Am I Not Here

After historic floods devastated our parish communities over a week ago due to the remanents of Hurricane Ida, Tara and Jerry dedicated their time this week to reflect on the importance of surrender and the call to support our brothers and sisters in the most need right in our backyard. 

Before joining the diocese to serve as the diocesan director for the Office of the Diaconate in 2016, Deacon Stephen Kern worked in the World Trade Center as an attorney for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. He was on the sixty-second floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. 

Twenty years later, Deacon Kern shares with us his story of survival and mission for service since that fateful day. 

This week Jerry sits down with Bob Ferretti, Youth Minister at St. Joseph Parish in Millstone, NJ.

Their discussion highlights the ongoing fruits of Synod on Young People, the Faith, and Discernment and how to respond to a changing world in youth ministry amidst a pandemic. 

After what seems to be a challenging week, Tara and Jerry sit down to discuss the patronal feast day of the Diocese of Metuchen, the feast of the Queenship of Mary. Listen as they reflect on the preparation for the fortieth anniversary of the establishment of the Diocese of Metuchen and the mission of the Church in Central New Jersey.

BONUS: Jerry and Tara find prophetic words of the founder of the Diocese of Metuchen, St. John Paul II, on the importance of looking to the Blessed Mother for intercession. 

"His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy." -Matthew 25:23

After 20+ years serving in the Diocese of Metuchen, Tara and Jerry dedicate their week to Thomas DeLessio, Director of Music of the Cathedral of Saint Francis of Assisi, and Coordinator of Liturgical Music for the Diocese of Metuchen. 

As Thom marks the end of his journey with us, he reflects on the joys of the journey of a musician with great faith. Come September, Thom will be moving with his family to Florida to embrace the next steps on the journey. 

This week Tara and Jerry welcome their good friend Jennifer Ruggiero back to discuss how developing responses to and understanding our local public policy can be an opportunity to light hearts on fire for evangelization. 

Jennifer serves as the Secretary of the Secretariat for Family and Pastoral Life, Director of the Office of Human Life & Dignity, the Chairperson of the Diocese of Metuchen's Public Policy Committee, and a part of the statewide task force on addiction. 

What do Grace McCallum, Sydney McLaughlin, and Hidilyn Diaz have in common? Besides being Olympic champions, they show us how sports and the Olympic movement can be an opportunity for evangelization. 

This week, join Tara and Jerry as they discuss their top five evangelical moments thus far of the #Tokyo2020 Olympic Games. 

This week Tara and Jerry sit down with their in-house grandmother, Angela Marshall of St. James, Woodbridge, as the Church marks the first World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. 

Angela shares how the little things she does with her grandchildren spark curiosity for the faith and a relationship with Jesus.  Feeling called to share in family life and the pro-life movement, Angela also serves as the Program Coordinator for the Office of Human Life and Dignity for the Diocese of Metuchen. 

This week Jerry sits down with our own diocesan natural family planning instructors, Dan and Megan Carducci, as they share insights and information about the process of Natural Family Planning (NFP). As they give a brief overview of the process and the course, they also dispel many misconceptions associated with NFP and the Church's view. 

Find out more about Natural Family Planning in the Diocese of Metuchen at diometuchen.org/natural-family-planning

"like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house...” - 1 Peter 2:5

This week Tara and Jerry sit down with Enza Cerami, Founder of Living Stones. The mission of Living Stones is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ from teens to young adults and inspire them to live out the call of chastity

Find out more at: https://www.livingstoneschastity.org/about