SPEAKER_00 0:04

Welcome to Beyond the Beacon with Bishop Kevin Sweeney, a podcast for the Diocese of Patterson. I'm Jay Agnis, editor of the Beacon Newspaper and Communications Director for the Diocese. With me is Bishop Kevin Sweeney. And I want to welcome our first guest on the podcast, Scott Milliken, CEO of Catholic Charities here in the Diocese of Patterson. Scott, Bishop Kevin, how are you guys doing?

unknown 0:25

Great.

SPEAKER_00 0:25

Good morning. Good morning.

SPEAKER_02 0:27

Doing well, thanks. Welcome, Scott. Uh our first guest. Uh it's and we'll share, I think, how that's uh uh very appropriate uh for a number of reasons. Uh so um welcome.

SPEAKER_00 0:39

Good. Well, this is a jam-packed episode, and Scott, we can't wait to learn more about you and Catholic charities. Uh, we have all kinds of questions for you. Uh so don't go anywhere. We're gonna come right back to you soon. Um Bishop, I have to ask you Anth Anthony uh Vol Volpey, right? The new starting shortstop for the New York Yankees. Um today's opening day of of Major League Baseball. And I want to ask you about about the opening day roster because which of course the Yankees are your favorite baseball team, and uh there's a certain player of distinction from one of our schools who's on that starting roster. What what do you think of that? That's great.

SPEAKER_02 1:15

That's great. And for baseball fans, Scott, I think is as well. And even though you root for the other team, Jay, uh I think something that baseball fans uh have in common is we look forward to opening day. And when it gets here, it's always um just a good feeling that uh kind of winter's over and spring is beginning. Um and uh it's a beautiful sunny day, a little chilly. Um I'm sure the the fans won't be worried about that and they don't have to worry about a rainout. So uh and yeah, to have one of our own, in a sense, uh uh an alum of Delbarton uh high school, Anthony Volpe, you know, it's um I think it's one of the things about sports that, and it's in other places as well, but just the power of a story, you know, that and and yes, we can hear great fictional stories, but when the stories are real life stories, uh, you know, Cinderella stories we sometimes call them, and and who knows how we we wish him the best. And uh, I mean, he I can only imagine him hearing, you know, about being the next Eric Cheater. That's that's huge uh uh shoes to fill. But I one thing I've thought about in in hearing the good news, and and I've heard this, and um I thank you, Joe, for uh reaching out to Coach Well, and and and I appreciate his uh sharing a little bit about his experience and and Anthony's experience at Del Barton. But um when when I've thought about comparisons with Derek Jeter, um I think not everybody realized along the way, um, but those who followed, um Derek's parents would so often be in the stands, and uh I think he was as the you know as good as he was, yes, talented on the field, but uh as a person, he um you know he I think he he was a product of a good family and and and what his parents taught him. And I've heard similar things now about um about Anthony. And so as we congratulate him, we should congratulate his parents, his coaches, you know, his teachers, uh those who've helped him along the way. And uh, and so um, you know, again, it's sports that can be a little break from real life and all the challenges that we face, and and so uh opening day is always a great day. And uh we wish the best for the Yankees and the Mets and and may the best teams win. And uh it's uh something baseball fans share in common. It's it's just great that it's opening days.

SPEAKER_00 3:24

So great. Thanks for that, Bishop. And uh could you please open us up uh with prayer?

SPEAKER_02 3:29

Sure. Um we heard last yesterday that our holy father Paul Francis is um currently in the hospital. It sounds like he had a good night, is what I heard on the radio. And so um, and you know, it's just a reminder. I think a lot of people ask for our prayers, especially for the sick. Um, so as we pray today, um let us uh um ask um the Lord to give healing to those who are sick, especially our Holy Father. And now a few days before Holy Week, um, we walked that journey together, um, sharing in the mystery of the Lord's um suffering and death, but looking forward to celebrating his resurrection at Easter. So um we'll place ourselves in God's presence in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. As we pray for our Holy Father Pope Francis, we pray for all the sick, and we think of those who have asked for our prayers, those we've promised to pray for, and for a blessed holy week for all. And as we look forward to a joyous Easter, let us 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 our sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. We ask these in all our prayers in the name of Jesus who is Lord forever and ever. Amen. Son and Holy Spirit, Amen.

SPEAKER_00 4:50

Thank you, Bishop. So I I want to um ask you about uh mass yesterday at the Morris County Correctional Facility in Morristown, the jail there in Morristown, um, which which I was able to attend with you, and I and I have to say it was it was it was a very moving experience. I was um just a ma honored to be a part of that. I want to hear about it from your perspective. I know is this the second time you you've done it now?

SPEAKER_02 5:14

Or yes, I was uh able to be there last year. And um a special word of thanks right from the outside to um Father Owen Moran, Father Alex Nevit, who are there week by week uh with a group of volunteers. Um and so great to see the um the staff right up from um Sheriff, I think his name was Sheriff Gannon, uh um, but the staff of the jail, um, so welcoming and you could see that they work well with the pastoral care of of those who are are there um for what you know many different reasons and um uh second time and you know in my time as a priest, there's a few times where I've been called to you know see somebody in in prison and um uh it's always a moving experience. And uh as I posted something um you know about the visit yesterday, you know, we have to think of Matthew 25 and Jesus say saying, I was in prison and you visited me. So he identifies with those and um and um yes, we need a just society, and there's times when uh people need to, you know, um uh suffer the consequences of their bad choices or um um but uh we have to keep everyone in prayer because we're all sisters and brothers, we're all human beings, and um and and some people you know end up um in prison after some you know real bad times and uh and that could be the moment too where they turn turn things around. Um they have some good company, St. Paul, and even our Lord, as that we read the Passion yesterday and to hear the Lord, you know, being arrested and being brought on trial, you know, the similarities. Obviously, he was innocent, but um, but he went through what they're going through. And so yes, it was um a powerful experience, and we thank all those who um you know treat um even those in prison with with respect and human dignity, which is so important.

SPEAKER_00 7:04

Yeah, what a what a great mass it was. And and for me, uh what really struck me is I was I'm sitting there and I'm like, I'm like, wow, you know, I could I can attend mass anytime I want, daily mass, Sunday Mass, afternoon, morning, and and and these you know inmates thank God Father Owen and his team can bring them mass every every Wednesday, and and uh that's such a great thing, and um don't want to take the Eucharist for granted. I think that was my my takeaway from yesterday. But I did I did see you um talking to a couple inmates. Was there any moment yesterday that that really stuck out to you, whether an interaction with an inmate or or the actual service or it was interesting?

SPEAKER_02 7:43

Somebody there um I mentioned I had been served at St. Michael's in Brooklyn, and there was a guy um who who grew up in in the parish. Uh so um, but um just getting a chance to say hello, make eye contact, uh we could shake hands, which was a nice thing. Uh um, so um um so you know, just seeing um each one as a brother and sister and um and grateful for the opportunity. Um and uh, you know, maybe it's a bit of a segue into uh conversation with with um Scott because um the works of mercy um are so important for us um as people of faith, you know, to put our faith into action. And that happens in our prison ministry, it happens in hospital ministry, um, but certainly in the work of Catholic charities. So uh um uh I wanted to say that uh, you know, uh great having our first guest, and Scott being our first guest, I think is is is a good symbol because uh one of the things that so impressed me here in our diocese of Patterson is the work of Catholic charities, and Scott can speak a little bit more about that, but uh um uh and and the support that we get from the generosity to the um annual appeal, the annual ministries appeal, and uh and the work that's done. Uh it's it's just been something that I've been grateful for and inspired by in my time here in the diocese. And um uh the experience last week that you'll read about in the beacon uh with Emily at the uh March for for Meals uh event um also uh made it a good connection, I think, and a good time to have Scott on. So we're happy to have him with us.

SPEAKER_00 9:55

Yeah, absolutely. And and Scott, I know um so Catholic Charities is involved in in so many uh different areas. And you were before we uh w went on here and started recording, you we were talking about uh the work with Straight and Narrow and kind of the legal system there. Can you can you tell tell us tell us a little bit more about that?

SPEAKER_01 10:13

Sure. Uh you know, at straight and narrow, uh and and just just to reflect on what Bishop said uh uh about uh our our new sharp starting sharp stop and and and what it means, uh, you know, and about family and Catholic charities gives hope to people. That's the biggest thing. It gives hope. Um all during COVID. We gave hope for people. Um we feed people, we clothe people. And with straight and narrow, uh even with the court system, 50% of our clients come from uh drug court. So it's their last option. Sometimes the judge will say, Would you like to go to straight and narrow? Uh we're giving you that opportunity. And because it's drugs or and or alcohol or a combination of both, people are um doing whatever they can, lying, cheating, stealing to to get that next uh high. And straight and narrow takes them in and gives them hope. And that's a blessing to see somebody come from and some of them have become our staff and long-term staff.

SPEAKER_00 11:19

Uh and Yeah, I'm thinking of Michael Jackson, who we we had a story in the Beacon, and and we also had some outside media coverage who uh went through and and got sober through Straight and Narrow, right? And and uh also had some sort of drug addiction issues as well.

SPEAKER_01 11:35

And now he's a freshman baseball player, and now he's works as as a uh a counselor and giving hope to others and uh and that because of his experience at Straight and Narrow at Catholic charities. So uh it that's the great part when you see somebody come from um their lowest part. And one of our staff on our veterans team, Dave Pearson, uh when I first started said to me, uh, and it's always stuck to me that, you know, yes, Scott, we give hope, and we may be the last face of Christ that somebody may ever see. Uh and it really stuck with me that uh, and I use that all the time, that uh we do, we provide that help and hope. Scott, remind me how many years are you with Catholic charities?

SPEAKER_02 12:21

Uh 31 years with Catholic Charities. Praise the Lord. Maybe uh just uh to for those who might not be familiar, uh as I learned coming into the diocese, the in the history of Catholic charities here in our diocese, um, there's Catholic family services, the straight and narrow, as you just mentioned, and the Department of Persons with Disabilities. Um we could spend five hours talking about that history, but maybe just briefly to talk about how I think just before I arrived, somewhere around 2018 or 19, with the help of Monsignor Tillier, uh, we want to say hello to Monsignor Tillier and uh and uh a great another great Yankee fan. Yes. Uh but um under Monsignor Tillier and Bishop Saratelli, uh how that idea came about to bring the three agencies together. Maybe you could just tell a little bit about uh brief word about each of the agencies and their coming together a few years ago.

SPEAKER_01 13:07

Sure. Across the country, you know, uh I'm linked to all of the leaders of Catholic charities across the country, and it was a growing trend that different states and and uh and different dioceses across the states of of the United States had several Catholic charities agencies within one diocese, um, all with different boards of trustees, um, all with different presidents. Uh and uh Bishop Saratelli said, you know, this it's we should move towards this trend of consolidating into we are one church, we are one Catholic charities. Uh and uh all the boards were eliminated, and he created, I call it the super board because the board is so active, uh really great leadership on the board, and uh different members from each of those agencies came together to form one board. Uh and and I became the new CEO five years ago of the entity of Catholic Charities, uh which is now straight and narrow CFCS and Department for the United States. And it's one of the largest in the United States. It's one of the largest in the country. Yes. Where budget is of uh just over fifty million dollars a year, and we have over 700 staff working for us at Catholic Charities. You're doing a lot of great work. And I don't want to uh be dismissive of our volunteers. We have well over a thousand volunteers. Uh so yes.

SPEAKER_02 14:37

Like Emily, who I met last week, uh 50 years with Meals and Wheels in uh in um in Sussex County, and uh uh just one example of you could multiply that by a thousand in terms of the goodness.

SPEAKER_01 14:48

And you hear all over, you know, there's there's stuff happening all over the world, right? Uh we're we're all aware of everything that's happening and the the evil that's in the world, and and and there's people suffering right here in our own diocese that you don't really think about and going to somebody's home and giving like meals on wheels and giving going into their home and giving them a meal, and they're so thankful uh for the volunteers that bring those meals. Uh it's really something special to be a part of.

SPEAKER_00 15:20

Yeah, absolutely. And you're both referencing uh an event, an occasion from a couple weeks ago that the bishop uh wrote about in his column last week. And um what what what a beautiful illustration of service um you referenced Emily Bishop, and uh I just I thought it really encapsulated um that the heart, the spirit of service. And there were there was something in your column where you we spoke about the blessings and joy that come with service. And I was wondering, Scott, if you could, if you could talk about that a little bit. Was there was there an early moment when the desire to serve clicked for you?

SPEAKER_01 15:58

Uh yeah, I think when I was in college, actually, uh undergraduate work uh at Syracuse, uh I had two projects that um I was working with inner city youth who were uh running drugs for their parents to different homes in in paperbags, um not a very good family life, and these kids would come to the center, youth center. Um so working with them r really clicked, you know, how uh that they had a lack of opportunities and and to give them opportunities. And through through college, from the age of 15, I was a porter at 55 and Lex in New York City and Manhattan. And my first job in the morning, I would have to be there at 5 a.m. And I would take a uh living in New Jersey, uh just across the bridge, you know, to have to take a train and a subway. I don't know my what my mother and parents were thinking, let me go at 15 to do to do that. 15 to do that. Yes.

SPEAKER_02 17:02

I at 18 I started as an elevator operator. Yes, you ran the elevator, bishop. We'll talk later.

SPEAKER_01 17:15

And uh my my first job was to uh gather the homeless that would sleep outside the street and and uh have them move on for the day and wash down the streets. And uh so um and then working with college, I had the opportunity, I decided to to live with them for for a couple weeks. And uh that was what was like one of those.

SPEAKER_02 17:37

Was Tom Barrett involved around at that time?

SPEAKER_01 17:39

Um that was before I started even working. But yes, and then and then I you know, we had great mentors at Catholic charities. All of the Catholic charities agencies were started by priests who uh Father Jack Wherlin and Justin. Yeah. And it was just they instilled it, was their passion to to help, and taught my leaders and and my mentors like Tom Barrett, and then I was taught that uh and and how to be, you know, just be more compassionate and learning. And you know, we talk about Catholic social teaching, which Catholic charities fits in just so perfectly. And we talk about dignity and respect and the right to work, you know, but the you know, my favorite is the the option for the poor. That the moral test of any society is how it treats its most vulnerable members.

SPEAKER_02 18:36

So Mother Teresa, Mother Teresa would always talk about that.

SPEAKER_01 18:39

And I think that we do that at Catholic charities every day. We get 150 calls a day for assistance in all different sorts of areas. Um last yesterday I got a young woman who was ready to commit suicide and and it came through our website and you know, through that we're able to yes, hey, here's somebody to talk to, and I care. I care. Somebody cares. I'm not qualified or trained to you know guide you through this, but here's somebody that can help. And if you do need to reach out, I will respond and I will answer.

SPEAKER_02 19:19

And sorry, this might be a good time. I I really feel it's important to mention when we mention this work, uh our donors, right? That um we can help those 150. Um I'm sure some of the programs get yes governmental help, but so much is based on on the donations we receive and the generosity, right, of our people of the diocese. Uh is just uh to me, uh uh we have to be grateful for it every day, right? Because it allows us to do some of what we try to do with it.

SPEAKER_01 19:46

Bishop, as as um, you know, government funds, we're you know, we're extremely transparent where our funds go. And when we get certain dollars from uh government contracts, they're they're relegated towards helping a certain uh cutout, a certain cutout of folks. And not everybody fits into that cutout and can receive those supports. And if not for the generous donations of our parishioners and the generosity of our parishes and our priests, uh we would not be able to help when Bishop calls me on several occasions. Scott, somebody called me, they need help. You know, and if they don't fit into one of these, you know, boxes, sure. It's great to have the option to say, yes, we'll help. And just to see that hope. That's that's why we're here.

SPEAKER_00 20:39

Oh, it's amazing. So how can how can people support Catholic charities? If they want to donate, make a donation.

SPEAKER_01 20:44

You can anybody can go to our website, ccpatterson.org, and uh you can make a donation right there.

SPEAKER_02 20:50

Something also I've noticed here in the diocese and you know, my previous experience, but a lot of parishes sometimes collect food, you know, Thanksgiving. Um, but to see the food pantry in uh in um in uh downtown Patterson, uh the Father English Center and Carlos and all of his volunteers and to see those uh shelves, yes, they get some donations from groups, but so often, and he'll talk about the the the ongoing donations from parishes, right? So just people giving a can of food sometimes to bring it to their parish. They never know how they're feeding somebody who's a family that's that's in need, right?

SPEAKER_01 21:23

Yeah, and uh, you know, anybody who ever uh wants to to come to the food pantry and just see it, is it's uh it's it's one thing to talk about it, but to go there and experience it and to see the people in the mornings lined outside down the street um just because they're hungry.

SPEAKER_02 21:44

Uh and as Carlos mentions, many of them are working, right? And it's but their rent and uh putting food on the table or uh trying to make ends meet, and that that food helps?

SPEAKER_01 21:53

Aaron Powell Yes, and you know, inflation, it's it's affecting all of us. Inflation's going up. Um food stamps have been cut. Uh and peop families are working three, four, five jobs just to pay their rent and to put food on the table. And the first thing that goes is food. So uh, you know, the food pantry has just increased. You know, we're giving million pounds of food a month away. Uh it's just an incredible amount of food that is passing through, and it's only increasing. So uh the the help and outside assistance uh for donations, when Carla says, I need to buy food, um it's comforting right now to say, yes, go buy food.

SPEAKER_00 22:42

Wow, yeah, a lot of incredible work you're doing and Catholic charities are doing and all the volunteers and and employees there. Um Bishop, can you can you speak to um maybe the the the servant of Jesus and how that how that r you know reflects on what some of the folks in Catholic charities are are doing and very hands-on kind of doing what Jesus taught us to do, right?

SPEAKER_02 23:06

Well I think as we you know a week from today um will be Holy Thursday and as we celebrate the Mass of the Lord's Supper, um remembering the institution of the Eucharist um as as we do with each Mass um and especially on Holy Thursday and the gift of the priesthood that we we believe he gave us at the same moment, but also that um uh uh that giving us the new commandment, right? Love one another as I have loved you at the last supper. And how did he teach it? By example. He got down, as we remember at Mass on Holy Thursday, took off his outer robe, put on an apron, got down on his knees and washed the feet of his disciples. And he said, you know, um you'll call me teacher and lord, that's right, I am. But look what I've done for you. I've given you an example, as I mentioned, um, you know, and and Catholic charity is an example of that. He said, Now I've given you an example, now go and do the same, wash one another's feet. Uh so if we're following Jesus, we gotta be uh aware of that. And um again, um that's not easy sometimes, and um, but um if we try to choose it as best we can, and we don't have to do it in grand ways, simple ways that people can do it at home, you know, helping a younger sibling or helping a grandparent or somebody, helping mom and dad, or you know, that can be the service of washing feet as well. And um, but that we're making some kind of an effort to put aside what I want to do, um watch a game or something else, or uh, but see see someone in need and and and do something to um uh ease that burden, lighten that load. Um uh that's um the service that Jesus calls us to day by day. Um and so we and we see it in that maybe uh most dramatic way um in in the washing of the feet and also obviously is sacrificing his life for us on the cross, as we'll recall, um, a week from tomorrow on Good Friday. But um yeah, he he calls us that that it's easy to talk about love, um, but uh uh uh uh getting down on our knees and or making that sacrifice to serve our brothers and sisters, we have to try to put it into practice. Great.

SPEAKER_00 25:11

Thanks for sharing that. Um Yeah, and I think uh you know, I think of Pope Francis too and and his constant speaking about uh helping the people on the margins. Um yeah, it's just um wonderful work that that Catholic Charities is doing. So thanks so much for coming on and telling us about it. Um so we're gonna kind of move towards the end of the end of the episode here. Um so Bishop, is there um I know we want to talk about upcoming liturgical calendar or saint of the day or the week, and I and I the big flashing lights here. We got the chris of mass coming up, Holy Week and Easter.

SPEAKER_02 25:44

Uh we'll we'll focus on um you know what'll start on Saturday evening, which is Holy Week and Palm Sunday, beautiful day, um Palm Sunday to see so many people in church and to read the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem and the gospel at the beginning of Mass and then meditate on the Passion. Uh and then Monday evening we have our Chris Mass. So uh everyone's invited to the cathedral um in in Patterson, St. John, the Baptist Cathedral, uh, where that annual Mass where the priest gathers, the bishop gathers with all of his priests to renew their vows. Um something in my own priesthood. Um uh I tried to be at the chris mass each each year to make that renewal of promises. Now as Bishop, it's a it's a privilege and humbling to um be with all the priests of our diocese as they'll renew their vows on Monday night at the Chrism Mass. Um, but also we've invited our religious and uh deacons and our seminarians and uh uh members of the diocese and staff, but all the faithful. Uh it's a it's a mass for the whole um diocese. And when we it's called a chrism mass because we bless the oils that we use in the celebration of the sacraments, the chrism, uh the oil of the the sick, and uh the oil of catechumens as we pray for our uh catechumens now elect that are going to be receiving the sacraments at Easter. They'll be anointed with that fresh, let's say, chrism oil and oil of catechumens. Um so um and the oil of the sick, as again we think of our our ministry to to our brothers and sisters who are sick and in need. Um and so uh that'll be Monday evening and then um uh Holy Thursday John. It's not about the cathedral in Patterson. Yep. Uh and then um everybody hopefully will be in their parishes uh Thursday evening. I'll be at the cathedral um for Holy Thursday Mass. And then uh many of our parishes will have beautiful processions on Good Friday. Um Monsignor Gino and the cathedral um have a beautiful uh procession, Station of the Cross, through the streets of Patterson. I think that starts at noon. Um but again, many parishes will have that, and uh maybe something Friday evening, um Station of the Cross, the liturgy of the Lord's Passing, obviously at three o'clock on Good Friday, and then the beautiful Easter Vigil, um, especially when there's um adults receiving sacraments, but the mass, first mass of the resurrection, uh uh holy Saturday night, um, lighting of the Paschal candle, the the light literally breaks breaks through the darkness, the church begins in darkness, and then the one little light becomes a church filled with light as we renew our baptismal promises and then um the the joy of of Easter Sunday morning. Um but I think we're gonna try to get uh uh sometime maybe next Wednesday morning to maybe look at at the Tritum as well. Um but um but uh great days coming up.

SPEAKER_00 28:18

Absolutely great. Thank thanks for that. And yeah, we will uh we'll have to get into that uh more on the next episode. So um yeah, we've reached the end of this episode.

SPEAKER_02 28:28

Um and sorry, Jay, just as we close it, thanks, Scott. Um uh uh um not to cut you off, but uh it just occurred to me, um, you know, we had another school shooting um uh uh this past week in Nashville, and um just to um continue to pray for an end to violence, um I w it's understandable um when I think people are getting to the point of thoughts and prayers are not enough. Um and but those prayers do make a difference and let's pray that God will touch our hearts and and help us as a society to figure out you know how is this happening again and again and again. And uh there's some difficult issues I think that need to be looked at. And we pray for our political leaders and um but um uh um we gotta pray for peace and and and and for those uh three little children and three adults that were killed and and for their families. Um so we keep them in our prayers, and as we enter into Holy Week, um let's make sure we're praying for peace.

SPEAKER_00 29:29

Okay, thank you, Bishop. Thank you, Scott. And thank you, thank you everyone for spending time with us uh for Bishop Kevin Sweeney and Scott Milliken. I'm Jay Agnish. Join us again for our next episode. Please subscribe to this podcast wherever you're listening. If you're watching this episode on YouTube, be sure to like the episode, follow the channel, and ring the bell for notifications.

SPEAKER_02 29:50

Sorry, last one. We didn't have a question this week, but we'll have them, and so they can we can we're looking for questions, right? Feel free to let us know what you'd like to hear about.

SPEAKER_00 29:58

Just about to say, yeah, the email to uh send questions to Bishop Sweeney or topics, possible topics for the podcast is beyond at pattersondioces.org. And we're we're hoping to get some questions. That's uh that's a fun part of the the podcast. I know the bishop really really likes that and interacting with his flock. So that's it. Great, thank you. Thank you, Jay. Well, thanks everyone for listening.

SPEAKER_02 30:24

Thanks. God bless, have a great day.