SPEAKER_02 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, how are you? I'm good, Jay. How are you doing? Doing good, thanks. Are you surviving the wildfire smoke out there? It's crazy to see.

SPEAKER_01 0:28

It's a little better today on Thursday. Uh the Yankees got smoked out yesterday for uh their game, and it was um really something to see. I was actually in Queens and um it was pretty thick there yesterday afternoon. And um hopefully uh it's I heard something that you know the hospitals numbers aren't up, but you know, I'm sure it's uh not good to be breathing in. It's um interesting to see a lot of people wearing masks again. Yeah. Uh and uh but it seems to be clearing and the forecast for the weekend is good, I think. So um, but um I think it reminds us uh the our planet is a gift from God that uh has to be taken care of as best we can, and uh and that there's things beyond our control that uh we have to try to adjust to and deal with as best as we can. So um hopefully people are staying indoors today, especially if they have uh breathing issues, and uh hopefully we'll see some clearing in blue sky uh as soon as possible.

SPEAKER_03 1:26

Thank God, yes.

SPEAKER_02 1:28

Yes, amen. Um so want to introduce our guest today. Mary Beyer is the superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Patterson. Mary, welcome.

SPEAKER_03 1:37

Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 1:38

How's it going?

SPEAKER_03 1:38

It's going fine. I I want to take this opportunity to thank you, Bishop, for letting me join with you today in a topic that's very near and dear to my heart. Yes. And I have to say that I feel very privileged that I lead our schools with men and women who are just and the and the teachers, the principals, the presidents, these teachers are just phenomenal men and women who are so dedicated, passionate, and zealous in and facilitating the mission of Catholic education in our diocese, we could not do it without them. So um a shout out to them for all that they do. They are our heroes each and every day.

SPEAKER_00 2:19

Absolutely. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 2:21

Great. Well, before we begin our conversation, can I ask if the bishop can open us up in prayer?

SPEAKER_01 2:26

Sure. We'll place ourselves in God's presence in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. And as we give thanks to God for the gifts and blessings of each day, and we ask the help of the Holy Spirit to guide us, we give thanks for the gift of education in all its forms, especially those who educate us in the faith, and we pray for Mary and all those who lead Catholic schools, especially throughout our diocese. And as we come to the end of this academic year, we ask the continued help and intercession of Mary, our blessed mother, as together 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 Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray for us in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

SPEAKER_02 3:17

Amen. Okay, so I give you the short introduction of Mary Byer. So a little more on Mary. Mary lives and breathes Catholic school education. She considers it a calling. She herself is a product of Catholic education, having attended Catholic schools from great grade school all the way through college. She's pursuing a doctorate in leadership and administration from Seton Hall University. Mary has been in Catholic education for 34 years. She's been here in the Diocese of Patterson for 15 years as deputy superintendent and has been superintendent of schools for the past nine years. Before that, she worked with the Archdiocese of Newark for over 19 years. She's taught at all levels and has been a principal at the elementary and secondary levels. It's safe to say she's been in the trenches and has lived to tell the tale. So welcome again, Mary. Um Bishop, can you tell us why you invited Mary and what you're hoping to talk about today on the podcast?

SPEAKER_01 4:15

Well, uh thank you, Mary, for uh agreeing to be on with us. And it's really something that I've wanted to do from the beginning of the podcast uh as we've been able to have guests, and it's a way for people hopefully people in the diocese to get to know some of our leaders and uh to share some of the good news um of the gospel here in our diocese as we strive to do, and um such a wonderful way that that's been done, we think, in the history of our country, and uh that the importance as we all come to appreciate at some point of uh of education, the gift of education. I often share that I didn't appreciate it necessarily as a student in grammar school and high school, but as I've shared recently at graduations, uh I give thanks to God for my parents' sacrifice to give my sister and my brother and I um Catholic education throughout Catholic education from grammar school through high school, and actually all three of us went to Catholic colleges. So um uh we salute and thank the parents uh who make those sacrifices. And we know there's challenges, especially in the last couple of decades here in our country for Catholic education. Mary can share a little bit about that, and um but there's good news here in in Patterson, and uh I'm grateful that Mary can um give us this time and maybe a little bit of information in general about our schools as much as we can. There's so much to share. But uh the timing was good because Mary and I have been spending quality time together last uh week or so as we uh as I shared on last week's show that uh we had Morris Catholic last Thursday graduation, uh Pope John Academy and Catholic Academy of Sussex, Pope John High School in S in Sussex on Friday. Uh Mary Help of Christians in North Heldon was on Saturday afternoon, and then Tuesday evening uh with a little uh smoke, but uh uh a beautiful evening nonetheless at uh outdoors at DePaul, Catholic. Uh we had so four graduations and I guess five or six days. And yeah, um it's a great time of year, right?

SPEAKER_03 6:12

It is a great time of year. It's a great time for celebration and a great time for Thanksgiving.

SPEAKER_01 6:17

And so um maybe uh just give us a little in uh general information about uh the Catholic schools in our uh our diocese, grammar schools, high schools.

SPEAKER_03 6:27

Okay, so um we do have 18 schools, uh 15 elementary, three diocesan. Um we have to also include, of course, our four private uh high schools, um, and there is one uh community-owned elementary school. Um our schools truly uh as we speak today are it's evident about how vibrant they are in our Catholic identity. And I think most of our you know listeners want to talk about the academics first. Um and that's not what's the most important, although it is important. It is how vibrant we are, our schools are in this diocese, in its Catholic identity, um, and that is gospel witness, you know, and that everything is centered in Jesus Christ, um, and that we are very dedicated to the total social uh spiritual development of our students, our parents, um the faculty and staff, and also about um service to the evangelizing mission of our church. And sometimes that's all taken for granted. Um and I think that's important to say. I think that our our schools truly um facilitate the mission of Catholic education in the best way possible. I think our schools are the platform for evangelization, not only because we are learning about our faith, but we are living our faith, and that's very important. Um it is through these Catholic social teachings and gospel values that our students are enabled to grow in their faith, but also to share their faith with others. I think um while academics are very important and we are committed to academics, we are committed to academic rigor. Our schools, I like to think of our schools as distinction, schools of discipleship and schools of diversity. Um distinction first. Catholic is a good thing. Yes. Um distinction first, you know, we you mentioned graduation, and at graduation, we had 320 graduates among all three of our diocesan high schools. Um they amassed over $96 million in scholarships. There's a hundred percent graduation rate, uh, 99% go on to college, that other 1% is divided among the between the workforce as well as the armed services. Um and it was very evident that those students that spoke were grateful and um to not just their families, their teachers, and their peers, but they thanked God uh for the support for their God-given talents and they thanked all for the support and helping them be who the they could the best that they could be that throughout their years, and I think they acknowledged it. I think they bring that on to their next journey, which is so important.

SPEAKER_01 10:03

And I I asked them to to do that by sharing with them the prayer of St. Francis. And I it struck me uh that this graduating class 2023, they were freshmen uh in September of 19 and uh in March of 2020 when the pandemic came. And for me, uh coming here to the diocese in the summer of 2020, um, it I've said that allowed me to see the diocese at it at her best and in many levels, uh, certainly Catholic charities and our parishes. But um Catholic schools uh talk about heroic uh and their response um as we switched to um virtual in that spring of 2020 and finished that school year, and uh the graduates of that year had a a challenging time because they didn't have so much that they had looked forward to. Um but this graduating class now we're freshmen at that time, and here we are three years later coming out of the pandemic. And maybe, Mary, to share a little bit of your experience and and how our our our presidents and principals, pastors, uh school leaders, uh teachers responded um uh at at from the beginning of the pandemic up until the the present time.

SPEAKER_03 11:19

I uh yes, absolutely. Uh I think that is very um indicative of being a school of discipleship, all our schools. Um during COVID, we did not miss a beat. I mean, the principals, the uh teachers and the staff were very resilient, very they persevered, dedicated, they didn't deter from their responsibilities. If we had to go remote, as we did, and do a hybrid, we did. When school started again, we hit the ground running. Our schools were schools where learning uh was at its peak. Um it was at we adhered to all the health requirements.

SPEAKER_01 11:58

How many different plans did they have to make that summer of 20, right? Going to the city.

SPEAKER_03 12:01

I have to tell you. And all of that was a very important thing.

SPEAKER_01 12:04

Nobody in schools had a vacation that summer.

SPEAKER_03 12:06

No, we did not. But it was strategically planning for the health, right, of all the schools and to be able to reopen, whether it was hybrid or yes, yes, and we did that.

SPEAKER_01 12:15

And and putting finding all every corner of the school and rooms, gyms became classrooms and libraries because the the desk had to be so many feet away from the city. We had a strategically revised around them environment.

SPEAKER_03 12:27

Absolutely. And six feet apart, and the faculty couldn't stay in the faculty.

SPEAKER_01 12:32

Teaching with the mask.

SPEAKER_03 12:33

And teaching with the mask, they were all masked, right? Um, but in spite of all of that uh with the uncertainty and with the challenges and some dark times, um, we managed to come and thrive, not just survive, and that's very important. And we did so in a faith-filled environment. Uh uh, we did not have any gaps of learning. Uh we missed no time at all. And I think that truly is a testament to our um our leaders and teachers that they were our heroes and they were our beacon of light during that time.

SPEAKER_01 13:09

And resourceful and dedicated.

SPEAKER_03 13:11

Absolutely. We we owe them such a debt of gratitude.

SPEAKER_01 13:14

But that happens with leadership, and I want to take this opportunity to thank you, Mary, especially for the leadership during that time. And as as I've seen uh, you know, in in my time here in the diocese, the role of a superintendent is is so important and and you do it very, very well. And uh but but I I um you know I'm really grateful for, especially during that time, uh, all your dedication, which then I think was shared uh, you know, to throughout the schools and the diocese.

SPEAKER_03 13:36

Well, thank you, Bishop, but I didn't do it alone.

SPEAKER_01 13:38

Right.

SPEAKER_03 13:39

I had help, I had support. As I have support now, I think it's so important to realize that Catholic education is everyone's responsibility, not just the pastors or the principals. And our bishop is truly an advocate for Catholic education. I I can't tell you how often he's so accessible and available and approachable for anyone that has any problems or any concerns or just comments about Catholic education. Um I definitely think he is one who sees and is visionary in the mission of Catholic education. So thank you for that.

SPEAKER_01 14:13

Uh that's my pleasure. And uh, you know, we have to be honest, and that part of that vision is um, you know, clearly seeing some of the challenges that we face, uh whether it be economics or um uh demographics, uh certainly the the culture. Um I think um as unfortunately some some parts of our culture and some in public education are are uh some of the things that are being taught are not what we would believe. Uh so um which can I think you know uh I think it's it is is in some circles at least, you know, causing Catholic schools to become more attractive again to parents who who want the best for their children on every level, starting with uh what we believe and what it means to be a human person and a child of God. And um and so uh there's certainly challenges, but um, but we have to face them.

SPEAKER_03 15:04

Aaron Powell Yeah, it's it it's informing this new generation of parents to truly about the value of the of our Catholic schools, the value proposition, and um uh their understanding of how we form to inform our students. That's first and foremost. I think they understand it now.

SPEAKER_02 15:20

Um what would you tell a prospective parent or student uh of a Catholic school?

SPEAKER_03 15:25

Well, I I I think that um first and foremost, they have to understand um that we do everything the Catholic way. And so, of course, the academics uh are important. In fact, I I need to say that our all our schools are accredited and re-accredited through an agency that adheres to very strict requirements, policies, and standards regarding the quality of our student performance as well as okay, organizational effectiveness and teacher efficacy. So all schools in our diocese are reaccredited. Um also a third of our schools in the diocese have uh earned the national blue ribbon status. And again, that's very hard to do. They have earned it. Um, and so that's important. Um I think telling our parents that we are all about the education of the whole child is important. Okay, that along with the academics, along with the faith formation, and along with our partnership with the families, how important that is, that we truly are shaped uh by community and we need this partnership to help facilitate our mission.

SPEAKER_01 16:34

Yeah, we partnership is uh and I I remember myself as a pastor, even and and I think when we talk of Catholic education, um we're we're blessed by our Catholic schools, but we know that our parishes um uh are involved in Catholic education at every level, and we we always um are grateful for those catechists who are um uh teaching children who go to public school and and and collaborating with those parents. And uh as a pastor, I was I um often said, you know, what a uh um uh uh uh really humbling trust it is that the parents um they're the first teachers in their children the ways of faith. And and when that happens between uh a family and a and a parish community, and when it happens between a family and a Catholic school, especially in a uh a parish or or on a high school level, um it it's a privilege for us that we should never take for granted. But um we also feel that we're uh offering the parents uh uh uh so much, as you say, that use that value proposition, uh not um only on the, you know, I think the academic uh education that they're receiving is going to allow those children to uh get into a good college and and and have that good foundation as they go forward. Um but um but on every level, the spiritual, though the seeing the whole person, those who might struggle, um we we are there for your child and and for your family and um our our uh principals, I know, and presidents and teachers uh working with pastors uh and you and you yourself and your office, Mary, uh are are um offering everything that we can offer to help their parents raise their children in the ways of faith and parents who come to us who may not be Catholic and their children are Catholic, but they see the value of a Catholic education and we welcome them as we would as we would welcome them.

SPEAKER_03 18:21

Absolutely. That that bespeaks to that we are also schools of diversity, right? We are diverse in intellectually, economically, um, and uh culturally. Um and even sometimes in different denominations that do come to our school because they do see the value of the academics and and certain values that are taught. Okay. Um, if that is correct, and the discipline. And so they value that. Um I think that's important to note for sure for sure.

SPEAKER_02 18:49

I wonder if you could talk about um the state of Catholic education or the the future of education. Bishop alluded to some maybe some in the past couple decades, things aren't like they were. Uh you know, things have changed, certainly for the Catholic schools.

SPEAKER_03 19:03

Aaron Powell Well, I mean, we're, you know, we're in 2023. We are in a technological world that we have AI. Who knew what AI was 15 years ago? And now it's it's all about AI. And um even my grandchildren, oh my gosh, with their use of technology and the devices, they put some of the adults to shame. Um, I think everything has to be in its right place and understanding the importance of technology in educating our children, but also tempering it with um, you know, monitoring them and its value again. Um I think that's important that the parents have to understand that too. Uh, first and foremost, you have to build a foundation for these children. Um remember, I think all of us in, you know, um there was a point for all of us that we didn't have computers.

SPEAKER_01 19:57

All right.

SPEAKER_03 19:59

I know, but I'm just saying. You see three-year-olds with iPads, you know, and what what do you do about that? But I think we respect the time we're in, but we can't forget what brought us here and what kind, you know, how you want to educate the whole child. And in educating that whole child, that is not just spiritually, physically, morally, but ethically, right? And socially. And that's not easy in today's society. Today's society needs it's so different, and you know, it it's more difficult now than it with its challenges than it ever was, right?

SPEAKER_01 20:34

I think uh when we speak of challenges, and as you said, Mary, where where have we come from? Uh I think um um it's uh an untold story or underappreciated uh history, the uh what Catholic education has done for this country and especially maybe in the northeast of this or the larger cities and for immigrant communities. And when we speak about Catholic education in this country, we have to mention our religious sisters, brothers, priests, religious communities uh who have educated. And and unfortunately, those the the especially the the amount of sisters and brothers that are teaching in schools today and and running schools, um, they're they're much less than they were. Um so many so so many of our teachers now are lay teachers and we want to pay them the uh the a just salary. And so uh certainly that the those challenges um are part of the some of the economic challenges that we face. But um thank God we still have a number of religious communities. As I was we were at um the um Mary Help of Christians um run by the Salesian sisters, and we have wonderful uh Del Barton school, uh Anthony Volpe, uh the uh the Yankees, but uh the Benedictine um uh priests and monks, uh brothers do such a great job running Delbarton. Um the uh Villa Walsh Academy, the sisters of um the Philippines sisters, right? And um and um um we have um St. Elizabeth's Academy on the campus of St. Elizabeth University, the uh Sisters of Charity and Convention. So uh to think of the the the tradition that those schools are are building on, right?

SPEAKER_03 22:04

And the women and men religious who have done so much to yes, but I think their charisma still lives on in our schools as well as their tradition and their values. They have never been forgotten.

SPEAKER_01 22:13

And still in so many of our grammar schools religious sisters and religious communities um uh have helped us build a foundation that we're continuing, and and we want to do everything to to keep that um uh to to know, to communicate when we talk of vocations to our our our students that um you know that the call to religious life um as a religious sister, as a brother, a religious priest and a religious community, that that should be um uh uh considered as a possibility as well. Well. So yes, that's part of the challenge, but um but it's it's i uh we're we're evolving as a church and um so uh um we continue to discern with the with the help of the Holy Spirit, and I think we're doing that in Catholic education and our Catholic schools.

SPEAKER_03 22:54

Absolutely, Bishop.

SPEAKER_02 22:55

Do you see the charisms from school to school? Are they are they much different, uh the approach to education, or is the curriculum similar between school to school?

SPEAKER_03 23:05

Well, within our schools in the diocese, um there is a certain curriculum they all follow. So it's not it's not indicative of only one school. I think where you see the difference is their personalities, the culture within each of the individual schools, you'll see that, okay? They're patron saints.

SPEAKER_04 23:21

Right.

SPEAKER_03 23:21

You know, there's certain customs that they have during the holidays. Um that's prevalent, and you see that. That's the difference.

SPEAKER_01 23:28

And in our our grammar schools, um, you know, they're reflective of the that particular parish community, but also the surrounding parish communities. And that's again economics and um uh um uh different uh cultures and and immigrant communities and um um and and families and and so and and and parish tradition that the and and it's I think important that when we talk of parishes that have schools, that we those pastors, priests, and parish communities. And that allows me to say um those who support Catholic education, uh parishioners in a parish that has a school, but also we have parishers throughout our diocese and so many again who are products of Catholic education who want to give back. And so they're um, you know, I think of Tri-County Scholarships uh fund and and and and the way that they support students and our families that may not be able to uh make the tuition on their own, um but they they get help from Tri-County and from other sources. Um that's because people are generous and and and they give back, right, Mary? We see Absolutely.

SPEAKER_03 24:28

Between the great um benefactors uh um and the scholarships of assistance that's given by Tri-County, it's helped thousands of our students over the years. But our own education trust bishop has the Partners in Faith and there are sources of funding to help our schools. I mean, we could always we always would always need more, but whatever we have, it's there so that we can try to make Catholic education more affordable and accessible.

SPEAKER_02 25:02

Speaking of funding, has the State of New Jersey uh contributed any funding to Catholic education as as other states have done? Is there a trend there?

SPEAKER_03 25:12

Okay, are you talking about the school choice type of programs that they have in other states? Is that look, a parent's choice should be wherever they want to send their children? However, so many families would love to send their children, be it private or Catholic schools, and they just need support in funding that, okay? So um all the dioceses in our state of New Jersey right now are encouraging the legislators to develop and propose legislations on the state level to um develop these um school choice type programs, which would include models like school vouchers, tax credits, uh scholarship assistance, corporate, I think it's corporate education, um, tax accounts, savings tax accounts. We don't have that now and it's in discussion, but um other states have. And let me tell you, we've been striving for this not just very recently, but for a number of years. And so while we have to keep it in the forefront um and we have to keep those discussions coming, but we don't have that yet.

SPEAKER_01 26:16

Okay. But we um we're we're this past uh Tuesday was uh primary day elections, uh hopefully many voted. Uh and uh this coming um November, um uh I think every seat in both houses of the legislature here uh on the state level, the the Senate and the Assembly um are going to be up. And um we've seen good things in other states. Uh we have the New Jersey Catholic Conference uh um works with the five dioceses of the state to allow our voice to be part of the conversation in Trenton and and with um uh our political leaders. And so um uh we're we're we're looking at um uh advocating to um uh recognize that uh I remember there was a a pastor in in Brooklyn when I was growing up that was gonna put on his uh when I was thinking the seminary on his uh the board outside of his signboard outside of his parish um how much taxpayers' money they were sent they were saving the community because each of those children that are in Catholic school, if they were in public school, they would have to be supported. And so uh there should be some recognition of of uh the tax savings of for every child that's that's in a Catholic school. And and uh yes, we our country is as that separation of church and state, and they can't establish a religion, and so there's rules about um directly funding a faith-based private uh school, fine, but that parents um can have some choice as to options to um, especially, you know, sadly in um uh some of we have parts of our diocese where the public school systems are fantastic in in terms of the educational level, but we have other parts of our diocese where it's it the public school system is not so good. And do the do those parents deserve less in their public education than some parents in a in a better tax, you know, uh county or or or or town? Uh so um so uh could could there not be some help for um parents to have a choice when maybe the public education offered in a certain community is not what it should be. Uh uh so I think we can be part of that conversation very much.

SPEAKER_03 28:23

Absolutely. And also, Bishop, you know, what the state allows per pupil uh in education, we we do it for like 50 percent less. So not only are we saving taxpayers money, right? Because the the if we closed all our schools, god forbid, where would all these students go? They they they couldn't get into all the schools. They would they'd have to do something about it. But we do it for such a less amount, uh it's unbelievable. And yet um we can't even get the funding to help these poor families, as you said, give them that opportunity. Right.

SPEAKER_02 28:56

And the quality of course is there with this graduation acceptance rates and um great. I'm glad you brought up uh New Jersey Catholic Conference, Bishop. I wanted to mention um if if anyone listening or watching wants to learn more about some of these great resources regarding policy issues facing Catholic schools, you can visit njcatholic.org to learn more. And then here locally in the diocese to learn about our schools, please visit patdioschools.org. And uh nice webpage there where you can learn all about our schools. Um what else, Bishop?

SPEAKER_01 29:32

And uh for parents or grandparents who might be listening out there who are trying to make a decision about where their child is gonna be in school in September, there'd still be uh time to get them into uh a grammar. From K through twelve, right? From pre-K to twelve. Pre-K through twelve, right? Yes. Uh so find out where our the schools are in um you can find out through our website uh the schools that we have. And uh and now is a good time. It's not too late, right?

SPEAKER_03 29:57

No, it is never too late to register. Right, right. Never.

SPEAKER_02 30:01

Well, great. Um any other questions for Mary? Um as we near the end of the podcast?

SPEAKER_01 30:06

No, just to say thank you, and we might have you back to uh help us out with uh as we go along in terms of because it is such an important issue. But uh it is. But thanks, and uh I guess at this time of year, uh and you know, as we thank um and recognize as we need to um our presidents, principals, yourself, Mary, your office, and all of our teachers and all those who make our Catholic schools as successful as they are. Um, we also um want to congratulate and support all those who are in education. There are many teachers in our public school systems that are phenomenal, and and thank we thank them and recognize the service that they're providing to to our communities and to our parents. And um, so uh, but this time of year, I guess teachers and students, I'm not sure who which one more than the other are looking forward to summer.

SPEAKER_04 30:51

They need a much deserved respite for sure.

SPEAKER_01 30:54

One of my favorite times of the year, the last day of school was so it's coming up there. So uh so we look forward to that. And um uh as we um uh come to the end of this uh time together, um uh two things I want to mention uh this weekend, thanks be to God, the wonderful um feast of Corpus Christi on Sunday. And um, but before that, on Saturday morning, um got God willing, thanks be to God, we're gonna have ten men ordained to the permanent diaconate. So please keep them and their wives, nine out of ten are uh are married, and uh um but it it'll be a blessing for our church. We'll have more information on that to come. But um uh you I think it'll be live streamed, but um at the um at the cathedral, um St. John the Baptist in Patterson. But if you've never been to an ordination, it's uh a beautiful, beautiful ancient ceremony. And so 10:30 on Saturday, um uh we'll ordain, God willing those 10 uh men to the diaconate. And then on Sunday, um in this finishing first, entering second year of national Eucharistic revival, um we will celebrate the great feast of Corpus Christi, the body and blood of Christ, that gift that Jesus gives us of his body and blood, soul and divinity in the Eucharist and that we receive in Holy Communion. And um, hopefully many parishes I know will be having processions and other ways of um giving thanks for the gift of the Eucharist, or the Food Drive, as we talked about last week, uh, and um the the tank pull, the Catholic charities on Sunday morning. I'll be at St. Gerard's um in Patterson to uh thank and recognize the vocationists, uh priests and brothers who have served at St. Gerard's um I think for 15 years and are going to be moving on. So um we'll I'll I'll be glad to be there at St. Gerard's and and thank the vocationists for their service in our diocese, um, especially at St. Gerard's. Uh and then um Sunday afternoon and evening, the first communion children uh at Corpus Christi Parish in Chatham on the Feast of Corpus Christi for uh recognition and and celebration of those who have received uh first communion throughout our diocese uh in the in the past few weeks. And in the evening, the evening of Eucharistic um uh adoration and uh and revival, 6 p.m. Uh with Father Augustino, who had been on the podcast a couple of weeks ago. Uh uh it's all on the website, so please go and check it out. It's a a big weekend uh for Corpus Christi weekend, and please God, the weather will be better. And again, as we're coming to a close, uh we continue to pray for um all those in need, and we pray for the sick all the time. And we know our holy father just had surgery, so we pray that Pope Francis will be on the road to recovery um and and and and in good health.

SPEAKER_02 33:38

And if I could, Bishop, I'd like to just take a moment to plug our newest diocesan podcast. It's called Coffee with Kupke. So the diocese has has uh this premiered yesterday. It features Father Paul Manning, the diocesan vicar for evangelization, and Monsignor Ray Kupke, our diocesan archivist and historian. Father Paul and Monsignor Ray discuss the history of the Catholic Church and the Diocese of Patterson. Father Ray has an encyclopedic knowledge of possibly a maybe a photographic memory, but I'm not sure there, um, and really keeps the interesting anecdotes and insights flowing. Um, not too long ago, I had the uh privilege of spending a little bit of time with him in the archives downstairs, and uh that was a real treat, and I learned all kinds of things. And and now with Coffee with Kupke, everyone gets a chance to visit him in the in the archives, so to speak. So visit St. Paul Inside the Wall's uh YouTube channel or listen on your favorite podcast platform. That's Coffee with Kupke.

SPEAKER_03 34:38

Yes, Monsignor Cupkey is celebrating his 50th anniversary on Sunday.

SPEAKER_01 34:42

This past Tuesday we had our priest Jubilee Mass, and actually 50 years ago, I think it's the largest class in the history of the diocese. There were 20 priests ordained, uh, and Bishop Casey was the bishop at the time, and he split them into two groups, but um, and there were a few others ordained in the course of that year. Uh, so we had a wonderful celebration. Monsignor Kupke uh uh has a tradition at our Jubilee celebrations of uh uh giving some background and uh information on the history of guys who have served 50 years. So uh Father Paul Manning actually uh did that. He he roasted the roaster uh in in uh roasting Monsignor Kupke. And then Monsignor Kupke um gave a comment on on each of his classmates. Uh so and congratulations to all of our priests celebrating anniversaries um 50 and 40 and 25 and and one. We have seven men who just in the end of May celebrated their first anniversary. Again, at the end of June, we'll have two new priests, God willing, uh uh to be ordained on June 24th.

SPEAKER_03 35:40

So I think we we celebrate all our pastors, particularly for me, those that have uh parish schools, uh, for you know helping our schools uh in in our mission and for the sacrifices they make to continue to make our schools sustainable and viable.

SPEAKER_00 35:56

Absolutely, absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 35:57

Good. Well, thank you, Mary, thank you, Bishop, and thank you for spending time with us. 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 podcast topic ideas for the bishop to beyond at patternsondioces.org. Thank you for listening to Beyond the Beacon. God bless. Thanks.

SPEAKER_03 36:29

God bless.