ATCO – Decades removed from high school and college, 62-year-old Kathleen Cyr is still taking notes.
“I always have my notepad and pen handy,” she explained during the weekly class on the Catechism of the Catholic Church taught at Christ the Redeemer Parish.
Every Wednesday, from 9:30 to 10 a.m., Deacon Joseph Janocha, director of hospital chaplaincy for VITALity Catholic Healthcare Services Diocese of Camden, joins the participants of the parish’s Young at Heart Senior Ministry, helping them better understand the core tenets of the Catholic faith.
“I love to learn, and he gives very interesting talks,” Cyr said, adding that as an example, the group recently learned more about the Trinity.
Cyr joyfully admits she has the “gift of gab for Jesus,” and as such, enjoys sharing with her neighbors what she learns in the classes. Talking to others is not only a way to share her faith, but find purpose through the ongoing grief of losing her son, Ryan, 25 years ago.
“I’m walking into the streets where my son was raised, and it’s very painful, but the joy of the Lord is my strength,” she said.
Indeed, thanks in part to Deacon Janocha’s instruction, she has come to embody the theme of this year’s Catechetical Sunday observance: “Always be ready to give an explanation … for a reason for your hope.” (1 Peter 3:15)
For the past four years, Deacon Janocha has lent his time, energy and knowledge to Cyr and her peers, proving that at any age, there are still nuggets of wisdom to be learned.
“He’s made a big impact on the seniors,” said Young at Heart Director Kathy Benton. She first invited Deacon Janocha to the group in 2022, asking him to teach the Old Testament. The club – whose gatherings also include games, exercise and health screenings – blossomed into faith study.
“Every week, they want to learn more in his class, and he’s delivered,” Benton said.
Deacon Janocha first taught on the entirety of the Bible; last year, he began the Catechism to help seniors “not be intimidated, but navigate through it,” he said.
He acknowledged the difficulty of the Catechism classes, as opposed to those he taught on the Sacred Scripture. “With the Bible, people had a basic understanding, so there was more common ground. With the Catechism, though, it’s more of a cold call.”
The classes run from September to May. Judging by the reception last year – and after the first class of this year, Sept. 10 – his students are warming up. That lesson expounded on Part I, Section 2: “The Profession of Christian faith,” specifically the parts on the Trinitarian mystery.
“The whole Christian life is a communion with each of the divine persons,” the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Deacon Janocha said, quoting the Catechism. “Everyone who glorifies the Father does so through the Son in the Holy Spirit; everyone who follows Christ does so because the Father draws him and the Spirit moves him.”
After the main discussion, which also included the doctrine that Jesus is “consubstantial with the Father,” the curious class asked questions not just related to the Trinity, but on other faith matters, such as why the bells are rung at Mass during the consecration. The answer: to call attention to the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.
“The fact that they’re engaged, thirsty and asking good questions, that’s been very rewarding,” Deacon Janocha said “And it’s not the same people asking the same questions.”
One of those enjoying the discussions is 75-year-old Joe Crudele, who makes sure he is at the Young at Heart Senior Ministry every week. “I enjoy the company of my fellow seniors and Deacon Joe, who’s just fantastic. He always has something interesting and enjoyable to say.”
“I thought I knew a lot [about the Catechism], but now I’m finding out there’s a lot I had no clue about,” he added. “The classes have been very enlightening.”
Deacon Janocha’s lessons have also empowered Crudele to share what he’s learned. He has started going to daily Mass with a friend, explaining to that friend parts of the Mass.
That pleases Deacon Janocha, who said, “It’s not just about being grand evangelizers and getting on our soapbox, but doing the little things with love in our own homes and communities.”
“The seniors’ depth of understanding the faith is great,” he continued. “They want to know, learn and understand.”
For more information on these classes, contact Deacon Joseph Janocha at Joseph.Janocha@camdendiocese.org.
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