April 13, 2015
The Paulist Associates, a group of lay-volunteers from Paulist parishes across North America, has elected four of its members to the Paulist Associates National Board: Angie Barbieri of St. Peter’s Church in Toronto; Paula Cuozzo from the Paulist Center in Boston; Cathy Hoekstra from St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Grand Rapids, Mich.; and Terry Modica of the Tampa, Fla., associates group. The lay associates will join Father Frank Desiderio, CSP, the Associates’ national director; Father Michael Kallock, CSP, director of the Paulist Centre for Catholic Evangelisation in Toronto; and Paulist historian Father Paul Robichaud, CSP, on the Associates board.
“This is a great national board,” said Father Desiderio. “They will provide guidance for the Associates and do the work of keeping groups connected.”
The Paulist Associates are a group of more than 150 lay men and women who, after a formation process, promise to support the work Paulist community and live the Paulist charism in their daily lives.
“The Paulist Associates are a modern extension of Father Hecker’s grand vision of an American culture shaped by the Catholic religion,” Father Desiderio said. “They are the ones who carry the Catholic imagination, values and beliefs into the offices, malls and community meetings of contemporary North America.”
One of the national board’s goals is to figure out how to support and connect with the “‘expatriate’ Associates; those Associates who have moved away from a local Paulist foundation but still see themselves as Paulist missionaries,” said to Father Desiderio.
Let’s meet the lay members of the board:
St. Peter’s Church, Toronto
Member since 2014
“I have been a parishioner at St. Peter’s Church for seven years and felt a deep connection with the Paulist charism and the teachings of Servant of God, Father Isaac Hecker [founder of the Paulist Fathers]. I wanted to find a Catholic lay community to enrich my Christian spirituality and connect with other individuals who are interested in the teachings of Father Hecker and the work of the Paulist Fathers. I am hopeful that there will be an increase in membership of the Paulist Associates. I would like to work with my fellow colleagues in witnessing the Paulist Associates expand our presences on social media and other communications and marketing vehicles.”
Paulist Center, Boston
Member since 2001
“I was baptized by a Paulist, so I’ve had a lifelong affinity for the Paulist charism. I would like to help move that mission and charism into the world, which is something the Paulist Associates can do well. On the local level in Boston, I would like to see an increased awareness of the Paulist Center as a Paulist foundation, what that means and what it brings to the community. When the Associates gather on the national or international level, we share what is going on in our local groups – what this group is doing in terms of evangelization, what that group is doing in terms of reconciliation. We learn from one another the meaning of what is to live the Paulist charism in daily life.
Cathedral of St. Andrew, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Member since 2007
Being a Paulist Associate has made me more aware of being a member of the body of Christ and of the Paulist charism. The Paulist charism to evangelize, to reconcile, to seek unity with all Christians, and to foster respect for all faith traditions is a mandate given to us in the Gospel. When we meet together as Paulist Associates we share our faith and support each other in living the Paulist charism. I hope that the national board will not only provide guidelines for the groups, but will get more people excited about the Paulist Associates. Hopefully, we will be better able to support the Paulist Fathers in their mission as they support us.”
Paulist Associates, Tampa, Fla.
Member since 2008
“Relying on my experiences of the unique situation of having an Associates group where there are no Paulist priests nearby, I hope to help and encourage the development of associates anywhere regardless of proximity to Paulist priests. I also hope to provide guidance, ideas, and energy for national and regional retreats that connect priests with associates in a community-building atmosphere that builds stronger awareness of who we all are as Paulists and descendants of Father Hecker. I believe there can and should be more collaboration in ministry activities and in personal support through friendships between priests and associates.”