities for career professionals interested in job opportunities that blend faith and work.
“The work done by the staff here at the Diocese is important, and each and every person I work with is so professional and thoughtful,” says Tami Wallace, a financial analyst who supports schools throughout the Diocese. “Much of what is done here in our Camden office is done behind the scenes, but it is all essential to having the entire organization run efficiently.”
Wallace is responsible for working with elementary and high schools on financing and budgeting. Her job involves working on funding models and consolidating data to measure financial strengths and weaknesses among school communities.
Before joining the Diocese four years ago, she worked as an accountant for a South Jersey marketing firm. Working with bookkeepers, business managers and principals for South Jersey Catholic schools hits home for Wallace.
“As a product of a Catholic education, I believe in and support Catholic education,” she says. “The students enrolled in our schools are the future of the Church and knowing that, I want to help the schools succeed in any way possible. I see the good things going on at our schools and how hard everyone is working to bring quality Catholic education to the students of South Jersey, and it inspires me to work harder and be a better person.”
Kevin Drum, the diocesan controller, has had a distinguished career serving he Church in financial management roles. He spent 25 years working for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia as an auditor – starting off as a staff auditor before taking the position of senior auditor and later assistant director. He also spent three years as the business manager for Cardinal O’Hara High School, Springfield, Pa. He joined the Diocese of Camden in 2015 as the assistant controller before rising to his current position.
“My entire professional career has been in Church accounting,” says Drum.
In his current role, Drum manages day-to-day financial activity for the Diocese, including at the central office as well as parish savings and loans accounts, investment portfolios for the healthcare foundation, priest pension funds, lay pension funds and the diocesan trust fund.
“The proper management and utilization of the assets entrusted to the Diocese enables the Bishop to minister and evangelize to the Catholic community in South Jersey in various ways,” he says. “One of these ways is through his visitations to the parishes, schools and institutions during the year. It also allows the various departments in the central office to provide various activities and events during the year that provide the Catholic community an opportunity to draw closer to God.”
Like Wallace, Drum sees the work of diocesan staff as critical.
“We all need to realize God’s role in our lives. In our hectic world, we can sometimes lose sight of this,” he says. “Through the various activities and events sponsored by the Diocese, we can help people to take a step back, slow down and realize that God is always with us. We just need to acknowledge him.”
Drum is able to integrate his faith and work each day. “My role affords me the opportunity help utilize the temporal resources of the Diocese for the betterment of other,” he reflects. “It may not bring direct evangelization to the people, but it plays a part in the process.”
He encourages others to consider a position with the Diocese of Camden.
“It is not just a matter of receiving a paycheck every two weeks,” he says. “There is a sense of purpose that comes with the completion of your tasks and responsibilities. You play a small role in helping to make God visible to many.”
Rubi Lukasiewicz, the executive assistant for diocesan Hispanic Ministry and Evangelization, came to the Diocese after a 16-year career working in the social services field.
In her current role, she is responsible for a range of tasks – including networking with Hispanic parishes, assisting with diocesan events, promoting the Hispanic ministry, preparing newsletters for parishes, translating materials into either Spanish or English, maintaining financial records for Hispanic Ministry activities and administering the Lay Ministry program in Spanish.
“I have the possibility to help others and share that we all play an important role in our Catholic faith by serving others as Jesus did,” Lukasiewicz says when speaking about her work. “I can integrate my faith into my work every day, treating people with respect, [being] willing to extend grace and supporting others. I can pray regularly at work, attend Mass, have spiritual conversations with my co-workers to continue to build and strengthen my faith.”
Lukasiewicz sees the importance of diocesan personnel in the overall support of the faithful throughout South Jersey, and she attests to the importance of administrative roles.
“The administrative role in the Diocese is important because it makes a baptismal call to the entire diocesan Catholic community to live as collaborators through the work of our hands, mind and spirit,” she says. “An example of this is the House of Charity – Bishop’s Annual Appeal, which offers the opportunity to support the mission of the Church by helping those in need.”
Wallace finds her job at the Diocese of Camden to be fulfilling, and she enjoys working with her colleagues.
“I feel fortunate to work with so many good people,” she says. “That is what keeps me going, and that is what keeps me focused. I consider everyone I come into contact with a part of my work family.”
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