Trenton Diocese honors St. Mary's parishioners
BY PATRICIA YOCZIS
Correspondent

COLTS NECK - Joe George was surprised. John Carlucci was honored and embarrassed. Both men, members of St. Mary's Parish, received the Nostrum Ecclesiam Tempus (Our Time to Be Church) Award from Trenton Diocesan Bishop John M. Smith on July 1.

The new award, which marks Smith's 10th anniversary as bishop of Trenton, was presented during a prayer service in the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, Trenton, to honor persons selected by pastors and diocesan offices for their significant contributions and services.

"When I received the letter from the bishop's office, I asked how did this happen," said George, 82, a member of St. Mary's Parish for 29 years. "I didn't expect anything like this."

The Rev. Thomas Triggs, pastor of St. Mary's, Colts Neck, said the selection of George was based on a consensus of staff members and parishioners. Each pastor was allowed to select only one person, he said.

"Every one I asked came up with Joe as the person who should receive the award," said Triggs, who attended the award ceremony and reception. "It was an easy selection and a well-deserved one."

Among the many services George has performed to benefit members of St. Mary's are: lector, maintenance coordinator for the parish, president of the Men's Guild, Spiritual Center coordinator, parish picnic chairman, established and chaired the Agape Sundays (monthly mini breakfast), organized the yearly Man of the Year dinner and men's weekend retreats, arranged for entertainment events for the parish and finance chairman of the Millennium Project, a fundraiser for St. Mary's expansion.

"The one project I really feel proud about is the Men's Morning Office," said George, a retired Chevron credit manager. "Men in the parish gather in the chapel every Thursday for a short prayer service at 6:30 a.m. and then the non-retirees leave for work."

A native of Baltimore, Md., George said that for the last three years he has been delegating his myriad of duties to other members of the parish. He said he is indulging more in his hobbies of visits to the racetrack and to enjoy the food, especially crabs in Ocean City, Md.

George and his wife, Lynn, reside in Freehold Township and have three adult daughters, Kathy, Barbara and Jeanne, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Though a member of St. Mary's Parish, Carlucci was nominated for the award not by the pastor, but by the Rev. Bob Schultz, Trenton diocesan director of the Ministry of Jails and Prisons.

"I was honored and embarrassed by the award," said Carlucci, 75. "I was embarrassed to be singled out because everyone involved in prison ministry should receive an award for the work they do."

Carlucci is a member of the diocesan Council for the Ministry of Jails and Prisons, and he represents the council at conferences and seminars on prison ministry.

Nine years ago, Carlucci brought prison ministry to St. Mary's Parish. He said it was an emotional documentary that showed the last hours and execution of a man who had been convicted of murder that brought him to prison ministry.

"I couldn't get that documentary out of my mind," Carlucci said. "Then shortly thereafter, I was asked by a staff member of St. Mary's to help out Sister Elizabeth Gnam, the chaplain at New Jersey State Prison, Trenton, with some projects. I asked some men of the parish and I said if anyone volunteers, so will I. I got volunteers and we are still volunteering today."

Currently, he said there are about 20 men and women members of St. Mary's prison ministry who travel on Fridays to the maximum security state prison. He said the volunteers visit inmates of any religious denomination.

"Mainly we listen and talk with the inmates about their families, the treatment at the facility and we try to provide comfort in their lives through a spiritual companionship," Carlucci said. "We're not there to convert anyone, but just to be there with them and offer our presence."

Carlucci, a native of the Bronx, N.Y., and his wife, Patricia, reside in Colts Neck. They have seven adult children, John, Stephen, Mary, Mark, Gregory, Patrice and Bart, and 10 grandchildren.

George and Carlucci were among the 167 recipients who received a Nostrum Ecclesiam Tempus medal and certificate honoring their service in the Trenton Diocese that comprises four counties: Monmouth, Mercer, Ocean and Burlington.