SPEAKER_01 0:07

Welcome to Beyond the Beacon with Bishop Kevin Sweeney, a podcast of the Diocese of Patterson, New Jersey. Join us for weekly conversations about our Catholic faith, and together let's strive to live a life of faith, hope, and love. I'm Jay Agnish. With me is Bishop Kevin Sweeney. Bishop Kevin, how are you today? I'm good, Jay. How are you? Doing well, thank you. Congratulations on the new studio. Yeah, right. So we are temporarily we're in a temporary studio, a remote location here in Patterson at the temporary site of the Father English food pantry. And we're gonna we'll get into all that in a little bit. But first first, I have to ask you about Trenton and the New Jersey March for Life. How was that yesterday, Bishop?

SPEAKER_03 0:47

What a blessing. Uh the first ever New Jersey statewide um mass rally and March for Life. Um Catholics and people of goodwill from all over the state came, and um Bishop O'Connell, the Bishop of Trenton, was the host, and Cardinal Tobin uh celebrated the Mass, even though the next day uh he was on a flight on a flight uh heading over to the synod, but uh he celebrated the Mass. Bishop O'Connell gave a beautiful homily. Maybe by the time this comes out, many will have read the homily because uh I would like to print it in the beacon. It was so good. And um Bishop Sullivan, Bishop Checky was not able to be there, but his representative, his vicar general, was the the new uh co-adjutor. Um so Bishop Sullivan and Bishop uh Joseph Williams that will be was the co-adjutor now, he'll become the Bishop of Camden um in um in March. But uh great number of priests. Um great number of priests uh from our diocese and uh I our high schools, I think all of our high schools were there sending uh groups, and uh that spirit for those who have been to the March for Life in Washington, um you see the young church, you see young people advocating on behalf of life, and uh and that was very much the case yesterday. And uh the organizers did a great job, and um, you know, first time, but um uh we would hope that we wouldn't have to do it over and over again, but we still have a lot of work to do here in our state, and uh uh so hopefully it's something that'll we'll build on each and we'll come an annual event and um give the chance um to witness on behalf of life and on behalf of moms and and dads and families, and uh as Bishop O'Connell said, you know, it's just sad the state of the laws um here in our state um in terms of life in the womb and um and support for moms and um and and being able to say yes to that gift of life. We got a lot of work to do, but um yesterday was a really wonderful sign and uh great great witness on behalf of life.

SPEAKER_01 2:49

All right, good. That's that's great to hear. And uh before we go any further, why don't we uh open up in prayer, Bishop? Sure.

SPEAKER_03 2:57

So we're filming uh recording today on September 27th, which is the feast of St. Vincent de Paul, um, founder of the Congregation of the Missions, um uh the Vincentians, uh, who ran my alma mater, St. John's University. Uh Bishop O'Connell, who preached yesterday, was is a Vincentian. And uh uh and perfect um correlation um with uh the work here of the food pantry because St. Vincent de Paul um um parishes in the past used to have St. Vincent de Paul societies who were the really charity arm or um uh aid to people and families in need um within the um within the parish. Uh so um Vincent uh had that great uh care for the poor and wanted to serve the poor um and the hungry and the homeless um um as is done here at the Father Ingos Center and through our ministry's appeal and um and and uh and the work of Catholic charities. Uh so um that's a long introduction into the prayer, but let's place ourselves in God's presence in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. As we pray, we remember the needs of the poor, those who care for them, those who generously support the work of our diocese, the work of the Diocesan Ministries Appeal in gratitude for what has been given and um in interceding on behalf of those in need for the support that will be received through the Diocen Ministries Appeal. Um, let us join our prayers together as one, as we pray as one family, as Jesus Himself has taught us. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. Our Lady Seed of Wisdom, Mother of the Church, pray for us for us, Saint Joseph, pray for us, pray for us for us, Saint Vincent de Paul, pray pray for us. All holy men and women, pray pray for us. Name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. All right, I don't know if they'll pick up the siren on the um, but uh uh it was does some have the custom when you hear the siren say a prayer for the police officers or um or um firefighters, so we pray for those who keep us safe that they'll be safe.

SPEAKER_01 5:26

Yeah, and they're right outside around the corner. So before we introduce our guests, Bishop, I uh I'm really want to ask you. So when you were uh parochial vicar uh or a uh pastor in Queens and and Brooklyn, did you have a parish food pantry or any connection to Juan or involvement with one?

SPEAKER_03 5:43

Yes, um my first parish um there was actually a a shelter one during maybe um speaking of St. John's University was right next to St. John's in Jamaica, Queens. Um and uh in New York City for a while there was a program where um pla houses of worship would open their doors and become a uh a shelter for um uh hosting a group of um those who didn't have a home to be able to sleep and get a home home cooked meal. And um so from maybe November through um March, um one day um uh one day a week um we'd have the shelter, sometimes volunteers from St. John's, volunteers from the parish, um families would cook meals, um, others would stay the night just to be there, and uh great, great um experience. Um I think some of the bureaucracy in the city that's led to that not continuing. But um but my the parish where I was pastor, um today's September 27th, uh in two days we'll have the Feast of the Guardian of the Archangels, uh Gabriel Michael and and and Raphael. So I was pastor of St. Michael's the Archangel Parish in Brooklyn, and it's a long story, but um there was a local uh they called it a lunch program, I think going back to the 80s, uh, an ecumenical group. They came together, they cooked meals, and they gave Saturday lunch. Um, and it was housed in a Protestant church, and that church was Lutheran, I think actually, it was the the church building was being sold, and they needed to find a place to have this, to continue this work and ministry. And uh uh a uh former Catholic school teacher who had been in the parish where I served a seminary, and she knew I was at St. Michael's, and she came and said they're looking for a place. I said, we don't have a whole lot of space, but there's one place that might be able to be used, and brought it to the staff, brought it to the parish council. We went down there, visited, um, and uh the the soup kitchen moved to um St. Michael's and it's still going today. Um that was probably 2013 uh or 14, and um the woman who became the head of it of parishioner, she passed away a couple of years ago, Jackie was her name, um and uh serving, starting serving 70 or 80, um mostly men, but uh men and women, and um uh I think now they're serving more than um a hundred on on any given Saturday. And because we were and groups would use the rectory kitchen to prepare the meal, different groups would be responsible for a particular Saturday. There was others who organized that. Um it was just wonderful. Um uh kids volunteering, uh the service hours, um uh so great in so many ways. Um, but because of that we got food donations, so we ended up with a food pantry uh using one of the a basement uh under the church that um uh we found a spot and it grew. And um when the pandemic came in 2020, the only activity in the parish that didn't come to an end, that didn't stop beating um other than mass, which was online, um uh was the the soup kitchen continued, how they did it. Um and then people had a lot of food insecurity, if you remember after the um the beginning of the pandemic and uh the lockdown, and um we we were uh became a food distribution. I've shared before Catholic charities in Brooklyn um uh used St. Michael's as a site to distribute food. So um it was one of the best experience, best parts of being pastor that that welcomed that soup kitchen, and then the way people responded um and and and welcomed so many um uh uh was was really wonderful.

SPEAKER_01 9:30

Awesome, awesome. And now you get to do it and uh be involved in a different way as a bishop. So gotten to meet Carlos and Tim who uh have much to share. So we are at the temporary location of the Father English Food Pantry in the heart of Patterson near St. Joseph's University Medical Center. Carlos Roldan is the longtime founder and director of the food pantry going back to 1993. Did you know Carlos is the youngest of nine and was among the last group of his siblings to immigrate to the country from Columbia when he was 18? He thinks fondly of his home country and gets back there to visit friends, but he loves his new country and his job and says there's still lots of work to be done. Also joining us is Tim Potter, the chief fundraising superhero for the Diocese for the last 31 years. His formal title is Chief Development Officer, and he has yet again spearheaded the launch of our diocesan ministry's appeal, which will be uh which is now underway and will move uh further along into the season of giving um soon. Um and there is a reason we're producing a remote episode here at the food pantry, which we'll we will explore during this episode. But Bishop, I'm gonna go ahead and hand it over to you to get us get us started.

SPEAKER_03 10:50

So um this is a smaller place that I don't know if you can get the feel on the camera, but uh in the video, right, which hopefully all of our parishes will be showing, um you we see the large um old home of the uh and soon to be new home again of the um uh food pantry. So um maybe Carlos you can begin a little bit of um uh we uh how long have you been again at the Father English? It's gonna be 32 years. 32 years. And I think we've shared before some of what um the history of that effort has been and the way that you um not only uh help our volunteers and so many and your staff to uh give out food, but to encounter with respect and dignity each person that that comes and uh and and maybe talk about some of the needs you were seeing both from those who come and in the physical building uh that was uh the uh a parish uh uh uh uh auditorium, right? For uh where plays were had the cathedral would use and uh tell give it a little history.

SPEAKER_00 11:58

Yes, well it it's hard to believe that we went from a very, very small room to a huge room. We started in 1993 with 50 people a month, and then we kept on getting more people, more donations, and that's how we started growing uh to the point that we realized that the small room was too small and we needed to make it bigger and bigger and bigger. 32 years ago.

SPEAKER_03 12:18

Interruption, sorry. Uh it started with 50 people 30 plus years ago. How many people do you serve today? Today alone we did 230.

SPEAKER_00 12:26

And and how many a month? At least 20,000, 21,000 sometimes. Yes. Right. Now 230 people who came today, but many of those people represent a family. When I did my final report today, today we gave food out to 1,254 people. Uh we gave out today 975 bags of food. Wow.

SPEAKER_03 12:48

People are keep those donations coming, right? The uh Order of Malta uh parishes, uh so many, um those food drives are important.

SPEAKER_00 12:56

We have so many people behind the curtain, and you know what, so many people who are trying to to to who are helping us a lot. But you know what, when you talk about huge numbers, the need is greater and it gets greater every single day. So without the support of all those people who are behind us, we couldn't do what we do. I mean, a thousand bags of food every day, 1100 bags of food every day is is is crazy. We couldn't, we wouldn't have the money to go to the supermarket to buy all that. And and the problem in 1993 was the same. At that time, it was only 50 people who we were seeing, and very small, it was a very small group of people helping us. That group is is bigger, but then we're talking about a lot of more people that we are seeing.

SPEAKER_03 13:39

So maybe we can fast forward to um the pandemic in 2020, the need went up and you were able to stay open, uh making some changes. Uh and how many were you serving at that time?

SPEAKER_00 13:51

I I do remember it was March 17, 2020. Patrick's Day. I never yeah, I never forget the phone call at 9:30 in the morning. Carlos shut down, sent everybody home because people are dying. And that's when I said, I'm sorry, but if the food pantry needs to be open, this is the time. Before that, we were seeing 7,000, 8,000 people on a monthly basis. Three weeks later, we went from 7,000 to 20,000. A lot of people had lost their jobs, a lot of people were sent home. My priority at that time was the senior citizens. Why? Because I mean, they work all their lives. Right now, they live in very small apartments trying to make it on a $2,000 budget. They were very scared to go outside because I don't know if you remember, they thought that all the seniors were going to die, everybody was panicking, it was a disaster. So I said, wait a minute, we need to start with them because they need to eat. So that's when we started delivering food to their homes. Um at that time we also had a lot of people that were homeless, and we were able to help placing in hotels, but they also needed a hot meal, not only peanut butter and jelly, but a hot meal. So I got connected with Eva's Kitchen, they started providing me meals every single day, and then here we are delivering food to homeless people in shelters. Well, people should not go hungry, and we need to do what we need to do to prevent that.

SPEAKER_03 15:09

Right. You were still in the uh old building at that time, and yes, then uh we got through the pandemic, and um it was becoming clearer and clearer that um both there were needs in the physical old building that was um uh deteriorating and um but also uh as you uh began to say um that when someone comes to with needing food, they so often have other issues. And you had been beginning um or and over the years, I know um uh clothing uh classes, uh help with jobs. Um talk about some of those resources which now, thanks to the generosity of so many, um in the newly renovated uh Father English Center, not only uh food uh and and a better way to organize and and and distribute the food, but um what about some of the other services that are going to be offered?

SPEAKER_00 16:06

Definitely. I really do not want people coming to this door every other week for the next 30 years. People have potential, people have the power to do much more. So if they are in need, if they are hungry, but let us give you the food that you need, but let us also give you the push that you need so you can go out there to get a job, so you can leave the spot for somebody else who doesn't have that. Before in 2024, 2005, we were doing, we were teaching English, we were teaching computers, we were teaching people how to go out there and get a job. The resume, right? Yes, we even had an employment agency, we were helping people doing resumes. Uh, for some reason that stopped. Then when COVID came, definitely it was a disaster. Before COVID, we were doing people's choice food pantry, which I think it is the way to do it. Uh I don't want to just give you a bag of food. I don't even know what you like. I'm Colombian. I go to your food pantry, please do not. I don't want to offend anybody, do not give me pasta, I don't like it. Give me rice and beans. That's what I eat. That's what I like. So when people come to a food pantry, that's not the only problem they have. Their self-esteem is right on the ground. And here I am, I don't even know these people. These people don't even know me, and here I am. Oh, you're hungry? Here's a bag of food. Peanut butter, they are allergic to peanut butter. Pork, they cannot eat pork because of religious things or because of diet, they cannot eat pork. And here I am offending them with a bag of food that they cannot eat. We need to treat, we need to treat people with dignity and respect.

SPEAKER_03 17:36

And you had begun that, right? They could come in and they got points and they could basically shop for what they wanted that they and their family needed, right? And could eat.

SPEAKER_00 17:44

Yes, we we did it like that from 2004 to 2020. 2020 COVID came, then uh we had to go back to the bagging, no people were not allowed inside the building. Now COVID is gone. The building was not big anymore because we grew so much, and now the building started falling apart. We started getting all these problems that we had. That's when we decided that it was time for renovation. And thank you, God, and thank you to all these wonderful people out there. Yes, yes, and thank you to him and and you maybe you can and your support.

SPEAKER_03 18:16

Um it's my pleasure. Uh yes that you could take us from. I remember um both yourself and Scott Milliken, the our CEO of Catholic Charities, who uh oversees um the the soup kitchen, uh the the food pantry, um, hearing that there was gonna be needs to take care of the building and we were gonna have to raise money to do that. Um uh you had spoken to me about it as Scott had, and we just we through your experience you knew that there were some generous donors that we could reach out to and explain the situation and see if they could help, and so many responded so beautifully. But also you thought about um what we ask of everyone in the diocese um in the ministry's appeal, and that yes, we asked for help for Catholic charities every year, but for three years for this renovation, um we would do something special. Is that right? That's correct.

SPEAKER_02 19:09

So uh right, the the uh we wanted to have a an approach where we could ask everybody to do what they can. So uh we did ask some certain individuals who were able to help with uh uh major gifts and thank God for them. Uh but we thought that this is something that we as Catholics uh are called to do through the gospel. And so we didn't want to limit that just to a group of people, but invite everybody in the diocese to participate. So uh what we decided to do is that for three years, and it started last year for the uh last year's appeal, that we would uh commit $200,000 a year for three years from the diocese and ministry's appeal to help renovate uh the food pantry. And uh people have really responded to it incredibly well. Um you just come here and you can just see the activity and you can see that you're really doing something concrete uh for people in great need. And so it's it's exciting to see. Carlos is on the ground doing this day by day, but just to kind of witness this myself and and bring people uh uh around to see all the stuff that's being done. It's so inspiring. Uh you know, I I I've said this many times, uh, but this is like one of the things that we do best as Catholics is really living out the gospel in this real specific way. Um so to be part of that, even in a small way, is is great.

SPEAKER_03 21:08

And Tim, uh, we recently had two gatherings. Um uh one so important uh pastors uh ask uh someone to be their point person for um the ministry's appeal. Uh so maybe you can say a word about that. And uh I re remember um uh Joe um Joe um Murray, right, from Catholic Family Services, right? Uh talked about some of the larger work that Catholic Charities does and is supported by the appeal. Um but uh and then we also had a recent um gathering to kind of kick off the the appeal and um uh wonderful response to just get started. Um but um give us a little bit about um uh how it works in the parish, what we ask of the pastors and the reps, and uh the video maybe and um how that allows our parishioners to help with the pantry, food um uh the food pantry, Father English, uh the Catholic charities and other ministries in the diocese.

SPEAKER_02 22:10

It's uh the appeal is definitely a team effort. Um and so uh we are so dependent on our parishioners and the pastors and the lay appeal chairpeople who are assigned from each parish to really uh promote the work that we do. And you're right, Bishop. So it is Catholic charities, it's seminary education.

SPEAKER_03 22:28

Catholic charities, seminary and education, Catholic urban education. Right. Um retired priests, priest health care. Um and the and those four those four things.

SPEAKER_02 22:39

Uh and along with that, uh the good thing is that each parish is assigned a goal. And for those parishes that region exceed their goal, uh, they receive a 50% over goal. So parishes are helped as well. So it's really it's really well-rounded in terms of helping not just the needs of people throughout the whole diocese, but also in your local parish. And uh the response from the parish parishes have been phenomenal. Last year uh we we did a record, best ever. Oh really? And yep, and uh and I honestly think it has in part to do with having the food pantry as as part of the case uh because this is something that a lot of people relate to. But um it's really dependent on, like I said, the pastors and the late chair people, and so I'm so grateful for them uh because we couldn't do it without them.

SPEAKER_01 23:25

Talk about maybe the video. So the video is relatively new. Yep. Um it started, I think, the bishop's 23. And uh I mean I I love it, I love it as a storyteller, as a newspaper editor, um, as a communicator, it just tells some very rich stories about how these funds are are helping. Um what's the experience like making the video and what can you share about the videos?

SPEAKER_02 23:51

It's it's it's really exciting to do every year because you want to kind of try to try to come up with something a little bit new. Um and I work with a really great uh uh video company that helps me. Uh so I'll just kind of I'll give them like kind of a structure and idea of what I I think could work and then they take it from there. But um what I think's really good about that is we've been doing the appeal for so many, for so many years uh that uh it's nice for the last three or four years to have uh faces and so people can see it. You can read about it in the letter or the brochure, but to actually see the posters, yeah. But to have that visual uh but to have the visual and to hear the testimony of people who have actually benefited from that, I think brings it to a a different level, and uh I think really appeals to people.

SPEAKER_03 24:40

Uh uh a family that's helped by Department for Persons with Disabilities, right? Uh two sisters uh share their story. Uh that was Oh, that was so touching. Right, right. You know, um it's awesome. So uh an important part, uh well, uh two of many important parts of the appeal. Um letters uh go out to those who have um donated in the past, right? And we uh ask for the most generous response possible in prayer, understanding the demands. Um but then um uh two weekends in a row in the parish, um one would be um the video and and kind of l make uh making parishioners aware that the appeal is is happening. Yep. And then the in-pew weekend, right, where we ask people to make Right, right, Bishop.

SPEAKER_02 25:29

So the f so the first weekend we have uh we asked the pastors to speak on behalf of the appeal, just briefly about the needs, uh, because again, uh it's just important to remind people about the work that we do as a diocese on their in their name. Uh and so then the f and then the following weekend we will show the video and have what we call uh commitment weekend where we ask parishioners who have who have not yet made a gift to commit to making a gift uh in church that weekend.

SPEAKER_03 25:55

And uh living in this uh more and more digital and technical technological world, um both QR codes and electronic giving, right, has gone up. And just being with you, Carlos, here um you can't electronically give this food to people coming to the door, right? But if the electronic gift um allows um uh uh you and and your volunteers to literally uh meet Jesus at the door, right? And uh and and and offer some not only uh cans of food, but um uh and healthy food as well, um, but uh receiving with love and dignity, right? Uh maybe just uh uh what's that like um uh those encounters at the doors and and maybe uh uh um many people come to volunteer stocking shelves, right? Uh uh doing many different things, um, but um many who also um we just don't ask anyone to be there at the door, right? We want the that to be uh and and and I'm sure you're inspired by the volunteers, right? Who who who really received Jesus as as as the women and men come um maybe talk a little bit about that.

SPEAKER_00 27:02

Definitely, definitely. Yeah, we we have, as I said before, I cannot do this by myself. I do need uh people's monetary support, but then I also need the men power. We do have some volunteers. Yes, and women power. Yes, men and women power. Uh we uh we actually have some volunteers that never thought about coming to a food pantry, not even to volunteer. Some volunteers that never thought they wanted to do this. They retired and they were home after COVID, and then when we made the call that we needed people here, they started coming to help us. This became one of the most important things in their lives because they they didn't know this was happening. They didn't know that brothers and sisters were going hungry, they didn't know what it was to provide a bag of food or to provide a sandwich to a homeless person. Now we have that. I actually have a lady, uh, she used to be she's a doctor, but she retired. Uh last week there was a homeless person outside and she came inside and she didn't say anything, but she was preparing a sandwich and she was hitting some food up and she was feeding this uh homeless person and she actually sat down and spent at least 20-25 minutes with the person. When I went outside, I heard her saying thank you. And then when when the guy said no, thank you, and then she said, No, thank you. That means a lot. Our brothers and sisters are in need, and we we we are on this side of the line, they are on that side. We are the ones who need to provide because you know what, at the end of the day, we are all the same.

SPEAKER_03 28:30

And um we're here really in downtown Patterson, right? And uh I want to say a word about uh St. Joseph's Health. Um, I think Scott Milliken, um uh Kevin Slavin at the time, I think, was uh was CEO. Now it's Dustin Riccio. But we have such a great relationship and uh Catholic health care that St. Joseph's Health is and provides um to the community here. And in our time of need, um uh they found this location that you've made work. Um talk a little bit about the transition. I can only imagine. I showed up one day that then and the Father English Center was what it always was, filled with shelves and food, and I came back another day and it was empty, and I had heard that you had moved. Uh, how did you fit everything in here? And and what and and and yet uh I I know it was uh a concern to find a location within walking distance of the Father English Center, which is right by our cathedral. Um, and uh it's not uh uh uh around the corner, but it's it is in walking distance, and apparently word has gotten out, and those who came to Father Ignis English are making their way here. How has that transition been?

SPEAKER_00 29:31

We we have the same people that were going to Father English, now they're coming here, and more people because you know what we have the clinic and some employees from San Jose Hospital, they don't make a lot of money. They also need to come here to get food. So we actually got more food. And you know what? Thank God that these people were willing to open the door. Thank God that they said here we are to help you. But I have to tell you, it has been one of the biggest challenges. This is a great place, but it was not made to be a food pantry. So I cannot wait to go back home. Beautiful. And when I go back home, it's gonna be the most beautiful place in Paris on, and it's gonna we're gonna have so much uh to offer, we're gonna have many other programs. I mean, people are gonna feel that they are loved and that we are here to provide what they need and to help them.

SPEAKER_01 30:17

So there's the Father English food pantry, which is actually like within an umbrella of the Catholicis, yes. And then the Father English Center, right? So what are some of the other I know I know you don't oversee those aspects of the Father Father English Center, but you tell us a little bit more about what are are those programs gonna be open once the renovations are complete?

SPEAKER_00 30:39

Well, right now some of them are still open. We have rental assistants, we have uh uh teenage programs, we have senior citizen programs, we we have daycares, we have, I mean it's a la going on. Yeah, yeah, yeah. The only program that moved here was the clothing boutique. We had to stop furniture, we had to stop clothing because here we don't have the space. We're hoping that when we go back home, we're gonna have all that. And what I'm so excited about is that when we go back home, when people come to us, they're gonna see a menu of what can I do for you? I need rental assistance, that's where you go. I need uh immigration, this is where you go. I need clothing, go get your clothing. I need food, go get your food. I need uh to run for English classes, this is where you do.

SPEAKER_03 31:20

Some are struggling with addiction or substance abuse that um the resources are through Catholic charities straight and narrow, right? Uh definitely.

SPEAKER_00 31:28

We'll be able to prefer everybody to other programs. We'll refer. I mean, we just don't want them to come to us for food. No, that we have so many things for them, and and I cannot wait to to get back home. And veterans, too, right?

SPEAKER_01 31:39

And the veterans, yes, we have the huge veterans program, yeah. I love that you call it home.

SPEAKER_00 31:44

That's home. Yes, it is. That's been my home for the last 32 years.

SPEAKER_03 31:47

Uh Tim, tell me uh how many years uh you guys are almost the same amount of time.

SPEAKER_02 31:51

1993. 1993, what month? Well, uh March 31st. July 1st. I beat you for two months. Oh no, you beat me for two months, yes.

SPEAKER_03 32:01

Uh and uh talk a little bit about how you've seen the ministry's appeal grow and maybe also um uh you know what the experience has been like for you in terms of working with Carlos and Catholic charities in the renovation of the um the Father English uh of this all this that we're going through at the moment.

SPEAKER_02 32:19

Yep. So so yeah, the appeal has just over the years, I've just I've seen it obviously grow because people are responding to this, they see the needs, um, and they they uh are just incredibly generous and uh everybody can give something and and that's what we're all all we're asking to do. Uh and and working with with Carlos in the food pantry has been just great because he he every time I hear him, he inspires me, and and it's so exciting to be part of that. And Bishop, you had mentioned that you know there's monetary gifts, certainly, but there's also uh people volunteering their time, like we we talked about the the uh Order of Malta with a van that they help deliver food here. Parishes participate uh by by giving food from their parishioners and come for here, so it's really a group effort. Um I got a call yesterday from one of our uh parishioners who's great, great people, and they called up and said that their son uh built some computers on his own, and that he wanted they wanted to know if there was any help use for those computers for Catholic family community services or people in need who want it who need some computer training or something to help their youth learn these things. So it's it's really it's it's a an effort that just s it spans not just financial but volunteering and stewardship of the computer.

SPEAKER_03 33:37

Mustard seed, right? Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_02 33:40

And so that's that's really what's the problem. Yeah, exactly. Community building to exactly, exactly. So that's that's exciting to see it just blossom in so many different ways.

SPEAKER_00 33:57

And people ask me, are you are kids allowed? I'm like, yes, of course. I want kids to know what's going on. With volunteers. Yes, uh, I I want kids to know what's going on because you know what? In the future, they're gonna be the adults and they're gonna be the ones who who will be running this and and they need to see what's going on. If somebody would like to volunteer, what's what's the best way to um they they can call Sister Maureen Sullivan or they can call me at 973-771-9485, and then I can tell them exactly what to do. Sister Maureen is the person in charge of volunteers, we work together, and I want adults to bring kids here. I really want kids to know what's going on because sometimes they take things for granted.

SPEAKER_03 34:35

I think some of our youth groups, uh schools sometimes uh come, is that right? Uh right, yes, right, right, right. Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_01 34:41

I know our the deacons in training uh come as as well.

SPEAKER_00 34:45

That too. Yep, yep, that that them too, yeah. As I said before, we see a lot of people coming from different programs and a lot of kids coming with the patents or or with the confirmation groups, and they need to come, they need to see what's going on.

SPEAKER_01 35:00

So tell us about um the heart of a servant because we were sitting here trying to in our first take you got a knock on the door and it was someone who wanted some needed some food, and you went we stopped and you went and you brought some food and spent a little time with them. Yep. And I and it's just that it's so prioritized to me, like that's your Yes.

SPEAKER_00 35:18

There is our job, my job here is now Monday to Friday to four. Whenever I need to be, that's where I go, to pick up a donation or to deliver food or to each of somebody who's hungry. I was hungry before. A lot of people have your phone number, I think. Everybody has my phone number. Everybody has my phone number. I was hungry before and I know exactly how it is. I know exactly how you feel. I know exactly uh how how much compassion you need and how much you need somebody to say, you're not alone. I went through it, I don't want anybody to go through it. And and yes, and I uh uh I agree with you. I have to tell you that I changed my phone number like three or four years ago. I had a problem with my old number. The person who had my old number, one day he actually called me and he said, Can you please tell me what you do? Because I have all these people calling me and I'm I'm sorry. Oh, please hold on my phone number. Wow.

SPEAKER_01 36:08

That's great. That's great. Um okay, well, we're getting near the end here. Any any other questions?

SPEAKER_03 36:14

Uh Tim, once again, Catholic charities and uh last year, this year, and next year, um the extra commitment to um to the renovation of the of the food pantry, um our senior priests, right, who need extra care and um uh the the residents at at Nazareth um and um uh their their their ongoing health care and um so Catholic charities, retired priests, uh inner city urban Catholic education, our Catholic schools, um, and our seminarians. Um uh those are the four main beneficiaries of the uh of the ministries of PL. Yep, yep. And we have a theme, right? Each year, what's this year's theme?

SPEAKER_02 36:53

This this year it is united in faith, hope, and love. And uh, you know, it it yeah, and and um, you know, given the current culture where people there's so much division and and um you know that's we wanted to have a theme that kind of said, you know, despite all that, as Catholics, we can all come together for this one cause. We might have different feelings about different things, but when it comes to serving people and helping people in need, we are united.

SPEAKER_01 37:21

And this has something to do with your Episcopal motto, no?

SPEAKER_03 37:24

God is love, yes, yes. The greatest of these is love, yes, yes. Um and but that love has to be in action. And uh that um October 1st, the feast of Saint Therese, the little flower, um, her little way, do little things with great love. You see those little things done with great love every day. Um and we see it um in the sacrifices made by uh um uh and and some of the sacrifices are not little things, they're they're very uh generous um uh sacrifices and gifts, but um uh we we we need the help and and we're very grateful for the help. Um both those who do it at the front door and uh and those who uh stock the shelves and send the donations um for those who who support the appeal. So Tim, um hopefully most who are listening or watching uh will donate through their parish or get something in the mail.

SPEAKER_02 38:17

But if someone wants to help the appeal, uh what's the best way for for them to what's so uh if you'd like to make a gift to the appeal, uh you can go online and it's it's pretty easy. It's 2024appeal.org. Uh and they can make an online gift.

SPEAKER_03 38:32

2024 numbers.

SPEAKER_02 38:34

Yep. 2024appeal.org. Yep, and they can just make an online gift and uh more people are doing that each year. So uh uh it's an easy way to do it.

SPEAKER_03 38:42

And um they can also find out through our own Diasin website, right? It'll be on the on the show.

SPEAKER_01 38:48

Yeah, it'll come right up on the homepage. Yep. And we'll have the uh show notes, we'll have some links, and um you'll be hearing hearing plenty about the uh the video.

SPEAKER_03 38:56

Uh and we'll uh schedule another uh this time uh we should get some action shots of the move back home, right? And then we can uh uh get do something when we're ready to uh move back into the new home um uh to to let people know.

SPEAKER_00 39:11

Yes, and please come and visit me. I want you to see what I see every day. I want you to feel what I feel every single day. This is amazing. I go home with a smile and and the address here is 35 Getty Avenue, G-E-T-T-Y Avenue in Patterson.

SPEAKER_03 39:26

Down the block from St. or across the street from St. Joseph's Hospital, yes.

SPEAKER_01 39:30

And if you're watching this episode, we're gonna have some b-roll of the space so you can get uh a little more familiar with what happens here at this location. So all right, well, thank you so much both for being on Carlos, thanks for sharing this experience with us. Um before we uh finish up the episode, Bishop, any uh any reflections, challenges, thoughts about anything that was discussed that we you can do.

SPEAKER_03 39:54

You might be hearing this in the middle of the month of October, but uh don't forget that um uh October is the month of the Holy Rosary. So um Pope Francis asked, and we're gonna uh I know many parishes will be doing something in uh ourselves. Um uh I have uh um a Rosary Walk, which again uh will happen on Sunday, October 6th, and then Monday, October 7th, uh Pope Francis has asked that it be World Rosary Day. So hopefully by the time this is out, that will have happened and and and a lot of blessings through those prayers. But um October's also Respect Life Month, and while we just had the uh march and rally in Trenton, um uh we're having our own Respect Life convocation at the end of the month, October 26th. So uh we'll get some information out. Uh so please uh and you know um as we know that there's an election coming up, um the theme for this year's uh Respect Life Convocation is praying for life, family, and country. For life, family, and country. Um we need to um uh keep all of those in our prayers and uh and there's a connection there as well. So uh hopefully many will come to our um Respect Life Convocation Saturday, October 26th at St. Mary's in Denville. We'll share some more details and information.

SPEAKER_01 41:13

And we'll see October is also a pretty uh crucial time for the MLB, so we'll see how your your team feels like. So far, so good.

SPEAKER_03 41:20

Um as of September 27th. Today the Yankees are AL East champions as of last night. And uh so looking forward to the playoffs. Um I know there's another couple other teams in the National League, one of them from Flushing that Tim Roots for that is uh hoping to get there. Jay Rootsfur as well, I think, right? Yes, yeah, absolutely. So baseball fan of Sokka?

SPEAKER_00 41:43

Soccer, yes, Columbia. Colombian team is the best.

SPEAKER_01 41:47

Okay. Well, thank you for joining us. Please subscribe, like, and leave a positive rating. Get to know us better by following Beyond the Beacon on Facebook or Instagram. Email questions and podcast topic ideas to beyond at pattersondioces.org. Discover our other podcasts, Coffee with Kupke and the Paul Street Journal. See you next time.

SPEAKER_03 42:09

Thanks, everybody. God bless you. Thanks.