“Newness always makes us a bit fearful, because we feel more secure if we have everything under control.”
— Pope Francis
Pope Francis could have been thinking about RENEW when he wrote those words. Our mission hasn’t changed in more than 40 years—renewing the Church through small Christian communities. Still, we are pursuing that mission in an ever-evolving Church.
Some of what’s new is daunting. For example, we can no longer assume, as we could when RENEW itself was new, that there are enough priests and religious men and women to fulfill the needs of dioceses, parishes, and schools. We can no longer assume that Sunday Masses will be well attended, and that engaged Catholics can provide adequate financial support to the Church. We can no longer assume that all Catholic families will hand down the faith from one generation to the next.
Rather than being frightened by this new landscape, however, our leadership and staff are as committed as ever to helping small groups share their faith and thus become agents of renewal in their parishes and sources of generosity and justice in their communities. Our staff is responding to challenging times by developing new faith-sharing materials, refreshing our branding, updating our website, and making the most efficient possible use of our resources.
The Synodal process now underway is designed to “awaken a dawn of hope” by reinforcing the vision of the Church as disciples on a common journey to God. With your support and the help of the Holy Spirit, RENEW will continue to accompany Catholic men and women on that journey.
Yours faithfully,
Donald J. Whittam Chair, Board of Trustees
As I submit this Impact Report for 2024, I feel a little like Groucho Marx who sang, “Hello, I must be going.” As full of activity as they have been, my years at RENEW have flown by. I am retiring with some regret, as one always regrets leaving a job he has loved—and I mean loved.
Still, I leave with gratitude for the work this RENEW team has done together: offering small Christian communities new faith-sharing resources in English and Spanish; helping parishes learn how to thrive; modernizing our branding and our website; and engaging Catholic people through webinars, virtual faith-sharing sessions, and events such as the Seton Values Summit on Faith and Work.
I also leave with confidence that the Holy Spirit will continue to inspire the work of RENEW. I am optimistic, too, because I have seen first-hand the capabilities of the staff and our consultants and volunteers, and because I am passing on the leadership of this ministry to Joseph Nuzzi. Joe’s long experience in parish ministries, his embrace of RENEW, his theological background, and his commitment to small Christian communities are all made to order for this leadership role.
I am grateful to everyone who has so generously supported RENEW during these past three years and to the staff and trustees with whom I have shared this journey. Although I am retiring from this leadership position, my wholehearted commitment to our Church and to the mission of RENEW will endure.
Sincerely yours in Our Lord,
G. Gregory Tobin President and Executive Director
A new president at RENEW
Joseph Nuzzi, a lay ecclesial minister and pastoral leader for 25 years, was named president and executive director of RENEW International in September.
Gregory Tobin, who has led RENEW for the past three years, will serve as senior advisor to Nuzzi before retiring in 2025.
Nuzzi has extensive experience in lay ecclesial ministry and is a leader in administration, team, and volunteer management. He has served as director of evangelization and faith formation at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi in New York City where he created and directed a successful RCIA program, worked in collaboration with the pastor on a capital campaign raising over $1.2 million, and developed online giving and relationships with donors. Nuzzi was previously pastoral associate for adult faith formation at the Church of the Presentation in Upper Saddle, New Jersey. He also served as team member for RENEW’s Small Christian Community Services in the late 1990s. Nuzzi is co-founder and volunteers as president of NOVA Hope for Haiti in Emerson, New Jersey, which provides permanent medical outreach at primary-care facilities in Haiti.
“I am very excited to be returning to RENEW International’s staff,” Nuzzi said. “Father Tom Kleissler’s invitation to work here in the late 1990s began my professional career in the Church. After 25 years of parish ministry, I am convinced that building the parish as a community of small communities is vital to the spiritual renewal of individuals as well as the parish as a whole. I look forward to working with the RENEW staff to develop pastoral services and new resources to help parishes become truly evangelizing communities.”
ARISE Together in Christ
ARISE Together in Christ, which RENEW introduced in 2008, helps participants develop a closer relationship with Christ, grow in community, and reach out in service to others. The resource consists of five “seasons,” six sessions each, experienced over three years. ARISE is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, French, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Lithuanian, Vietnamese, and in Braille.
Parishioners at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Huntsville, Alabama, shared their faith in small groups using LEVÁNATE unamonos en Cristo, the Spanish-language version of ARISE.
Be My Witness
RENEW introduced Be My Witness in 2019 in response to the insights of Pope Francis in his encyclical letter The Joy of the Gospel. The 12-session process written by Lorene Hanley Duquin is designed to transform parishes and form disciples for the new evangelization. A companion Spanish-language process, Sean mis testigos, was written by Kathia and Andrés Arango. The text of both books is integrated with a series of videos that present real-life Catholic witness stories.
“As a result of sharing at the meetings and sharing faith in real-life experiences, a situation that would have normally resulted with me responding in anger, I recognized that the other person might have been suffering in some way. I decided to pray for that person rather than react negatively in the moment. I remembered our discussion from the session on prayer and wanted to use this opportunity to connect my faith to a real-world situation.”
Testimonial from a BE MY WITNESS participant at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Worcester, NY
Members of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Worcester, New York, faith-sharing with Be My Witness.
Faith & Work / IBC
The mission of RENEW from its beginning has been to help Catholics make the connection between their faith and their everyday lives. This necessarily includes the connection between faith and work. RENEW focused attention on this topic by co-sponsoring, with the Center for Catholic Studies at Seton Hall University, the Seton Values Summit: Faith & Work. The event took place on March 9, 2024 at the university in South Orange, New Jersey. Speakers included Chris Lowney, author of Heroic Leadership and the RENEW faith-sharing resource What, Me Holy?, and Carolyn Woo, a distinguished fellow at Purdue University and former CEO of Catholic Relief Services.
RENEW also administers the Ignatian Business Chapters (IBC) in which business professionals strive to approach their decisions in ways that reflect their faith and values and impact their organizations on a deeper level. RENEW distributes the newsletter that provides the chapters with topics for reflection at their monthly meetings.
John Fontana, left, who creates the monthly IBC newsletter, and author Chris Lowney meet at the Seton Values Summit. Lowney is holding a copy of the RENEW faith-sharing resource Balancing Faith & Work: The Dynamic Leader, which is based on Lowney’s insights.
Parish Catalyst
Parish Catalyst helps parishes renew themselves and thrive through virtual and in-person learning communities, on-site workshops, and webinars. During the fiscal year, on-site learning communities took place in Ventura, California, for parishes of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles; Ridgewood, New Jersey, for parishes in the Archdiocese of Newark; Madison, New Jersey, for parishes in the dioceses of Newark and Paterson. The Church of Holy Apostles in Rockford, Illinois, and the Co-Cathedral parish in the Diocese of Trenton, New Jersey took part in a virtual learning community. An onsite Parish Catalyst workshop for the Orlando, Florida, region took place in Winter Park. Webinars during the period included “Leading from the Second Chair, Part 2” and “Eucharistic Revival.”
Participants in the learning community for parishes in the dioceses of Newark and Paterson, New Jersey, which took place in January and June 2024, pose for a group photo.
A parish worksheet from the learning community that met in Ventura, California in August 2023 and January 2024.
Why Catholic?
Why Catholic? has been one of RENEW’s principal faith-sharing offerings for more than 20 years. The process, available in eight languages, leads participants on an exploration of the pillars of the Catechism of the Catholic Church: prayer, sacraments, the Profession of Faith, and “Life in Christ.”
Members of the Haitian community from six parishes in the Diocese of Brooklyn completed the four-year Why Catholic? cycle during fiscal 2024. The process is available in Haitian Creole. Here, participants from all of the parishes gather for a day of reflection at Holy Cross Church.
Many Voices, One Spirit
Polarization in religious and civic life impedes progress in addressing the real needs of people. RENEW has created Many Voices, One Spirit/ Muchas voces, un solo espíritu by Ann Garrido, D.Min., associate professor of homiletics at Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis. This resource offers concrete tools and action steps that can help Catholics discuss difficult topics in constructive ways. The book, with six faith-sharing sessions, was produced with a grant from the Catholic Communication Campaign and is being distributed free of charge.
“In his letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul challenged our ancestors in faith to “[make} every effort to maintain the unity of the spirit and the bond of peace…. It is our task to take up that challenge now as our own.”
— Ann Garrido, Many Voices, One Spirit
Ann Garrido
Eucharist: The Real Presence of Christ
RENEW introduced its first faith-sharing book, for a general audience, focusing on the Eucharist. Eucharist: The Real Presence of Christ provides 12 sessions by Tania M. Geist who has extensive experience as a writer for Catholic books, newspapers, journals, and other media. The book is inspired by the work of Father Ronald Rolheiser, OMI. Tania draws from both her training in theology and philosophy and from her experience as a wife and mother to explore the meaning of this sacrament. She has helped to promote the book through webinars and a podcast interview.
RENEW also offers The Eucharist: Encountering Jesus, six faith-sharing sessions for parents of children preparing to receive First Communion.
“We read that God is not limited by time or space and yet is present to each of us in the sacrament in which we touch and adore Christ.”
— G. Gregory Tobin, president and executive director RENEW International
Tania M. Geist
Grateful Living
RENEW first developed the faith-sharing resource Grateful Living: The Joy of Stewardship for the Diocese of Jefferson City in Missouri. During this fiscal year, we thoroughly revised the text for use by a wider audience. Grateful Living and the Spanish version, Vivir agradecido, challenge Catholics to show gratitude to God for his gifts and to respond by giving back with increase through acts of generosity and hospitality— supporting and caring for the Church, the earth, and each other.
Leisa Anslinger
Advent Resources
During this fiscal year, work was nearly completed on Advent: The Lord is Near for liturgical cycle
C. This book by RENEW managing editor Charles Paolino, provides smallgroup sessions that look forward to the gospel readings of each Sunday of Advent plus personal reflections for every day of the season.
Completion of this book means that RENEW will have four faithsharing resources to offer in Advent of 2024. The others are Advent Awakenings, Reflexiones en Adviento by the late Dr. Irma Chavez, and Waiting with Joy by Sister Donna Ciangio, O.P.
Mark: Book Two
Publication of Book Two of Mark: Growing in Faith completed RENEW’s series on the synoptic Gospels. The book contains 13 faith-sharing sessions based on chapters 10 through 16 of the Gospel. The other books in the series are Matthew: Come Follow Me and Luke: My Spirit Rejoices, both of which were written by Martin Lang, who was retired as a professor of religious studies at Fairfield University. The book on Luke’s Gospel was principally the work of Father David Patrick Reid, ss.CC., a theologian and scripture scholar. Father Reid passed away in 2022. The books were completed by RENEW’s managing editor, Deacon Charles Paolino.
Father David P. Reid, ss.CC.
Open Our Hearts
With the publication during this fiscal year of Open Our Hearts by Sister Donna Ciangio, O.P., and Father Thomas B. Iwanowski, RENEW had four faith-sharing programs to offer for Lent in each liturgical season. The others are Lenten Longings by Sister Catherine T. Nerney, S.S.J.; Reflexiones en Adviento by the late Dr. Irma Chavez, and LIVE LENT! by Sister Theresa Rickard, O.P., former president of RENEW, and Deacon Charles Paolino. Open Our Hearts is also available in Spanish as Abramos nuestros corazones
“Lent is an opportunity to spend 40 days focused on becoming more authentic lovers of God and followers of Christ—to live Lent with the resolve to make real changes in our lives.”
Sister Theresa Rickard, O.P.
Theology on TAP
RENEW has been licensing Theology on Tap since 2007. The program is a particular form of small Christian communities—gatherings in bars and restaurants or any other venue where people are at ease as they listen to and dialogue with lay and clerical speakers. ToT has potential especially to appeal to Catholic young adults. RENEW maintains a public Facebook page for parishes and dioceses to post notices of meetings and a closed Facebook page— Theology on Tap Think Tank that has 205 members. During this fiscal year, RENEW issued 27 new licenses and renewed another six for a total revenue of $6,300.
A group of graduate students grab refreshments during a Theology on Tap program at St. Thomas More Catholic Chapel at Yale University. The young adults heard a presentation on vocations from two nuns, a deacon, and a priest.
RENEW Africa
Faith sharing in South Africa was concentrated in the Archdiocese of Johannesburg where small groups were using ARISE Together in Christ, LIVE LENT!, Luke: My Spirit Rejoices, and Matthew: Come Follow Me. St. Augustine’s Cathedral Parish in Port Elizabeth also used LIVE LENT! Duncan Hyman continued hosting RENEW On the Air, a faith-sharing broadcast on Radio Veritas. Father Ludwe Jayiya, director of the national RENEW Africa office, promoted RENEW to other dioceses.
Marketing and Sales
The RENEW website has been redesigned with a new logo and color scheme. The revised site is easier to use and facilitates gathering of sales leads. A monthly newsletter has been launched to showcase the new look, new resources, sales offers, and upcoming virtual faithsharing and webinars. Production of a new catalog is also underway.
We used social media, emails, external advertising, and webinars to promote our resources and events such as the annual Gala and the Seton Values Summit.
For Advent 2023, RENEW offered four virtual faith-sharing sessions in three languages: English, Spanish, and Haitian-Creole. For Lent 2024, we also offered faith sharing in three languages, and the English sessions featured a rotating series of hosts, including Sister Donna Ciangio, O.P., co-author of the Lenten resource Open Our Hearts.
A three-part miniseries discussed the impact of small groups as they relate to the Synod. A webinar with author Chris Lowney focused on faith and work. A new webinar, Planet vs. Plastics, was offered for Earth Day. RENEW also held a three-part faith-sharing series for women hosted by Loretta Pehanich, author of Women in Conversation.
Loretta Pehanich
Financial Summary
RENEW International Key Statistics
Development
RENEW International gratefully shares its mission with donors including individuals, foundations, and businesses that make direct gifts or participate in our annual Gala. These benefactors make it possible for our staff to develop new faith-sharing programs and accompany participating small Christian communities and parishes. Donors also help us provide free webinars and virtual faith-sharing sessions, blogs, and videos. Of particular note this year was a grant from the Catholic Communication Campaign which enabled us to publish and distribute free of charge Many Voices, One Spirit, a faith-sharing resource, in English and Spanish, designed to help Catholics navigate difficult conversations. Finally, the generosity of our supporters has helped us build a more user-friendly website and online bookstore. Thank you!
RENEW Gala
RENEW International hosted a sold-out Gala on June 6 at the Pleasantdale Château in West Orange, New Jersey. The highlight of the annual event was the presentation of awards to RENEW honorees. The Infernos provided musical entertainment, joined by operatic and pop tenor Christopher Macchio, who also donated a private concert to the silent auction. The event succeeded in large part due to the efforts of the volunteer committee: Co-chairs Jeanette and Jack Walton and Carol and Robert Williams, and committee members Kathe Carson, Sister Donna L. Ciangio, O.P., John Corcoran, Livvy Dineen, Lisa Meehan, and Craig Tubiolo. The Gala was streamed live and was made available for later viewing on YouTube. The event produced net revenue of $187,000.
Congressman
Mike Lawler, who represents New York’s 17th Congressional District, received the President’s Award. He is a parishioner at the Church of the Presentation in Saddle River, New Jersey, and has been an altar server and lector. His late father, Kevin Lawler, was a member of the Board of Trustees of RENEW International from 2009 to 2011.
Dianne M. Traflet, left, a member of the RENEW Board of Trustees, and G. Gregory Tobin, right, president of RENEW, present the Monsignor Thomas A. Kleissler Memorial Award to Father Stephen Fichter, who is pastor of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish in Wyckoff, New Jersey, and episcopal vicar of education in the Archdiocese of Newark.
Sister Donna L. Ciangio, O.P., chancellor of the Archdiocese of Newark, accepts the Spirit of RENEW Award on behalf of Sister Helen Prejean, C.S.J., from G. Gregory Tobin, president of RENEW. Sister Helen is a leading advocate for abolition of the death penalty and for criminal-justice reform. Her work inspired RENEW’s faith-sharing resource Dignity and the Death Penalty and she has appeared in RENEW webinars on that topic.
Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., archbishop of Newark, left, chats with a guest during the cocktail reception at the Gala.
Lisa Meehan, a member of the RENEW Board of Trustees, poses at the Gala for a family portrait with her husband, Grey Warner, and daughter, Gabriella Warner.
Honoring Our Supporters
The ministry of RENEW International is made possible in large part by the generous gifts of individual donors, foundations, and businesses. Their generosity has been indispensable in helping us to transform parishes, create strong Christian communities, empower individuals, and connect faith and life. Our donors, honorees, and volunteers are catalysts for change, and we thank them all.
President’s Society - $20,000 and above
James and Loretta Colotto Foundation, Inc.
Les and Eileen Quick
Frank and Mimi Walsh (Sandy Hill Foundation)
G. Gregory Tobin
Carol A. and Robert J. Williams
Patrons of RENEW - $10,000 and above
George and Patricia Erdman
Janet Martin
Lisa Meehan and Grey Warner
Jack Norris
Walter and Lynn Rickard
Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Wyckoff, NJFather Stephen Fichter, pastor
Partners in Mission - $5,000 and above
Archdiocese of Newark - Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R.
Robert Caruso
Christian Health
John Crowley
Michael and Joey del Prado
Cathy Doherty
James Giancarlo
Inserra Supermarkets, Inc.
Kerry Kelly
Eric G. and Elizabeth Koch
Lawler for Congress, Inc.
Mary Noel and William J. Page
Denise A. Rover
SOMOS IPA (Dr. Ramon Tallaj)
Michael A. and Ida Tropiano
John Clark and Jeanette Walton
Robert Murray Walton
RENEW Supporters during the period July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024
+Deceased
Sponsors - $1,000 and above
Anonymous
Thomas J. and Mary E. Anderson
Lori Averso
Bergen Catholic High School
Victoria and Thomas Carey
The Catholic Church of the Holy Trinity, Westfield, NJ - Rev. Anthony Randazzo, pastor
James and Carol Cavaluzzi
Church of the Presentation, Upper Saddle
River, NJ - Rev. Robert B. Stagg, pastor
John J. and Alison D. Corcoran, Jr.
Susan Delaney Frank
Robert W. Dempsey
Eric and Karen Dill
Julia Dillon
Livvy Dinneen
Diane Forastiero
Sheila Gagliano
Martin and Susan Garofalo
Kevin T. and Geri Gaynor
Lawrence Gubler
Healey Family Foundation
Thomas and Mary Healy
Raymond Hopkins
Immaculate Heart Academy
Catherine Ingrasci
Investors Foundation
James and Susan Benson
Jennifer M. Jehn
Robert “Pat” and Sharon Kane
Leona Kosmac
Denise LaGalia
Ralph and Rosemary LaGamma
Eileen Leonard and Dale Hagstrom
Erne Linn
The Market Basket
Susan McGuire
OASIS
Paramus Catholic High School
Mario Paredes
Lisa Pflug
Robert Pizzuto
Barbara and Dominick Preziosi, Jr.
Erin Quill
Anthony and Patricia Ramella
Alan Rogers
Gregory Romanzo
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace
SOAR! Support Our Aging Religious
Dante A. and Mary C. Sorrenti
Edward and Nancy Soyka
St. Teresa of Avila - Msgr. Robert Meyer, pastor
Dennis and Diane Stripe
Vincent and Mary L. Sweeney
Dr. Dianne M. Traflet
Angela Viggiano
Dominic and Kathy Volante, Jr.
Laurence J. Walsh
Donald J. and Elizabeth H. Whittam
Friends - $100 and above
Anonymous
Carol Bastek
Dr. Alice Beal and Hon. William Kuntz, II
Patricia E. Becker
Jeffrey A. and Stacey Beer
Evan Bellouny and Laura DePalma
James Benson
John Benson
Evelyn Berry
Robert Bocchino
The Boyle and Lane Families
Anthony C. and Maggie Browne
Patrick T. and Veronica E. Brunnock
Jack A. and MaryBeth Callahan
Robert and Mary Callander
David Calnan and Mary Lee Clanton
Susan Carpenter
Dolores Carradori
Donna Carrai
Mary P. Carter
Bruce Chase
Michael and Cynthia Chovan-Dalton
Mary Lou Ciavarra
Color House Graphics
John D’Angelo
David and Marlene Hawes
James Davidson
Catherine Devaney
Alice Dillon
Barbara Dolan
Ronald E. and Denise Dower
James Duff
Kathleen Duffy
Harry J. Farrell
Tammy Felton
Most Reverend John W. Flesey
Paula Flynn
Margaret Foltz
John Fontana
Richard Francesco
Marcella Giampiccolo
Thomas P. Giblin
Charles P. and Barbara Gnassi
Keith and Elisabeth Goggin
Margaret L. Graham
Michael A. Granata
Robert and Jennifer Gregory
Marilyn Haggerty
Donald Hart
William Heinbokel and Renee Trabert
Susan Hockmeyer
The Monsignor Thomas A. Kleissler Legacy Society
Members of the Legacy Society make a gift to RENEW that will endure beyond their lifetimes. The following have named RENEW International as the beneficiary of a planned gift.
+Msgr. Edward J. Ciuba
Margaret and +Robert Graham
Lynn Hull
+Msgr. Thomas Ivory
John Kennelly
+Msgr. Tom Kleissler
+Deceased
+Kevin Lawler
+Barbara Miller
Jack Norris
+Kathy Norris
Mary Noel Page
+Elizabeth Quinlan
C. William Reilly
James and Katie Stanley
Carlotta Jennings
Craig Johnson
Sharon Jureller
Robert Justich
Jack and Mary Beth Kakolewski
William Kelly
Walter P. and Kathleen Kennedy
Thomas J. and Susan Kiernan
Richard and Suzanne Kinney
Lorraine Kipel
Kelly Kirk
Paul and Judith Kleissler
Joseph L. and Susan E. Konzelman, Jr.
Deborah Kurus
Joan R. Lalonde
Sonia Leerkamp
Gary and Barbara Linn
Rev. Thomas Looney, CSC
Deirdre Trabert Malacrea and Richard F. Malacrea, Jr.
Joseph Patrick Martinez
Sharon Mault-Weir
Max Bussel & Co.
Patrick McMahon
Edward and Maranna Meehan
Edward Meyers
Richard and Janet Michalowski
Therese Mierswa
Joanne and Michael Missaggia
Candice Moceri
Clara Monaco
Debbie Murphy
Patricia Murphy and John Kennelly
Kathleen Nakashian
Nicholas Markets
Sister Honora Nolty, OP
Teresa Norton
Michael and Julie O’Brien
Gavin O’Connor
Rev. Abraham Orapankal
Tony Pace
Charles and Patricia Paolino
Kathy Pfisterer
Thomas and Theresa Potenza
C. William Reilly
Beatriz Ryffel
Felipe Sanchez
Joni Sanzari
Catherine Saum
Samuel and Carol Severino
Thomas Shara
Msgr. Timothy Shugrue
Sisters of St. Dominic of Blauvelt, NY
Richard and Anna Spalckhaver
Spanarkel and Browne Associates
William Speciale
Marie St Cloud
Katie Stanley
A to Z Remodeling Inc
Gina Sullivan
Andy Tabar - Lake Digital
Amy Taylor
Edward and Patricia Thomas
Patricia Verdon
Thomas E. and Ann White
MaryEllen Woodstock
Linda Woodwell
Stacey Wunsch
Wyckoff Florist & Gifts
Supporters up to $99
Anonymous
Walter Aucaylle
James and Patricia Boland
Russell E. and Candice Borner
Maria Brockmeier
John R. Bursley
Patricia Callahan
Alberto and Bertha Calvo
Susan M. and Vito Capurso
Melinda and Tim Carney
Joseph and Carol Catania
Vivian Conboy
Joseph Connolly
Lara Costanzo
Alesha Curry
Marissa Dabakian
Gerald Dalzell
Maura Deegan
Dr. Donald DeFabio
Linda Dickinson-Pancila
Joseph R. Duggan
Barry and Rosemary Ervin
Esther M. Flores
Eileen Fox
Mary Jane Gannon
Charles Garrity
GoodSearch
Tom Gorman
Kenneth Hallahan
Marilou Heim
William P. and Barbara A. Hennig
Kathleen Powers Holmes
Kenneth and Patricia Hourigan
Yvette Hutchins
Julia E. and Edward J. Jones
Patricia Kummer
Bernice Ligouri
Eileen Linehan
Peggy and Charlie Lockwood
Eileen Lynch
Jeremiah and Joan Lynch
John J. and Patricia K. Magovern
Richard E. and Kelly M. Maltagliati
Lauro Marcillo
Elise Mazzetti
Michael G. and Susan A. McGuinness
Carolyn McIntosh
Alfred and Marie M. McMonagle
William Minford
Patricia Murphy
Theodore Musco
Linda Nash
Amy NewCombe
Carol Nichols
Juan Nieves
James O’Brien
Julianna Lawler draws crowd as she takes to the dance floor during RENEW’s annual Gala. Her dad, Congressman Mike Lawler, who is crouching nearby, was among the Gala honorees. At left is Mike’s wife, Doina.
Tenor Christopher Macchio entertains RENEW guests with a program of operatic and popular songs.
Joanne O’Neill
Christian Paolino
PayPal Giving Fund
Kathleen Powers
Barbara and Fred Prince
Joseph Reardon
Genevieve Richards-Wright
Gregory Rizos
Joseph Roche
Bertrand G. and Joan Rottkamp
Lavinia Ruby
Manny Santos
Ann Schopmeyer
Gloria Secchia
Sisters of Saint Francis of Peace
Peach Smith
In-Kind Donations (Gifts of Goods and Services)
Adventure Aquarium
Alstede Farms LLC
Applebee’s
CBS Television Stations
Michael and Cynthia Chovan-Dalton
Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club
Field Station Dinosaurs
John Fontana
The Frog and The Peach
High Exposure Climbing
Robert “Pat” and Sharon Kane
Kat Kuo Design
Limani Seafood Grill - Westfield
Rev. Thomas Looney, CSC
Christopher Macchio
Sandra and James McTernan
Anthony and Flora Spera
Ronald and Patricia K. Spielman
Brian Sullivan
Heather Swifty
Donald and Suzanne Sykes
Carlos Tam
Mary Lou Thompson
Carol and John Tobin
Frank Torres
Richard and Germaine Trabert
Dolores Vazquez
John and Carol Ann Velten
Sharon Waters
Carolyn Winchester
Harry W Wolverton
Lisa Meehan and Grey Warner
Morey’s Piers Water Park
Patricia Murphy and John Kennelly
News Corp
Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park
Sister Honora Nolty, OP
Paper Mill Playhouse
Denise and Christopher Reece
Sister Terry Rickard, OP
Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Wyckoff, NJRev. Stephen Fichter, pastor
Brian Saxton
Stew Leonard’s
Dennis and Diane Stripe
Turning Point
Uncle Vinny’s Comedy Club
John Clark and Jeanette Walton
We thank all our friends, volunteers, and supporters not mentioned here. Truly, we could not continue this ministry without you.
Leadership
STAFF
President and Executive Director
G. Gregory Tobin
Development
Cynthia Chovan-Dalton Director
Alesha Curry Development Associate
John Corcoran Senior Advisor and Major Gift Officer
Sales and Marketing
Eileen Lynch Director
Laura DePalma Marketing Manager
Dawn MacDonald Customer Service
Representative
Operations
Joseph Baricelli Manager
Finance
Denise Reece Controller
Pastoral Services and Parish Mission
Darrin Nelson Director
Mary Ann Ernesto Associate Director
Joseph Baricelli Resource Support Coordinator, Parish Catalyst
Sr. Ruth Bolarte, I.H.M.
John Fontana
Dr. Sourette Fougère
Sr. Chela Gonzalez, O.P.
Sr. Janet Schaeffler, O.P.
RENEW Africa
Rev. Ludwe Jayiya Director
Charmaine Woolard Administrator
Publishing
Deacon Charles Paolino Managing Editor
Human Services
Jana Venkataramanan Senior Advisor
Volunteer Staff
Alice Hugh Brown
Diane Forastiero
Sharon Krause
Sr. Honora Nolty, O.P.
Members of the RENEW staff gather for a retreat in March 2024 at the House of Prayer in Watchung, New Jersey. Attending from left are, back row, John Corcoran and G. Gregory Tobin; middle row, Eileen Lynch, Mary Ann Ernesto, Cynthia ChovanDalton, Dawn MacDonald, Denise Reese, and Palma Anton; and, front row, Joseph Baricelli, Laura DePalma, and retreat director Regina Furlan.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
G. Gregory Tobin
President and Executive Director
Donald J. Whittam, Chair
Patricia A. Murphy, Secretary
Vincent Sweeney, Treasurer
Victoria Carey
Michael del Prado
Eric Dill
Livvy Dineen
Martin Garofalo
Thomas A. Gorman
Jennifer Jehn
CORPORATE BOARD
Robert P. “Pat” Kane
Rev. Thomas P. Looney, C.S.C., Ph.D.
Lisa Meehan
Rev. Abraham Orapankal
Mario Paredes
Dominick Preziosi
Walter I. Rickard
Felipe “Flip” Sanchez
Dennis Stripe
Dr. Dianne Traflet
Jeanette Walton
Cardinal Joseph William Tobin, C.Ss.R., Chair
Very Rev. John J. Chadwick, S.T.D.
Sr. Donna L. Ciangio, O.P., M.A., Min.
Sr. Patricia Wormann, O.P., M.Div., M.S.W.
Rev. Timothy McGraff, M.Div.
Carol and Robert Williams, in photo at left, and Jeanette and Jack Walton were co-chairs of RENEW’s 2024 Gala. Jeanette Walton is also a member of the Board of Trustees.
In Memoriam
We at RENEW recall with gratitude the contributions to our ministry by Monsignor Edward J. Ciuba, who died in March 2024.
Father Ed was a scholar, a pastor, a seminary rector and professor, an author, and an advocate for small Christian communities. In 2016, he wrote Creation at the Crossroads, a faith-sharing book for small groups based on Pope Francis' encyclical letter on the environment, LaudatoSí. Father Ed received the Monsignor Thomas A. Kleissler Memorial Award at RENEW’s annual Gala in 2017.
Msgr. Edward J. Ciuba
Ways to Connect
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We are your people, embraced by your love. We thank you for your presence with us throughout all time.
Create us anew through Jesus Christ, your Son. Liberate us from all that keeps us from you. Send your Holy Spirit, enabling us to recreate our world and restore justice.
Heal us from every form of sin and violence. Transform us to live your Word more profoundly. Reconcile us so enemies become friends. Awaken us to the sacred; nurture our relationships. Enliven our parishes; reunite our families.
Fill us with joy to celebrate the fullness of life. Empower us to be a community of love growing in your likeness by the grace of Christ our Lord. Amen
OUR MISSION
To accompany and support the people of God as they strengthen their personal faith and build parish-based Christian communities, inspiring them to act as witnesses of Christ every day and to connect faith and life.
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