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| Mike Wojcik
I was raised in Bergen County in Rochelle Park as a second generation Polish-Slovak American. There I went to Sacred Heart School and St. Cecilia High School in Englewood, NJ, both by the Sisters of Charity of Convent Station. I have been blessed with reawakening of the seeds of my faith throughout my life especially earlier via many college encounters with people living their faith. This experience of God’s love led me to live in a Catholic lay faith community, and to serve in teen evangelism, campus ministry, and missionary service in Central America for six months. I continued my undergraduate education at Seton Hall University Magna Cum Laude with a major in Religious Studies and a minor concentration in Business. At the same time I worked full-time as a retreat house coordinator and giving retreats. My professional career has included many years as a Hilton Corporation director of sales and marketing for several Hilton Hotels, as an award-winning sales executive to Fortune 100 corporations, and as an industry association board member. However, it seems God continued to pull and tug at my heart to share Him more. I was fortunate to serve with MaryAnn on the pre-cana team in St Clement’s in Rockaway Township, NJ. When we moved to Bridgewater, I continued to serve at St Bernard of Clairvaux in Bridgewater as Men’s Cornerstone Retreat Director/Advisor for five years, Eucharistic minister, lector, and as junior high catechist for eight years. My wonderful wife Mary Ann and I served together in Baptism preparation classes, then in developing a middle school youth ministry. In 2002, through God’s leading, and my family and friends’ support, I took the plunge, took a huge salary cut and moved into full-time ministry in continuing education and lay ministry development as the Associate Director for the Center for Theological & Spiritual Development at the College of Saint Elizabeth. There I was able to initiate and produce online ministry education. I received a Graduate Certificate in Spirituality Studies in 2006. I am currently a candidate for the diaconate with the class of 2010. Now, through Bishop Paul Bootkoski’s choice, I have been able to serve the Diocese of Metuchen as the Diocesan Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry Office since November 2005. As we try to support parish youth ministry and create opportunities to support and energize young people in living an active Catholic faith life we have developed a Diocesan Youth Day with contemporary Catholic music, prayer and workshops, a Youth Ministry Recognition Awards Mass for young people whose faith has moved them to be actively involved in their parishes, schools, and communities, Diocesan Regional Youth Masses, training for coaches on Sports and Spirituality, training of youth ministers by speakers from throughout the U.S. and working with Justiceworx to create a week for our diocesan youth to serve those in need. Last year, having experienced the Santa Rosa partnership, I was happy to commence the planning with CRS Metuchen Guatemala Experience for Diocesan Youth Ministry for July 3 to July 9, 2007, in which we had four parishes represented. We continue to seek ways to engage our young people in the wonderful and thrilling adventure of the gospel! This is the sole basis of our mission: to engage the young people in fully living the gospel through the experience of Jesus Christ in their language. I pray especially that through the intercession of his mother Mary, we would learn what she knew most: to know and love Jesus intimately more and more through our relationship with Him and by the way we love one another. Not an easy task, as love calls us to challenges, yet through using our gifts and talents to the best of our abilities and the power of prayer, we together respond to the call to “Be not afraid!” knowing we can also rely on the help of so many saints who have come before us and have sought to do the same. So, that’s a bit about me. Please call me at any time to answer any of your questions at 732-562-1990 ext 1631 or email me at mwojcik@diometuchen.org. I look forward to meeting you and working together to help our young people. |
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Christopher Burns Christopher joined the Diocese of Metuchen in 1997 as Manager of the Diocesan Youth Ministry Center at St. Joseph Seminary in Plainsboro. He is a former Confirmation prep catechist at St. James Parish in Basking Ridge and was the Vice President of the Catholic Student Society at Kean University while serving in the U.S. Naval Reserve. In the late 1990's Christopher made his Cursillo through the Diocese of Paterson. Following in his father's footsteps, in 1987 he took his First Degree into the Knights of Columbus. Since then he has served several terms as a council officer within the Order as well as having attained the title of Fourth Degree Sir Knight. Chris is an active parishioner at St. James Parish where he has organized and lead the annual March For Life bus trip for a number of years. He has recently been selected as his parish coordinator for the Virtus: Protecting God's Children Program. Christopher and his wife, Traci, have five young children. Tel: 732-562-1990 ext. 1635 |
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| Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen |
Director: mwojcik@diometuchen.org |
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Many people have asked to know more about me. Well, thank you for your interest and I hope to get to know you as well! Let me simply state that I am richly blessed to be able to serve as the Diocese of Metuchen’s Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry. In all my humanity and with the help of the Holy Spirit, I seek to bring what has been given to me through so many, and what I continue to learn every day: the immense love of God is with us especially as church called to transform the world through Jesus Christ.