Written by Peter G. Sánchez/

The Diocese of Camden

As Camden Catholic’s Christian Leadership students gathered in class last month, all eyes were on Father Edward Kennedy.

The part-time Director of Catholic Identity, critiquing students’ recent promotions of their upcoming school retreats (Kairos, a Women’s Retreat, Catholic Performers, and a Catholic Athletes for Christ), explained how one retreat group could have done even better.

“Promise them donuts,” and students will come out, he said half-jokingly, as students laughed and nodded their heads.

“Come for the donuts, stay for the faith” doesn’t sound like too bad a marketing plan for attracting busy high-schoolers to events. And with the endgame being that students are drawn more closely to Jesus and further develop their spiritual life, it’s an idea suited to the work of Directors of Catholic Identity.

Established six years ago by Bishop Dennis Sullivan, the position of Director of Catholic Identity brings “pastors” into the classrooms and sporting arenas of the Diocese of Camden’s Catholic high schools. They teach the faith, lead school liturgies, encourage vocations and serve as a spiritual resource for students, faculty and staff.

Father Ramos, Director of Catholic Identity at Gloucester Catholic takes a selfie.

This school year, Camden’s priests are serving in five high schools: Father Kennedy at Camden Catholic; Father Dexter J. Nebrida at Paul VI, Haddonfield; Father Josh Nevitt at Holy Spirit, Absecon; Father Steven Pinzon at Wildwood Catholic; and Father J. Philip Ramos at Gloucester Catholic.

“Father Kennedy’s presence here helps us,” said Father Joseph P. Capella, he himself a former Director of Catholic Identity at Camden Catholic, and now serving as the school’s rector. He is also the teacher of the Christian Leadership class which Father Kennedy assisted with.

“His youth, his personality — the students relate to him. He’s a presence in the community, celebrating sacraments with the school and promoting the school’s values,” Father Capella continued.

Their ‘parishioners’ are in the classrooms, hallways and cafeteria

As a part-time Director, Father Kennedy juggles his time between Camden Catholic and his parish assignment at Saint Rose of Lima in nearby Haddon Heights. On Wednesdays and Fridays, he can be found in the school’s green and white hallways, celebrating morning Mass in the chapel for students and faculty, mentoring students in Father Capella’s class, or chatting with students in the Campus Ministry office he shares with Jennifer LaRosa, the school campus minister.

“Father Kennedy is joyful,” LaRosa said. “He’s great with the students, making sure they know he is there for them” in any conflicts they have, be it school-related or personal struggles.

Father Kennedy with Jennifer LaRosa, campus minister at Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill. Photo by Peter G. Sánchez

Father Kennedy, in his first year as Director, acknowledges that the students have played a huge part in making him feel welcome and part of the community.

“I’m blown away by their maturity and hunger for the faith,” he says. “These students want to know and find the truth.”

At Wildwood Catholic, Father Pinzon, Director of Catholic Identity for the past two years, sees the importance of “planting the seeds” of spirituality in his students’ lives.

“I’m a visible presence, offering them confession, attending their sports contests, plays and socials,” he says. “Presence is so important, just to be with them, and meet them where they are at.”

He also has a parish assignment at Notre Dame de la Mer, Wildwood, as parochial vicar.

“We have good kids and a good staff” at Wildwood Catholic High School, he says.

Before coming to the Diocese of Camden from the Philippines two years ago, Father J. Philip Ramos, A.M., spent every week teaching the Catholic faith in public schools. Now, the Disciple of Mary is almost finished with his first semester at Gloucester Catholic.

“I’m happy here, being present at the school three days a week,” he says of the time he is not fulfilling his responsibilities as parochial vicar at Saint Simon Stock Parish in Berlin.

During October, the month of the rosary, he invited students to pray with him in the school chapel, and he taught them about the rosary’s origins and connections to the Blessed Mother.

He makes it a point “to involve myself in the school community as much as possible,” be it attending a Friday night football game or visiting a student’s loved one in the hospital.

Over these past three months, he has come to know and love the school community.

“It’s a family,” he emphasizes.

He believes that as much as he brings himself and his work to any interaction with students — be it on the field, classroom or lunchroom — he is learning just as much as they are.

“I learn something new from them every day, and hope they can learn something from me,” he says.

Written by Mary Beth Peabody/

The Diocese of Camden

Daniel Jarsen is ready to give the Thanksgiving placemat he made to his new pen pal, Mr. Cole. The placemat has a cornucopia that shows all Daniel is thankful for: his school, family, talents and two cats. Daniel and Mr. Cole met for the first time in mid-November, one of many pairs in a new friendship between the third grade class at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School and seniors at Saint Simon Stock Parish, both in Berlin.

Third grader at Our Lady of Mt Carmel, Berlin and her pen pal pose for a photo.

While the pen pal program is new for students at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (OLMC) and seniors at Saint Simon Stock, letter-writing has bridged generations in the Diocese of Camden for 20 years. OLMC principal Alice Malloy was quick to give credit to Sister Bianca Camilleri.

Since her 2002 retirement from teaching, Sister Bianca has served as school librarian at Saint Michael the Archangel Regional School in Clayton. She said retirement has given her more time to develop the pen pal program, which she introduced at every school where she taught. At Saint Michael’s, 50 students exchange letters with 70 seniors in four parishes. And with some seniors inviting their out-of-area friends to participate, Sister Bianca said there are a few others “floating here and there.”

Students and pen pals in the Saint Michael’s community meet every year in May at a special Mass and party.

Sister Bianca is passionate about the letter-writing program as a way to forge friendships between youth and older members of a community. She said she sees it as an ideal way to practice Corporal Works of Mercy.

Sister Biana Camilleri

“It teaches students about respecting others, forming a bond between community and school,” she said, at the same time acknowledging that not all seniors write back.

“We write every month. The kids understand if they don’t get a letter back. We do it not just for writing, but for caring.”

In addition to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Sister Bianca has helped Holy Angels Catholic School in Woodbury connect with its senior parishioners. Principal Patti Paulsen is thrilled with the new program.

“Our fourth graders have written to our elderly parishioners and received such wonderful letters. We cannot wait to meet our pen pals. Thank you to Sister Bianca for all that she does for our Catholic Schools. We love her!” said Paulsen.