SUMMIT, NJ, May 30, 2014 — Twenty-one juniors made history at Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child this week when they were commissioned in the Summit school's largest group of Eucharistic Ministers.
With 21 members in total from the Class of 2015, the juniors were commissioned Thursday, May 28, in front of parents, faculty, and staff at the all-girls Upper School’s Liturgy of the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord. The Mass was celebrated by the Rev. Tom Dente, director of the Office of Divine Worship for the Archdiocese of Newark.
The newly commissioned Eucharistic Ministers are: Nina Biancamano, of Glen Ridge; Joanna Briand, of Bernardsville; Maria Angeles Bui, of Union; Shaelyn Carroll, of Chatham; Kathleen Conway, of Franklin Lakes; Julia Della Torre, of Madison; Melissa Dunn, of Summit; Gabriella Leuthner, of Summit; Margaret Magovern, of Summit; Kelsey McGee, of the Basking Ridge section of Bernards; Kathryn McHugh, of Chatham; Elizabeth Ocker, of Parsippany; Virginia O’Connor, of Ridgewood; Keelin O’Loughlin, of Chatham; Emily Ott, of Madison; Natasha Pontoriero, of Fairfield; Morgan Ryan, of Maplewood; Allison Sayia, of the Short Hills section of Millburn; Kaitlin Schroeder, of Summit; Aurie Serrette, of Orange; and Sarah Stiesi, of West Orange.
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Kathleen Lynch, chair of the Theology Department and director of Campus Ministry, started the program for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion in 1989. Brian Topping, theology teacher and Campus Ministry team member, also coordinated the program.
"Each spring, the junior class receives information about the program," Lynch said. "Those who are interested, complete an application, submit two essays on topics related to the Sacrament of Eucharist and the Ministry of Communion, submit a letter of recommendation from a priest in their parish, participate in an interview with (myself) and Mr. Topping, and participate in a training program."
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After the Mass, each student received a mandate certificate from Archbishop John J. Myers.
The new ministers will serve at all Upper School Masses and special weekend Masses at Oak Knoll, Lynch said. They will also take turns serving at the weekly Wednesday morning Masses throughout their senior year.
Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child is an independent Catholic school enrolling boys and girls in kindergarten through grade six; and young women only in grades seven through 12. For more information about Oak Knoll, please visit www.oakknoll.org or call 908-522-8109.
