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MUSTARD SEED AWARDEES 2007
The Mustard Seed Award is given to parishes that exemplify active parent participation in their religious education programs. Through the outstanding efforts of the DRE, supported by the pastor, these parishes empower families and offer significant, creative, dynamic and consistent resources to encourage faith growth in parish and family settings.
The 2007 awardees are:
Our Lady of Loretto Parish, Cold Spring, NY
Rev. Brian McSweeney, Pastor
St. Christopher's Church, Buchanan, NY
Msgr. Donald Hendricks, Pastor
St. Patrick's Church, Verplanck, NY
Rev. Andrew Kurzyna, Pastor
Mrs. Catherine M. Garnsey, DRE for all three parishes
This Mustard Seed Award recognizes three small parishes along the Hudson River in New York and their Parish Catechetial Leader, Mrs. Catherine Garnsey. While this program includes weekly catechesis either in the classroom or at home, each family also designs its specific plan of faith formation from numerous offerings. A particularly effective strategy is the formation of Parish Catechetical Advisory Teams who plan and support family centered parish activities that are integral to the program. Monthly Family Catechesis programs as well as orientation, formation, newsletter and web support assist parents in their work with their children. All three parishes and pastors value this merger of programs.
St. Mary Magdelen, Media, PA
Sally Ann Grande, DRE / Rev. Ralph Chieffo, Pastor
St. Mary Magdalen Parish in Media, PA is recognized for its particular gift of collaboration among Rev. Ralph Chieffo, the Pastor, Mrs. Patricia Miniszak, the Principal and Mrs. Sally Grande, the Director of Religious Education. The parents of ALL parish children, senior citizens, and young adults play a key role in promoting the faith community. Sacramental Saturday is a day for ALL adults of the parish, Advent Family Day enables ALL families to participate in crafts and outreach activities. Seniors and the very young make heart pillows for the heart patients at local parishes. Both school and religious education parents manage the Children's Stewardship Committee. They are most proud of the spirit of this active faith community.
The Church of the Most Holy Trinity, Augusta, GA
Barbara O'Grady, DRE / Fr. Michael Lubinsky, Pastor
The Church of the Most Holy Trinity was selected as a recipient of the Mustard Seed Award becaue of the high rate of parental input, leadership, and participation in a number of interactive, spiritual growth activities offered for the entire parish family each week in a welcoming and challenging environment. Opportunities for adult faith formation include Bible study during PRE sessions on Sunday morning, as well as on Sunday evenings, whole community catechesis on Wednesday evenings, family events scheduled througout the year, and access to a resource library for reading materials and videos. Parents have been involved in creating and facilitating the whole community catechesis program, called Wednesday Night Way to Holiness. After going through a training program, parents are given the responsibility of running the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program. The parish sends Faith At Home family newsletters every month as part of their ongoing effort to encourage parents to become full partners in the religious formation of their children. Barbara is commended for her able direction and her ability to gain commitments from parishioners across the board.
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