SPEAKER_03 0:07

Welcome to Beyond the Beacon with Bishop Kevin Sweeney, a podcast of the Diocese of Patterson. I'm Jay Agnish, Communications Director for the Diocese and editor of the Beacon Newspaper. With me is Bishop Kevin Sweeney. Bishop, good morning. How are you doing today? I'm good, Jay. How are you? Doing well, thank you. What what's new? Some uh sports updates at all, or do we do we want to run run and hide?

SPEAKER_01 0:28

Um but they won the game. Um my goodness. Uh I was at Del Barton School yesterday and uh it was a wonderful visit. I thanked them and uh they give me the privilege of announcing a bishop's day off, you know, for the visit. And uh last year they handed me the card and they had the date. It was the Monday after the Super Bowl. So I said to the students, I was announcing it yesterday, I said, when I was here last year I announced you had a day off the day after the Super Bowl, and you have a day off again this year after the Super Bowl. I said, last year I announced that uh it was gonna be a Jets Giants Super Bowl. I said that didn't work out. It's not looking so good. But I I said I hope for the Giants maybe it was just a blip. And I said, for the Jets, wouldn't it be great if this Zach Wilson, the backup quarterback, becomes an MVP candidate, and uh you never know strange things have happened, but poor old Jets, my goodness.

SPEAKER_03 1:16

Yeah, yeah. Well, yeah, it was a fun finale to the game, that's for sure. So yeah, new state.

SPEAKER_01 1:21

And I just have to mention, I heard on the radio today I hadn't been following it that closely because it's been uh pretty dismal. But the Yankees now are seven games back with 17 to play, so it's not over yet. It's not over yet. We just need to beat Seranto six in a row and so keep on rooting for them. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:41

There you go. So with us today, I want to introduce our guests before we open up with prayer. Uh to my left, Sister Maris Larkin, who's a sister of charity of St. Elizabeth. Uh, she is the principal of Assumption School in Morristown. Across the way is Monsignor John Hart, the pastor of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Morristown. And the two work closely together. And so, new school year, we want to talk talk to some of the leaders of one of our uh schools here in the diocese. So, welcome to both of you. Thank you so much for being on and joining us.

SPEAKER_00 2:18

Thank you, Chad.

SPEAKER_03 2:18

Thank you. Thank you, Jay. Of course. Thanks for being here. Yes. Thank you, Bishop. My pleasure. Bishop, I'll hand it over to you for opening prayer.

SPEAKER_01 2:24

So we'll place ourselves in God's presence in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Amen. As we give thanks to God for the gifts and blessings of each day. And this coming Sunday will uh rec mark Catechetical Sunday, and we think of all catechist parents as the first teachers of their children in the ways of faith, and uh catechists in our parishes, and especially as we're with Monsignor Hart and Sister Maris, uh, all those who lead and serve in our Catholic schools, especially here in our diocese at Assumption and throughout our diocese, uh pastors, priests, religious women and men in consecrated life, and lay teachers and administrators and parents working together and schools as a ministry of the parish. Uh, we have much to be grateful for. And we ask God as we begin this new school year to continue to bless all those who serve in any catechetical role, and especially those who serve and lead our Catholic schools, and we ask the help and intercession of Mary, our blessed mother, as we pray. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Saint Joseph, pray for us, Saint John the Baptist, pray for us, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray for us, St. John Chrysostom, pray for us. Both holy men and women, pray for us in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Amen.

SPEAKER_03 3:53

All right. So, Bishop, do you want to kick us off?

SPEAKER_01 3:56

Sure, Jay, thank you. And thanks uh for uh suggesting a pastor and a principal because uh we as we begin the school year, we thought it'd be good to kind of have a back to school episode here on our podcast. And uh I've shared often that in grammar school and high school uh this was my least favorite time of the year. Going back to school. Sure. Um it's it's also a wonderful time as we realize uh the gift of education. And um I I think of my own parents and sacrificing to give a Catholic education to my sister and my brother and myself, and and and what those sacrifice how difficult some of those sacrifices were. But uh thank God for for that gift. And um in Jay suggesting uh a pastor and a principal, uh, we thought uh, and we have so many wonderful Catholic schools in our um diocese and pastors and principals working together. It's so wonderful when it's really a team effort. And uh so I thought um just for to hear from you and your experience, um, uh maybe Sister Marish, you can start us off. I think you've been in Assumption now a couple of years, right, in the school.

SPEAKER_00 4:59

I'm just learning the ropes uh bishop uh year 44. I think by year 45 I'm gonna have it down.

SPEAKER_01 5:06

So maybe just a little bit about um your experience over these years at the school, and I guess you've worked with a few pastors now, but a number of years. How many with Monsignor Hart?

SPEAKER_00 5:14

Uh what we 16, 14. 14.

SPEAKER_01 5:17

So 14 years. Your experience, um uh maybe maybe a word about your own vocation, uh responding to to the call and then how it led you to be an educator.

SPEAKER_00 5:26

I went to school uh at St. Aloysius in Jersey City. Uh was not a good student, did not like school. Um, but somehow I think the nuns liked me.

SPEAKER_01 5:37

Nice.

SPEAKER_00 5:38

So I would on weekends when I could finally drive, I would take them grocery shopping. So even though I was a troublemaker, I got through, and it was something about all of them that led me to that life.

SPEAKER_01 5:51

They had a soft spot for you, and you had a bit of a soft spot for them as well, right?

SPEAKER_00 5:55

So that led me to Convent Station from Convent Station uh in 1971 when I graduated from the college. I went to Bloomfield and I taught there for eight years. And then unhappily, having to leave there, I thought I have to go up to Assumption, whatever that's about. Well, the rest I was young and beautiful then. Now I'm there my entire life, more than half my life. And we've had you know what one of the nice things about it, Bishop, is we've always had a good relationship with the principal and the pastor. It's just always worked, and that's one of the factors I think. Would you agree? Yes, sir, very much that keeps it keeps it going so strong.

SPEAKER_01 6:40

A successful school, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 6:41

Yeah, Father Martin, Father John supported the school, they speak about the school, they're visible in the school, and people know that we like one another. So they know there's never gonna be a conflict, there's never gonna be a problem, uh, and it works. And we've got wonderful, wonderful families.

SPEAKER_01 6:59

Did you go as principal?

SPEAKER_00 7:01

No. I taught for 15 years.

SPEAKER_01 7:04

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 7:04

I taught in the third grade and then the fifth grade for one year, and then one year just kind of learned the ropes as vice principal. So fifteen years and then jumped into it.

SPEAKER_03 7:14

So this would be my twenty-ninth year, thirtieth year as a assumption is uh pre-K three through eighth grade, right?

SPEAKER_00 7:22

Yes, yes it is, Jay.

SPEAKER_01 7:24

Great.

SPEAKER_00 7:24

Yep.

SPEAKER_01 7:24

And so, Monsignor, uh maybe uh where you grew up in the seminary and when you were ordained, and um what it's been like to be pastor of Assumption with the school and working with Sister Maris if you were.

SPEAKER_04 7:35

Thank you very much, Bishop. Yes. I uh was born in Brooklyn. We moved to Clifton, New Jersey, about a mile away from here in 1966. Dad worked for Conn Edison. I went to public school all my life until I was thinking about being a priest, and so I went to Newman Prep, which was a high school seminary. That was my first experience there. And uh growing up, I always saw a priest that I admired, and something in me said, maybe I could be like that, maybe I could do that. And so they kind of inspired me in every step along the way. I went on to uh Immaculate Conception Seminary for the Newark Archdiocese, and then I was ordained a deacon at Annunciation Parish in Wayne at the beginning of my life as a cleric, and now toward the end of my life as a cleric, I'm at Assumption, so like following the Blessed Mother, who's always guided me and been a help uh for me. And so um I was pleased to be a Corpus Christi parish in Chatham Township first, and then they sent me to study canon law and work in the tribunal, and then I was Bishop Redimer's secretary from 1990 to 1996, and then I was assigned to his home parish, St. Cecilia's, in Rockaway with the Catholic school, and also Sacred Heart a few years later in Rockaway with the Catholic school, and I worked with wonderful principals there. And then uh Bishop Ceratelli assigned me to go to Assumption. I didn't want to leave where I was, but I'm so happy I said yes, and of course I've just never been happier. It's great working with Sister Maris, she's amazing. So we do work hand in glove together. Um when I first got to Assumption, I called her up to arrange appointments to meet. You know, you she knew you know what I'm gonna say. So I I called Sister up and I said, Sister, uh looking forward to working with you. Let me assure you that I have no desire to be the principal of the school. And she said, Father, that's okay. I have no desire to be the pastor of the parish. So we work together in the U.S. It works well. And the main thing is as as sister said, we're friends. You know, we're friends, we like each other. You know, we hang out together every so often. We play golf when we can sometimes, you know. And um, you're a golfer, sister.

SPEAKER_00 9:35

I play golf. I wouldn't call myself a golfer.

SPEAKER_04 9:38

I'm with you. I'm in I'm in the same boat. So we do we have we have a good time. And I think uh it's spirit, uh sister's spirit which permeates the whole school, and that's the reason why it is so successful. Because she knows the children, she knows the families. Uh we don't do open houses. Uh if people want to come to the school with their children, they make an appointment.

SPEAKER_00 9:57

It's really bad word of mouth.

SPEAKER_04 9:58

It's word of mouth appreciation, huh? Word of mouth, which is the best form of advertising. I think Henry Ford said that. Right. So they come uh to be meet sister, and sister gives them a tour of the school, popping into the different classrooms. And so while they get they're getting to know the school and getting to know sister, she's getting to know them. So she knows every family from the ground floor up, and she knows them. And that's part of the big secret of the school.

SPEAKER_01 10:19

And uh that the school is a minist uh part of the ministry of the parish, right? I mean that uh uh I love those signs that have many in the schools that Jesus is the reason for the school. I forget the exact, but he's uh he's with the teachers, he's he's the he's the reason that we're here. So maybe each you can just say a c a few words about uh maybe Monsignor, first in terms of the connection between the school and the parish and how uh who we are as a parish family uh expresses itself in in offering a Catholic school to the to the parents, and then maybe, sister, some of your own experiences as a uh an educator in the faith.

SPEAKER_04 10:52

Well, uh all of our parishioners admire our school, which has an amazing reputation, and sister did an amazing job getting us through COVID and pivoting when we were going through that crisis. But as you said, it's an important part of the ministry of the parish, and the parish supports it. We have a very wonderful school, and we also have a very wonderful faith formation program for our children in public school. And sister and her staff and our faith formation people, they work hand in glove together, helping each other out.

SPEAKER_00 11:21

Which doesn't always happen.

SPEAKER_04 11:22

Which doesn't always happen. There's no animosity, but there's no animosity.

SPEAKER_00 11:27

They took my pencil, I have no crayons, they glued my books.

SPEAKER_01 11:31

What are we doing?

SPEAKER_04 11:33

For example, when it's first holy communion time for the school children, our Linda and our faith formation people help in the background to help make sure everything works out alright. And then the school people do the same when it's the faith formation first communion. Same as with reconciliation. So it's it's a good uh it's a good fit. It's a good team.

SPEAKER_00 11:50

It is, and you know, uh the nice thing, we have um we have many kids who come that they're not baptized, you know, young families, and then they're always embarrassed to tell you, uh, you know, we really don't go to church. I said, Listen, I you're not here for confession. But I'm gonna tell you, if you put your kids here, you're gonna want to get involved. And I can't tell you how many times it's from the child's perspective that they want to be involved. So, you know, they take religion, they go to mass with us, and then they'll say to the parents, I want to be I want to be Catholic.

SPEAKER_04 12:26

Oh wow, yes, and there it is. Right. The Lord works with the children.

SPEAKER_00 12:32

And then the whole family comes to to terms with it.

SPEAKER_04 12:35

And at the at the school masses, we have a lot of parents and grandparents who come. Oh wow, you know, and the children who are not Catholic, they come up and they they get a blessing, but they're exposed to the homilies and to the singing. We've got a wonderful children's choir uh that sings for the school masses, and so uh that spirituality, our belief in Jesus, uh is an integral part of the school.

SPEAKER_00 12:55

Right. I always say to the families that aren't Catholic, you know what, we're more alike than different.

SPEAKER_01 12:59

Oh yeah, right.

SPEAKER_00 13:00

Right, we're more alike than different. That's right, that's right. Right, that's greater than us, you know. Right, right.

SPEAKER_03 13:07

We had a we had a great article that um Mike Wochuk, uh one of our writers for the Beacon, wrote last year about Sister Maris, and and you were included in that as well, Monsignor Hart. And and one of the just stru struck me like the fact that both of you are are out there at like seven o'clock in the morning greeting greeting the students as they're getting off the bus or out of the cars. I mean, if that doesn't say something, right? I mean that that uh can you describe uh what the atmosphere maybe that you're trying to create at at the school? I mean, uh this article also referenced some uh some some fun uh activities that you do, like uh singing in the lunchroom.

SPEAKER_00 13:47

Almost everything is fun at assumption. Almost fun, then academics. You know, you have to have fun while you're doing all this.

SPEAKER_01 13:56

My first pastor used to say uh in this parish we have two rules. He said, rule number one, we're gonna have fun. He said, Rule number two is some work is gonna have to get done. But rule number two can never get in the way of rule number one.

SPEAKER_00 14:10

Yeah, and and I and I think it's really a family, it's a like a family. People always say that when they walk in. We had one uh home and school uh president that used to say, When my child gets on the bus in the morning, I take a deep breath because I know they're gonna be safer at Assumption School than in my house.

SPEAKER_01 14:28

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 14:28

You know, it's just a family, I think even the kids feel that.

SPEAKER_04 15:13

Sister and I are outside in front of the school, and a number of teachers and aides are out there greeting the kids as they come in. And the teachers and sisters they know all the children by name, and they can tell who needs special help getting out of the car and who this one is.

SPEAKER_01 15:25

And you mentioned you have a special welcome on opening day or first day of school.

SPEAKER_00 15:29

We have the Denville string band. Uh we've had them now for the last five or six years, and they all set up their 109 in the shade, and they have come with their costumes and their a tuba and banjos, and they welcome everybody in. It's they're like our family now too. They look forward to coming.

SPEAKER_01 15:49

I have a uh couple of questions about uh you know where we are today and the challenges of Catholic schools. Certainly, unfortunately, we've seen so many cool schools close and the economics. But um uh mentioning uh the first day of school, I shared before that uh um when I first arrived in 2020 and we were going through that terrible time of the of the lockdown. And uh I remember that summer uh principals and pastors and administrators making a plan to return and then changing the plan and the protocols and the and all that you had to do. But the one memory stands out was uh a video of uh Singing in the Rain, which you uh uh assisted with your um uh teachers, right, had made to welcome the joke.

SPEAKER_00 16:27

Yes, we tried to do something again to make it fun to start. So one of the teachers um wrote the words, and I was just playing around with it one night and I was singing it. A friend of mine taped it, so we thought we're gonna go with that. It wasn't yeah, the umbrellas. So every teacher had to do a piece of it, you know, and then we got it all spliced together, and uh it was just great fun to do.

SPEAKER_01 16:53

Right.

SPEAKER_00 16:53

People talk about it all the time.

SPEAKER_01 16:55

Amazing. And uh on that note, um think 44 years and uh uh technology, how things have changed and and how technology is used in education and the challenges that it brings. Um what would you say uh the I'm sure all the uh do the pre-K have phones already?

SPEAKER_00 17:12

Not the pre-K, but kindergarten up all have Chromebooks. I would have to say I'm probably the least technological person in the building. But I know who to go to to get help.

SPEAKER_01 17:21

Right, right.

SPEAKER_00 17:22

Um but they all know it. They all know it.

SPEAKER_01 17:24

And would you say overall helpful in terms of the educational experience?

SPEAKER_00 17:27

Um I think a lot of it is I think a lot of it um I don't like to see kids sitting on a Chromebook all day long. Right. Screen can't have a relationship with a Chromebook.

SPEAKER_01 17:37

Right, right.

SPEAKER_00 17:37

You have to have the relationship with the teacher.

SPEAKER_01 17:40

And you couldn't have my favorite class with the Chromebook, which was Jim. So exactly.

SPEAKER_00 17:44

It's everybody's favorite class, that lunch, and recess. That's right. That's right. But yes, we use it a lot. We're lucky enough to have up-to-date technology. We have an amazing technology teacher and parents who help us out with all that. We have state of the art, everything.

SPEAKER_01 18:01

And as a church, you know, what we've been through since even the Second Vatican Council and the cultural changes you mentioned, uh, your first uh eight years from 71 to 79, I think those were certainly interesting times to be in the church and in this part of the world and in education, certainly. Uh, but um uh and you know, we're so blessed as a church, and especially I I think um not some of our younger priests might be who came from other parts of the world. Uh God bless them and thank we're grateful to have them. But I I'm not sure that they realize um what Catholic schools have meant for especially this part of the country. And we're saying you're 173, right? Years? I was at St. Vincent Martyr, which is celebrated 175. Um but so much of that is because of women and men religious in consecrated life who uh yes, they had many ministries, but so much, so many schools that they ran and so many classes that they taught. And now there are fewer, but thank God there's some like yourself, sister, that are um but uh maybe to say a word about that, and but also um uh since the second Second Vatican Council, we asked the laity, right, to live their their baptismal call and to how how I'm sure your teachers, they're not there for the salary, right? It's a vocation, right?

SPEAKER_00 19:07

Now, Bishop, to your point. Um, like when I went to school, we had thirty thirty nuns in the school teaching you.

SPEAKER_02 19:13

Right.

SPEAKER_00 19:14

Um I always say I'm the last nun standing now in the world. Um but uh no, our teachers have definitely they take on the charism of charity. They know exactly what the sisters of charity are about, and they continue that mission.

SPEAKER_01 19:30

That's so important, right?

SPEAKER_00 19:32

Because they will be the ones continuing when when we're no longer there. Right.

SPEAKER_01 19:36

Right, right, right.

SPEAKER_00 19:36

You know, they are faithful, faithful, faithful teachers.

SPEAKER_01 19:41

When we when we think of some of the challenges today, uh uh administration and finance is uh how do and and that's a big part of I'm sure of what you do working together, right, as pastor and principal, uh the budgets and the buildings and the fundraising. Uh how do you handle some of that uh uh an assumption as as pastor and and principal?

SPEAKER_04 19:59

Well, uh Bishop, we work together and we communicate and we look at the different challenges. And uh sister uh has uh a couple of major fundraisers throughout the year, including the Oktoberfest coming up right now. It used to be the uh the fashion show was a big fundraiser that would raise about $150,000 for that. And the the Oktoberfest does about the same thing. When with with the after COVID, we're gonna be able to do that. Very generous people. We have very generous people.

SPEAKER_03 20:23

Why don't you plug that real quick? When is that?

SPEAKER_04 20:25

And that is uh Saturday, Saturday, October 14th.

SPEAKER_03 20:29

Okay.

SPEAKER_04 20:29

It's uh on the grounds of the school, and um there's uh German food and uh just a great time, and it's also uh an auction, a silent auction, and uh different gifts. Gift auction, right? So it's a big fundraiser that way. People contribute, donate different gifts that people can bid on. And uh we get a we get a great turnout. There's a band, there's a German band, and it's outside. So we've always under a big tent. Outside under a big tent in October. Nice, nice time. And so uh there's an awful lot of energy. There's an incredible amount of energy between the sister and the teachers and the and the parents and the families. We have a very dynamic home and school association, and the secret is the partnership with the parents. Okay. Partnership with the parents who uh are are involved with this and invested in it, and they'll do anything for the school.

SPEAKER_00 21:15

You know, um, as I said, we have very generous parents. But you know, that we do have families. It it's a big sacrifice for. Um and you know, we have decided mutually we'll never turn someone away because they don't have uh the finances. You know, come and talk to us and we will make it we'll make it work. You tell us what works for your family and it'll work for us. And this is not let anybody walk away.

SPEAKER_04 21:41

The secret is sister really knows that families inside and out. And uh she's in the school first thing in the morning and the last one to leave. She's in the cafeteria for all three periods, right? Three or four?

SPEAKER_00 21:52

I think we have five lunch periods. Five lunch periods. Okay, so I think Yeah, you usually come in midway.

SPEAKER_04 21:57

That's what it is. I come in midway in but she's there, she's there in in the cafeteria talking to the children, uh giving out different uh dance party Fridays. Dance dance party, dance party Friday. Dance Boy Friday. We have a jukebox, the sister has a jukebox that she uses to play. So as you said, Bishop, it's fun. And also she goes, she makes her rounds uh every day, several times. She's popping into the classrooms and talking to the children, and she knows them all by name. During COVID, when it was all remote, sister and I sometimes, but sister was popping into all the classrooms via z via Zoom or whatever we were using at that time. With different costumes on different costumes on, you know, and seeing everybody. And so we were participating that way. And you worked your way through the technology, huh? I did. I did.

SPEAKER_00 22:40

It was painful when I did it.

SPEAKER_03 22:42

And what's this about the Brain Trust?

SPEAKER_00 22:44

Oh the Brain Factory. The Brain Factory? That's what that's what I was called, the school, the Brain Factory.

SPEAKER_04 22:49

Okay. So typically at the end of a school mass, um Father Luke or I will be the cell celebrant and preach and talk to the children and everything. After communion, we always call up sister to say a few words. So she gets a big round of applause. She comes up and then she comments on the theme for the day or what's going on. Okay. And then she always concludes her session by saying, Now let's get back to the brain factory.

SPEAKER_03 23:13

Well good. So obviously Catholic school is not as well attended or vibrant as in year years past, unfortunately. What do we tell them if they're interested? I mean, obviously there's something more than an education. We're educating the full person, as our superintendent likes likes to say. Can either of you uh speak to that? And and and and if someone's listening who maybe is on on the cusp of considering a Catholic school education, what would you say to to convince them?

SPEAKER_04 23:51

Or Cicero have a better answer than I have, but I will just say over the top of my head, uh it's because of God. We can talk about God, we can talk about Jesus, we can talk about our values. That's what she said before she said let's get back to the brain factory. She said, We can talk about Jesus, we can meet and have the sacraments, and we can pray together. And so there's clear values there.

SPEAKER_00 24:13

Yes, I said to them, there's you know, not a whole lot of difference between us and the public schools in town. I think they're still teaching reading and math. But the one thing some version, but what we're doing today, they can't do. And that brings us together as a as a family.

SPEAKER_01 24:30

And we recognize um in some, you know, we certainly have some differences with public schools, and especially maybe these days, some of the uh curriculum questions and and it's it's sad that it seems like there's a move towards um parents not having a role in in what their children are learning. Uh but at the same time, I think when we say that we have to also recognize there are many good teachers in the public schools, and many of them do a very good job.

SPEAKER_00 24:54

Yeah, and I always say, really truly, and I believe this, um the public school is the right place for some people.

SPEAKER_02 25:00

Right.

SPEAKER_00 25:01

And the Catholic school is not always the right place for some kids, depending on how they learn.

SPEAKER_01 25:06

Right, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 25:06

And and families.

SPEAKER_01 25:07

Right, right. I was speaking with a public school teacher the other day, and she was saying that uh they were having their faculty day to get ready for the school year, and they were saying uh basically, in whatever language they used, if you could do some kind of form of meditation before each day to kind of prepare yourself for the day and reflect and kind of uh she said they were saying everything other than using the word prayer. Yes, it's sure. Have a thought. Yes.

SPEAKER_00 25:36

Yeah, no, I think they have some excellent teachers in the public school.

SPEAKER_01 25:39

Right.

SPEAKER_00 25:39

You know, their their hands are tied.

SPEAKER_04 25:41

Right, right.

SPEAKER_00 25:42

You know, where we can express all that.

SPEAKER_04 25:44

Right, right. Um but they're on there on the front line, especially some of our Catholics who are teaching in the public schools that's true. They're bringing the values there. They're on the front, they are on the front line.

SPEAKER_00 25:53

I mean we're we're lucky enough that we have 440 kids.

SPEAKER_04 25:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 25:57

Um, during COVID, uh, I think more people were they were looking to come because we made it happen. We stayed open five days a week.

SPEAKER_01 26:08

That's right, yep, in person, in person, and we've certainly seen the gap, right? What's the other thing?

SPEAKER_00 26:11

Well we didn't yeah, yeah, you could see the gap. We didn't take a lot because our classes were already full, you know, and I I think it was people maybe not looking to be part of our family, but looking for that year just to have their kids in school. In person. And we you know, you didn't want to jam up our classes.

SPEAKER_04 26:34

That's that's the that's the wisdom the sister brings to interviewing families and talking to them and getting to know them in terms of why are you coming here? What are you looking for? And is this going to be good for you and is it gonna be good for all of us? Every time you introduce a new person into any equation, it changes. It's a new normal and it changes the dynamics, you know.

SPEAKER_03 26:53

Well good. Sister Maris, I wonder, you know, you you having been there for many years, do you ever get uh former students to come back to say hi and all the time.

SPEAKER_00 27:07

You know, and it's amazing that they do. And then another thing, they always come in a group. There are kids now that are in college or at work and they've stayed friends and they'll all come back. You know, can we take can we tour the school? That was the hard part when we went back that first year with COVID. I couldn't let them walk through the school to the classrooms.

SPEAKER_02 27:29

Oh, yeah you know, we were all masked.

SPEAKER_00 27:31

But now they can can we walk you go back and see the teachers. And it's it's a real testament. You know, it's a real testament that they want to come back and they'll say, I we remember this when this was fun, and we laughed during this, and it it's it's a it's a great, a great feeling to have them come back. You know, because you never really know who you're touching. And sometimes it's the one you least expect that comes back and says, right, right. I really, really loved it here. And now I have a great job. You know, there's kids you say, My goodness, how are they ever gonna make it? And they do. When you don't give up on them, they make it.

SPEAKER_01 28:08

That's right, that's right. And this is a good opportunity of segue to be able to mention uh some of our wonderful Catholic high schools, right? In the diocese, we have our three Dyson schools, DePaul Catholic in Passaic, Morris Catholic in Morris County, and uh Pope John in at the Catholic Academy in Sussex.

SPEAKER_00 28:22

Yeah, I yeah, I think we had uh we have we had one that went to Sussex this year. We never do, or at a distance.

SPEAKER_01 28:29

Right.

SPEAKER_00 28:29

Um and one that went the year before. But we have I think we have five up at Morris Catholic this year.

SPEAKER_01 28:34

And some of our um high schools run by our communities, right? Um I was at Del Barton yesterday, I'm gonna be, I think, at Villa Walsh on Friday. And we have St. Elizabeth's Academy, and there's one more uh Mary Help of Christians, right? Uh so thank God for for those schools where the the the Catholic education continue continue on that secondary level. Very important. Yeah. Well, thank you. Uh it's really uh wonderful to have you and for the work that you're doing, a real blessing for our diocese.

SPEAKER_00 29:01

Bishop, you're you're a good example, you're a great leader.

SPEAKER_01 29:03

Uh thank you. Thank you for watching. Yes, thank you. We're in it together, right? Yeah, we are in it together. Yes, and uh so uh uh keep up the good work and you'll certainly be in our prayers. And we say a word to all at at uh at um Assumption School and and faculty, students, parents, and uh uh what a blessing to have uh uh uh such a wonderful uh Catholic school in our diocese as with all of our Catholic schools. Uh we're very, very grateful.

SPEAKER_00 29:27

Thank you for your support.

SPEAKER_04 29:28

Yes, thank you, Bishop, for your support and encouragement. Thank you. My pleasure. My pleasure.

SPEAKER_03 29:31

Yeah, thank you both.

SPEAKER_00 29:32

Thank you, Jay.

SPEAKER_03 29:33

Thank you, Jay.

SPEAKER_01 29:33

Um Bishop, any uh any further thoughts on Catholic schools in the diocese or well as I mentioned in the prayer that uh this Sunday is Catechetical Sunday, and as sister and Monsignor have mentioned uh as as parish families, we have 108 parishes in the diocese. Um we have now 15 grammar schools, so um most of our uh children are uh getting their education from their parents in collaboration with their parish family and their and their so many volunteer catechists. Father Joaneda Garcia uh now heading our catechetical offices. We have a 300 um uh in person and another 100 online doing new catech new catechist training at the moment. I couldn't believe it. They're offering it in three counties, so uh that's a great sign of life for the church that people are responding, and uh so um we we salute our pastors and uh catechetical leaders and and catechists uh who um are collaborating with the parents and as Father Yolina likes to say, not only preparing for the sacraments, but that that faith journey that that we walk together and and not only uh sharing what we believe in the but but introducing our young people to Jesus, right? To that relationship in faith that um is nourished, yes, by the sacraments, but is a lifelong journey. So uh um we we we congratulate and thank and bless uh all of our catechists um at home at our Catholic schools and especially in our catechetical programs.

SPEAKER_00 30:55

And we do have a vibrant catechetical program.

SPEAKER_01 30:58

We do. Yeah. And it's great when that can work together with the uh right.

SPEAKER_04 31:03

So it takes a lot of dedication. It's a big commitment to be a catechist. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 31:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 31:08

Well, good. Before we uh come to the end of this episode, Bishop, any uh any updates on anything that's happening in the diocese in the upcoming weeks that you're looking forward to? Or want to do that.

SPEAKER_01 31:21

It will be our um Dyson Pilgrimage to Washington. So you can still, I think, sign up this time, check in your parish or online. Uh and uh and I'm looking forward to that, to the uh pilgrimage to the uh Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., our National Shrine and the Dice and Pilgrimage.

SPEAKER_03 31:38

Yeah, absolutely. Uh visit our homepage, PattersonDiocese.org, and you'll see it right there on the top. And soon there will be a couple more uh banners or sliders there telling you about some more events that are happening at St. Paul Inside the Walls, um, our evangelization center for the diocese. They just released their uh fall uh preview video, which is available on our Facebook, their Facebook, and definitely check that out. And uh Okay. Well, thanks, Bishop. Thank you again. Thank you very much. Thank you, Bishop.

SPEAKER_01 32:08

Thank you so much for watching. God bless everybody. Oh, go ahead, Jason.

SPEAKER_03 32:13

I'll close close this out. So thank you so much for spending time with us. Uh join us again for the next episode of Beyond the Beacon. Please subscribe to this podcast wherever you're listening. Give us a positive rating, write a review, and if you're watching this episode on Bishop Kevin Sweeney's YouTube channel, be sure to like the episode, follow the channel, and ring the bell for notifications. Email questions and podcasts, topic ideas for the bishop to beyond at pattersondioces.org. Thank you for listening to Beyond the Beacon.

SPEAKER_01 32:40

Thanks, everybody. God bless you.