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Office of Family Life/Respect Life: Family Life Programs

Each of us belongs to a family. However, the face of today's family is considerably different from our grandparents' family. Parents, spouses, and children relate to one another in ways that are often non-traditional. God's presence in the family remains a constant: in the unique circumstances of each family unit, we can see the Paschal Mystery being relived. In the family, we find a continuing cycle of living, dying, and rising again. In our shared humanity, God's grace is working in and through us to build the Kingdom on earth.

The Family Life/Respect Life Office is dedicated to promoting and serving the family, in all its diverse forms in the world today. Through a variety of programs and ministries, we offer support to you, our brothers and sisters in the family of the Diocese of Trenton.

The Office of Family Life/Respect Life sponsors parish-based True Love Waits programs for youth and young adults in the parishes of the Diocese.  Through a variety of multi-media presentations, group discussion, and creative activities, this formational experience addresses the Catholic Church’s perspective on relationships, sexually transmitted diseases, respect life issues, chastity and decision-making.

True Love Waits facilitators’ training session for parish staff and those serving in religious education, school, and youth ministries will be held on Saturday, February 2, 2008.  Please call the Office of Family Life/Respect Life for further information at 609-406-7400 (ext. 5558).

The Mother of God Community is a Catholic Charismatic Covenant Community in Monmouth County.  Inspired by the Acts of the Apostles, the members respond to God’s invitation to live each day as brothers and sisters in Christ. The community consists of married couples, single men and women, clergy, and religious who worship in various parishes.  The Community celebrates and encourages the evangelizing influence of families.

In addition to celebrating Eucharistic liturgy together, Community life includes First Friday Healing Masses, Life in the Spirit Seminars, Marriage in the Holy Spirit Retreats, Men’s & Women’s Prayer Meetings and Retreats, Children and Youth Outreaches.

The Mother of God Community operates with the permission of the Most Rev. John M. Smith, Bishop of Trenton, and under the guidance of Father Jeffrey Kegley, Spiritual Director of the Community. For more information, please visit  www.motherofgod.net or call (732) 264-2122.

PO Box 488
Cape May Point, NJ 08212
Phone: 609-884-3829

The mission of the Marianist Family Retreat Center is the transformation of society and the enrichment of the Church through a wide choice of communal retreat experiences to families and all who are seeking personal and spiritual growth. Believing that the family is sacred, the Marianists provide retreat programs structured upon these essential elements: Hospitality, Affirmation, Communication, Forgiveness, Commitment and the Call to Serve. Retreats include nine Summer Family week-long retreats and three Advent Family retreats. The Center also has many specialized offerings, including Latino Family Retreats, Black Catholic Family Retreats, Retreats for Families with Young Children, Homeschooler's Family Retreats and Single-Parent Family Retreats. If you are interested in a unique opportunity to grow in family spirituality and unity, please contact the Marianist Family Retreat Center directly.

Elizabeth Ministry is an outreach by which women help other women and their families during a time of pregnancy, birth, adoption or infant crisis. The role of Elizabeth Ministers is to affirm, support, encourage, and assist women during this unique time in their lives. Through this ministry, births and baptisms are celebrated, and the losses of infant death, failed adoption, and infertility are mourned. Elizabeth Ministry is a process of engaging women to minister to other women in similar circumstances.

For additional information, please contact the Office of Family Life/Respect Life, 609-406-7400, ext. 5558.

Bukas-Loob sa Diyos (Open in Spirit to God), or BLD, is a charismatic prayer community that has been operating in Diocese of Trenton with the Bishop's permission through the Office of Family Life/Respect Life. The BLD's evangelization and formation programs are geared towards "restoring the family to Christ." Since its inception in June 2001, the BLD has held Marriage Encounters, Life in the Spirit seminars, Youth Encounters, and Youth Life in the Spirit Seminars. The community's regular activities include weekly prayer meetings and bible reflections for adults, youth (ages 14-20) and children (ages 5-13) and Eucharistic Celebrations, held every Friday evening at St. Mary of the Lake in Lakewood and at St. Aloysius in Jackson. The BLD also offers free basic teachings on the Catholic faith through its Christian Discipleship Formation Program. Membership is open to anyone desiring to deepen their relationship with the Lord. For contact information, please call the office of Family Life/Respect Life at ext. 5559.

FAMILIA, an acronym for Family Life in America, is an international apostolate developed by Catholic laity to build and strengthen the family. FAMILIA is committed to fostering the development of religious, moral and social values within the family.

FAMILIA of Central New Jersey sponsors programs in local parishes of the Diocese. The two programs, the Motherhood program and the Fatherhood program, allow men and women the opportunity to read the Gospel, learn from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and understand papal documents written specifically for marriage and family. The programs help parents develop a strong family structure, promote harmony among all members of the family, especially husband and wife, foster an awareness of the need for Christ and the Church in daily family life and promote the teachings of the Church about marriage and the family. Mothers and fathers are given the tools to be devoted spouses and to raise fine, caring families, families who love God and His Church. These dynamic self-study groups meet for 15 sessions to discuss and review the documents of the Church.

FAMILIA is proud to introduce our newest program, "The Splendor of Love." This program has been designed for couples to meet together and to discuss the teachings of Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body. This exciting new program is intended for couples to experience these teachings while growing together as a couple. If you would like more information about these programs or would like to initiate them in your parish, please call Josi Shimkus at 732-361-7345 or email: josihohn@optonline.net.

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace invite you to share their Retreat Center with its magnificent chapel building and enclosed promenade overlooking the Atlantic Ocean on the beautiful Jersey shore. Stella Maris Retreat Center, a place of peace, personal renewal, and refreshment, hosts and sponsors programs for groups and individuals of all faiths and cultures who seek holistic renewal in their daily lives.

Whether attending a religious retreat or business conference, our guests comment on the wish to return again to the peace and tranquility offered at Stella Maris. The facility is open all year to accommodate the ever-increasing need for a contemplative setting in which to conduct programs and events.

Rooted in the spirit of peace through justice, the mission of the Center is to provide opportunities for an experience of the holy through a deepened realization of the Biblical concept of justice as the right relationship with God, with oneself, with other people, and with all creation. For more information, please contact Stella Maris directly.

"We can be sure of one thing:  God’s family will always be present
and those who belong to this family will never be alone." 
Pope Benedict XVI, January 8, 2006

Parishes throughout the diocese offer support to families as they face the day-to-day challenges of Christian family living.  If you are interested in a program, please call the contact person listed below.

Marriage and Family Life Ministries and Programs

Burlington County

Riverton, Sacred Heart Parish
Moms and Tots Devotional Group
Mrs. Hope Blanch, 856-786-4799

Marlton, St. Joan of Arc
St. Gianna Family Faith Society
Bob Baravouski, 609-304-9856

Mercer County

Princeton Junction, St. David the King
Family Welcoming Program
Nanci Balhman, 609-275-2111 ext.11

Monmouth County

Atlantic Highlands, St. Agnes
Family Outreach
Ray Rainville, 732-291-0272 ext.18

Colts Neck, St. Mary Parish
MOMS (Ministry of Motherhood)
Family Enrichment
Mom-to-Mom: Growing as a Woman, Growing as a Mother
Lucille Castro, 732-780-7343 ext.23

Homdel, St. Catherine
St. Anne’s Guild
Maggie Zaattieri, 732-842-3963 ext.13
St. Andrew’s Men’s Group
Paul Orecchia, 732-739-9703
Mom’s Group
Susan Hammer, 732-335-9452

Wayside, St. Anselm
MOMS
Mrs. Sandy Mullarkey, 732-493-4411
Musical Parenting
Mrs. Sandy Mullarkey, 732-493-4411

Ocean County

Brick, Epiphany
Mother’s Support Group
Kathleen Nowak, 732-840-9545

Brick, St. Dominic
MOMS
Maureen Cahill, 732-785-1527

Forked River, St. Pius X
God’s Little Angels
Deidre Michelli, (609)242-2082

Lakewood, St. Mary of the Lake
Monthly Marriage Anniversary Blessing
Deacon Tony Martucci, 732-363-0139

Lavallette/Normandy Beach, Church of St. Bonaventure – Our Lady of Peace
Prayer Blanket Ministry
Mrs. Donna Hanna, 732-854-2286

Whiting, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Families of Nazareth
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Downing, 732-350-3343

The Office of Family Life/Respect Life serves as liaison for the St. Thomas More Society for Lawyers, Judges, and Government Leaders in the counties of the diocese: Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean, and Burlington. The Society is an association of men and women in the legal and political professions who seek to embrace the ideals of St. Thomas More in their personal and professional lives. The St. Thomas More Steering Committee of the Diocese of Trenton will host the annual Red Mass and Professional Gathering, at St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral on June 16, 2007. Representative Christopher Smith will be honored as the 2007 recipient of the St. Thomas More Award, for his service to church, community and country. For more information, contact the office at 609-406-7400, ext. 5558.

The Office of Family Life/Respect Life, in collaboration with the Offices of Religious Education and Catholic Education, is responsible for providing guidelines for Family Life/Respect Life curriculum in the diocese. The Office reviews and approves texts and materials pertaining to family life and respect life issues. The Office also provides in-service programs and speakers for staff and students in the 11 high schools and 53 elementary schools in the diocese.

Office of Family Life/Respect Life
Diocesan Pastoral Center
PO Box 5147
701 Lawrenceville Road
Trenton, NJ 08638-0147
609-406-7400 Fax: 609-406-7403
Email: family@dioceseoftrenton.org
Director: Linda Richardson