Fidelina Acevedo can sum up her experience in the Diocese of Camden’s Instituto de Ministerio Eclesial de Camden formation program in one word: salvation.
“IMEC is not just for you to learn more about the Church; it’s for you to put your faith into practice. It’s salvation not just for yourself, but for others,” said Acevedo, one of the 117 Hispanic IMEC students who gathered Aug. 24 for Mass and dinner at Saint Jude Church, Our Lady of Hope Parish, Blackwood, to celebrate completing their course levels. In addition to clergy and diocesan staff, the students’ friends and family were in attendance.
IMEC is a three-year certificate program designed to enrich the faith formation of lay men and women. It prepares Catholics for ministry and service in their parishes or other apostolates. Participants can earn a Diocesan certificate in catechetics or pastoral ministry through these courses that serve to provide a foundation in theological studies, pastoral skills and spiritual development, integrated with preparation for ministry and service.
“It is a beautiful evening as the students come with their families. It is great to see the children witnessing their parents completing this formation to better serve Jesus in the Latino community of South Jersey,” said Andrés Arango, Bishop’s Delegate for Hispanic Ministry and director of evangelization.
The IMEC program seeks to form participants in their personal relationship with Jesus Christ through ongoing conversation and to foster a greater knowledge and deeper appreciation of the Catholic Church and its teachings. In the spirit of the Second Vatican Council, this formation program helps adults live out their baptismal call.
“At the beginning, I didn’t know what to expect from the process. Now, I realize it’s given me more faith to keep searching for God and keep sharing everything I know with others,” said Salvador Jeronimo, who was celebrating finishing level 3 of IMEC and earning his certificate of completion.
One of those people he shared with along the way was his mother, who was in attendance as he graduated from the program. Others included the members of the Legion of Mary ministry in which he serves at his parish, Holy Cross in Bridgeton. “I was encouraging them to learn more about Jesus, explaining about how to understand the books in the Bible – Old and New Testament. It was refreshing.”
Jeronimo said he found the IMEC classes engaging. Taught by clergy, religious sisters and laity, the lessons covered a variety of topics. He admitted that the process was challenging because it took time and dedication.
“We have many things in life keeping us busy in life – family, work, responsibilities. But we have to give time to God, too, and this is the perfect way to do it,” he said.
Andres Pérez, also of Holy Cross Parish, is hoping to teach religious education or Bible classes now that he has completed IMEC. “I think one reason Catholics are leaving the Church is because they really don’t know the Church. I have a better understanding of the Church now, and I would like to share that.”
“I also feel like God is now more like my friend and that I am a better friend to God,” said Pérez, who also has studied apologetics.
Accompanied by his two sons and their wives, Pérez found the evening special for another reason, too. Father Rene Canales, pastor of Lindenwold’s Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Shrine, preached the homily. Father Canales and Father Adam Cichoski, pastor of Camden’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, who concelebrated Mass, presented the IMEC certificates.
“I have known Father Canales since he was a seminarian and throughout the many ministries I have served in,” Pérez said. “We have been praying for him since he was a seminarian, and now he’s praying for all of us. That’s the fruit of prayer.”
In his homily, Father Canales preached on John 1:43-51 and how Jesus called Philip and Nathanael. While Philip was excited to have met the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, Nathanael asks, “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?”
“During his ministry, Jesus kept crossing borders,” Father Canales said. “The border between Judea and Samaria, the border between Jews and Gentiles, the border between pure and impure, between male and female, between the vision of God and the preconceived ideas of what the world is or should be. … To follow Christ is to cross borders, to put aside the accepted parameters that separate people from each other, who constantly judge and assign value depending on their social and economic place, where they come from the color of their skin, language, etc.”
“We are called to strive and work for a kingdom of God in which everyone is valued,” he said. “When we hear Jesus say ‘follow me,’ this not-so-simple invitation calls us to get out of our comfort zone, our prejudices and favoritism … to follow Paul’s advice in Philippians: ‘With humility, consider others as superior to yourselves,’ no matter where you come from.”
Indeed, with IMEC students coming from across South Jersey – including Ocean City, Atlantic City, Swedesboro, Hammonton, Lindenwold, Northfield, Blackwood, Vineland, Bridgeton and Camden – future lay ministers will be crossing borders.
For Acevedo, that has already started. When she and her husband – both of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla Parish, Northfield – signed up for IMEC, she didn’t realize she would be driving an hour to Bridgeton for classes.
“At first, I said, ‘Oh no.’ But God was telling me, ‘You need this. It’s what you have been looking for,’” Acevedo said. The couple decided to put a positive spin on the commute, using the time to discuss IMEC lessons and visiting their two granddaughters in Bridgeton before classes.
During the process, her husband, Carlos Gonzalez, began discerning a different call. He finished level one of IMEC and joined the Diocese of Camden’s permanent diaconate program. He is now in his third year, having recently been called during the Rite of Admission to Candidacy for Holy Orders.
“At first, I was worried [about the commitment to IMEC and] knowing I would be driving myself. But I thought, ‘If God is calling him to be a deacon, he’s calling me to finish IMEC,” Acevedo said.
With her IMEC certificate in hand, Acevedo has begun a new endeavor in her parish. Already a lector, she is now the volunteer coordinator for special events, too. Only a month into the job, and she has 45 volunteers.
She is quick to credit her motivation: “I got the spirit from IMEC to do it.”
For more information on IMEC or the lay ministry formation program in English known as CMIC (Church Ministry Institute of Camden), visit camdendiocese.org. Those interested in IMEC can also call Rubi Lukasiewicz at (856) 583 6170.
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