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RELIGION

Scripts for sacred spaces

Thursday, October 09, 2008

BY REV. ALEX SANTORA

There was a time that whenever I called The Jersey Journal, Peter Weiss, the political reporter at the time, answered the phone and the first thing he'd say to me was, "When are you going to write for us?" Betty Foley, the religion reporter, had passed and he had seen my contributions to The Star-Ledger. I was honored that Weiss, who died all too young, liked my writing. I took him up and sent my first column to Margaret Schmidt, still the managing editor, 10 years ago this month. Now some 520 columns later, a few news stories, with some landing on the front page, and the obituary of my mother, Grace, I find that there's still more to cover in Hudson County. And that's because the one constant in covering religion is that there is so much change. Some may resist that analysis but unless religious congregations adapt to their changing demographics and surroundings, they begin to shrivel and die.

I have noticed that the key to revitalizing a church or synagogue is the religious leader. And there are many in Hudson County. Take Rabbi Robert Scheinberg of United Synagogue in Hoboken. He's the right rabbi in Hoboken at the right time when there is an influx of so many young people and families. His preschool is bursting at the seams and the congregation is the most lively and active of any in the county. The Rev. Jack Cryan is pastor of Our Lady of Mercy in County Village, which should be dubbed Little Manila. There are so many Filipinos (he has visited the Philippines several times) and he has welcomed their involvement and leadership. He was able to redo their church, which had been built as a school gymnasium, to the tune of three quarters of a million dollars, simply by increasing weekly giving.

A good leader, however, has to tap the talents of the people and allow them to shine. The Rev. Damon Gilyard and his wife First Lady, Janice, have turned Corinthian Baptist Church on Bergen Avenue in Jersey City from a struggling little church into a community dynamo, and have brought so many people into leadership. Travel south down Kennedy Boulevard. to the Bayonne border and find The Rev. Joshua Rodriguez transforming lives and developing ministries for The Cityline Church.

And a church has to find a mission so people can see their efforts and faith pay off. The Rev. Gerald Pisani is ready to retire but he is still full of vision as he has given Trinity Episcopal Church in downtown Bayonne the Windmill program to help challenged adults find meaningful work along with a residence and thrift shop that cooperate together. The Rev. Michael Kelly has reached out to children, impoverished families and the disabled in his downtown Jersey City neighborhoods and given them a home at Riverside Assembly of God in downtown Jersey City.

Hudson County is changing, though, from a predominantly Roman Catholic and Judaeo-Christian landscape to one that is truly interfaith. There are numerous mosques and the most lively is the North Hudson Islamic Center in Union City. More mandirs or Hindu temples are springing up and there is even a Buddhist Temple on West Side Avenue in Jersey City. These transformations will grow. For me, though, there are still some challenges. I'd like to do more on the county's Orthodox Jews, especially in the Bayonne and Union City yeshivas. I've never done a Seventh Day Adventist story. And some smaller sects are meeting in places I need to find.

I am grateful for the past support of excellent editors Beth Kissinger, Pat Donnelly, Sonia Andresson - no longer at the newspaper - and Rebecca Markley, the sweetest of the bunch. And to Margaret Schmidt, the managing editor who sends shivers down my spine when she decides to edit a column, is a living encyclopedia of Hudson history and facts and has an incredible memory.

To all the readers, I appreciate your suggestions and comments in the form of e-mails, letters and phone calls and especially when you stop me on the street or come up to me in a store or at a wake with kind words. I hope my words continue to inspire, motivate and challenge and show that faith matters.

Serving and saving on the streets

Thursday, August 28, 2008

FAITH MATTERS - THE REV. ALEXANDER SANTORA

Every day, hundreds of tourist buses cram the highways in and around this metropolitan area. And once they arrive, the sights and sounds are worth the long rides and traffic jams. Last Saturday, 30 teens and 11 adult chaperones from Nova Scotia, Canada, spent 15 hours on a bus before arriving Sunday morning in Jersey City - for worship! Corinthian Baptist Church pulled out all the stops and hung balloons and signs to welcome the weary Canadians who joined the congregation for their morning service.

"The welcome was a phenomenal success," said the Rev. Damon Gilyard, pastor of Corinthian hosting its first mission trip since he began to lead this church in 2004 and spending about $1,000 for it. The Canadian group is part of the Provincial Baptist Youth Fellowship. Since 1934, this organization works with young people in the African United Baptist Association of Nova Scotia to accept Jesus Christ and understand Christian life.

And they wasted no time. After a good night's rest at Days Inn in North Bergen, the youth were up early Monday morning to work in two soup kitchens, Lighthouse Soup Kitchen in Newark and Let's Celebrate in Jersey City. That's where I met up with them taking a break before the lunch time rush. They wore hair nets and rubber gloves, like the full-time staff, in the basement of a former Lutheran church on Fairview Avenue, which looks like a cafeteria. The well-lit, attractive space has round tables with brightly colored cloths. They were assigned tasks: serving the food, cleaning the trays, helping some guests to their seats, washing off the tables. They arrived to serve breakfast from 8:45 to 9:30 a.m. as it is every weekday morning. Let's Celebrate started serving breakfast about a year ago and attracts some 75 people on average. "People were just milling and gathering outside so we decided to serve breakfast," said Regina Miller, director of administration for the 13 full-time, paid staff members.

Lunch started at 11:30 and the students were at their locations. One would serve pasta, another meatballs, then Italian bread, salad, peach juice and then cake and coffee for dessert in assembly line style. One youth volunteer carried a woman's tray as she navigated her walker to a table. This went on for two hours and they served more than 100 guests. After most of the lunch was served, Shonice Downey, 13, sat down and rested her feet on another chair. She had been serving coffee and cake. "My feet are swollen," said the eighth-grader, sounding like an old woman. But she added, "It's good to give back to the community."

That kind of attitude makes Deacon David Provo happy because it resonates with the theme of the trip: "The Mission is Possible." Provo, 40, a drapery installer, is the senior counselor for youth ministry at his church. He hopes the youth take home the message that "it's more to seeing Christ than just going to church."

Planned since January of this year, the group raised almost $13,000 for the trip and each youth paid $225 (Canadian dollars). Channing Colley, 15, was amazed how Jersey City looked like Halifax, Nova Scotia, their big city. "I did not think I was in the states," said Colley. In addition to volunteering at the soup kitchen, the youth helped with a vacation Bible school in Newark but also had time to relax at the Gospel Skate Night in Branch Brook Park and go bowling. Tomorrow night at 7, they will participate in a Youth Jam at Corinthian, which will feature their Praise Dance singers and church instrumentalists and this is open to all youth.

Donovan Provo, 15, the deacon's nephew, reflected on his soup kitchen experience. "I feel bad for them (the guests who come to Let's Celebrate)," he said. The message he took from his experience, "Never disobey your mother or you can end up on the streets." Perhaps. But these youth impressed me as very well-mannered and good. And I hope they get some Big Apple sight-seeing on Saturday on their way home. They deserve it.

THEIR SAFE HARBOR

Thursday, August 02, 2007

Church expands program - after school, too

The neighborhoods around Corinthian Baptist Church on Bergen at Audubon Avenue can be tough. There are drug dealers, crime and violence. And awareness of the problems has convinced the Rev. Damon Gilyard that the church cannot retreat but has to become more active to change the community.

"One of my goals has been to open the church seven days a week," said Gilyard, 48, who took over as pastor in 2004. And it has finally happened in large part because of the new summer program for children, Safe Harbor, which began on June 28 and will end on Aug. 10.

An average of 20 to 25 children have been attending weekly from Monday through Friday 7:30 to 4 each day, said Cathy Baggett, 52, the director of the summer program.

In previous years, the church has held a two-week Bible camp, and while the parents were happy, they desired more activities for a longer period, said Kimberly Kafele, 42, the co-director.

Baggett, Kafele, Alvina Gadsden and Cheryl Anderson serve as the church's education committee and are educators during the school year. They were entrusted with shaping the Safe Harbor program activities and there are many components.

I was on site last Tuesday after the children took time to read individual books. Gadsden gathered the children in a circle and asked each one to speak about their books and to recommend why another child might want to read the book.

Each day there is time for study, but it's not a summer school and the children get to do arts and crafts, play games, go on field trips and just relax.

"I like it a lot, all the trips we go on, the games and the people," said Devon Groover, 10, who will start fifth grade at Jersey City Community Charter School in September.

Each week they go bowling at Hudson Lanes. The afternoon I visited, they were going on a rollerskating field trip.

It costs $50 weekly for each child and additional fees for the trips. Bowling is $5 and the rollerskating trip is $8.

Baggett noted there is a discount for multiple children from the same family and that they don't turn a child away if the family can't pay. Some of the church members have made donations to the program. The breakfast, lunch and snacks are provided by the City of Jersey City.

Last Friday, the church held a one-day trip to the Keansburg water park and the Safe Harbor program joined them.

Trinity Evans likes to go away.

"We go on trips and have fun," said Trinity, 6, a second-grader at Jersey City Community Charter School.

Gilyard is proud that the church started the new program and that the adults and youth counselors have accepted modest stipends to work at the camp.

"There is a need in the community for an affordable, safe place for children," he said.

Audubon Park, across the street from the church, has been refurbished and it looks the best it has in years. But looks can be deceiving. Gilyard said drug dealers were hanging around the church property, which is on a busy street, but now have moved. The counselors say that they will only bring the children to the park if it is cleaned and safe.

The church will continue this program into the school year as the Safe Harbor after-school program. It will also benefit as a designated site for the Supplemental Educational Services of the Jersey City Board of Education, which will pay for tutors to help the children.

The church is gearing up for its increasingly popular Back-To-School Night, which will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 4. I attended last year's and they may have to move it to a larger site to accommodate all the students and parents who attend.

And among them will surely be camper Rachira Waller, who will start first grade at St. Patrick's in Jersey City.

"I love to read books. I love to spell words," she said.

So I asked her what new word she learned and she said, "Sputtered." Not likely to happen to this smart cookie!

MY HEROES OF 2006

Thursday, December 28, 2006

They've lifted spirits every day of the year

In the course of a year, I meet so many interesting people and have the privilege of sharing their story with you. Here are some outstanding people of faith.

Clone the Rev. Trevor Rubingh and expose him to children all over Hudson County. This founder and pastor of New City Kids Church, on Monticello and Fairmount avenues in Jersey City, has more energy and charisma than any priest, preacher or pastor I have ever met.

He does church for children in the most creative ways ever. He combines his musical ability with high spirit and a passion for Jesus Christ to teach the Gospel. And the kids and parents probably don't even realize that they are learning.

But what's even more incredible is his commitment to reach children of families who are struggling and are outside the radar of most houses of worship. The refitted warehouse is alive with colorful banners, the latest media equipment and potential for life-changing experiences for children and teens, mostly minorities.

There are after-school, Saturday, summer, family, sailing, job-training programs and more to welcome everyone. Bring your kids to New City for unparalleled experiences of faith and worship.

And if you drive to the other end of Jersey City, at Audubon and Bergen avenues, right off Audubon Park near New Jersey City University, you notice this church with the Corinthian pillars so aptly named Corinthian Baptist Church.

Like most urban churches it has struggled until the Gilyards - the Rev. Damon and Janice, his wife - came to pastor the people of the neighborhood. That has made the difference. They have coupled rousing worship services with community outreach to make a difference and bring that church back to life in the short time they have been there.

Their back-to-school night in September was most impressive. The virtually all-African-American congregation displayed talent for singing, praying, praising and dancing with interaction among adults, teens and children that was so inspiring.

What the Gilyards have done is show that communities that work together can also transform their neighborhoods with the closeness and caring evident within their church walls. With the Gilyards' leadership, they will succeed.

Success is also the mantra of the North Hudson Islamic Center in Union City. In my opinion, this is the best mosque, by far, in the entire region. Led by the urbane and personable Imam Mohammed Alhayek, this large multipurpose center off Bergenline Avenue on Cottage Place has made outreach their mission.

They have welcomed anyone - but especially the surrounding Hispanic community - to come to monthly information sessions, which are organized with care.

One of the outstanding volunteers and members of their mosque is Mariam Abbassi, the vice president of their Da'Wah, or outreach, committee. The successful owner of several businesses resides in Bergen County and hails from East Jerusalem. They always have plenty of people to greet, meet and feed the guests.

Much is made of women as second-class citizens in Islam. Spend time at this center and see how valuable are women's contributions and leadership, epitomized by Abbassi.

Hudson County's schools, churches and institutions have been founded, shaped and led by thousands of religious women, or sisters, since the 19th Century. And no group more than the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth, of Convent Station, who staffed most of the schools. Though their numbers are diminished, the Charities are vital to Catholic education.

Typifying their dedication is Sister Mary Thaddeus McGorty of Sacred Heart School, Jersey City, which is the first elementary school in the Archdiocese to be run jointly by the archdiocesan schools office and the Sisters of Charity.

The Hoboken native just marked her 66th year as a nun and her 39th at Sacred Heart, where she first taught eighth grade until 1998, when she began to collect tuition. Seated in a makeshift office in the school's basement, McGorty dispenses receipts along with pieces of candy and a friendliness that characterizes this special school and her love for children.

As a child, John Restrepo, knew the struggles of belonging to a family of four children raised by a single mother and finding affordable housing in North Hudson. He feels he was blessed to graduate from Rutgers University with a degree in urban planning and wanted to do something for the community especially for families like his.

So he went to work as the director of real estate management and development for the Jersey City Episcopal Community Development Corporation, based in McGinley Square. He brings together developers to create affordable housing by new construction or rehabilitation.

One of the greatest joys of this Union City resident is seeing families move into their new homes.

Amen to these special and spirited people of faith.

SANTORA is the pastor of Our Lady of Grace Church

Hoboken, NJ

AMEN TO BACKPACKS

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Corinthian Baptist helps schoolkids succeed

Religion

Corinthian Baptist Church on Bergen and Audubon avenues in Jersey City is the first church where I have seen boxes of tissues placed strategically along the window sills. No one used them last Monday evening when the church hosted its third Back-to-School Night because if there were any tears shed, they were tears of joy.

More than 400 people - from all generations - packed the neatly appointed church and choir loft to raise the roof in song, prayer and dance and listen to rousing talks by the new pastor, the Rev. Damon Gilyard, and the guest speaker, Dr. Baruti Kafele, a member of the congregation who is the principal of Newark Tech High School.

Kafele spoke directly to the youth, all of whom were African-American, and didn't mince words about the threats they would face by dropping out of school and the challenges they face to stay in school. At one point, he enumerated five qualities they need to be successful in school: be serious, focused, diligent, disciplined, and then asked the congregation what the word, "resilient" means.

Sylvester Burch yelled out from the last row, "to bounce back." Talking with this 15-year-old, who is starting his junior year at St. Anthony High School, reveals that he has been on a successful track all his young life.

A graduate of Assumption-All Saints School, he has been attending Corinthian since he was a baby along with his mother and grandmother. He serves the church as a junior usher and likes the "togetherness" Gilyard and his wife and virtual co-pastor, Janice, have brought to the church.

That spirit was also evident in the preparation and organization that went into that one night. A score of adults served as chaperones and coordinators of the service where the congregation cooperated.

The singing was rousing, perhaps a tad too loud, but the congregation welcomed the spirited music, which included Gilyard, the pastor, playing the bongos, along with another drummer and organist. At times people got up to dance.

But the most moving part for me was the junior and senior praise dancers. These children and teens had their movements down and were graceful and energetic in their dance, accompanied by the taped psalm.

Behind the scenes, the congregation had been preparing for this day for months, collecting school supplies and donations for the pre-kindergarten through high school youth from the church members.

In August, the church members sort all the donations to make sure they have enough supplies for each grade level. Then they reach out to the community to let everyone know they are welcome at Back-to-School Night, which this year distributed more than 350 backpacks filled with grade-appropriate supplies.

They were laid out on the tables in the church hall according to primary, intermediate, junior high and high school levels.

"There is a special feeling of joy that comes from knowing that you are making a real impact in the lives of children and serving the community that surrounds the church," said Janice Gilyard.

She also noted that the church hosts a Safe Harbor afterschool program this year that offers tutoring to area children who may need assistance during the school year.

For the second year in a row, Sharon Baker, 43, brought her two children Courtney, 15, and Jesse, 14, to the event. She has had a turn in life since she worships at Corinthian.

"They helped me on that first day and I kept coming back," said Baker, adding "My spirit is uplifted."

And the youth at Corinthian were uplifted that night as their school year got off to a good start with a backpack, supplies, meaningful messages and prayers.

SANTORA is the pastor of Our Lady of Grace Church, 400 Willow Ave., Hoboken, 07030,

BEYOND FOUR WALLS

Thursday, June 08, 2006

Corinthian Baptist Touches Community Through Service

The Rev. Damon Gilyard had been an associate pastor at several northern New Jersey churches during his 23 years as an ordained Pentecostal minister. He knew he was ready to lead his own congregation, back in 2004, and had several possibilities. He decided on Jersey City's Corinthian Baptist because, he said, "it gave me more of a challenge." Gilyard mentioned what some would find as obstacles: It is in the inner city and is very urban, with a high concentration of poor people. Yet he saw these as strengths. So he started with a purpose, "There was a need for more teaching."

This weekend, Corinthian embarks on a special teaching venture for 40 days by following the biggest best-selling religious book of all time - next to the Bible - "The Purpose Driven Life," by Rick Warren. Saturday will be the big kickoff followed by the Sunday service at 10:45 in the morning, which Gilyard, 47, described as "an all-out celebration." Warren organizes his book around five themes like discipleship, and the congregation follows a variety of tasks reinforcing the theme. Gilyard was impressed with Warren's earlier book, "The Purpose Driven Church," which brought home the concept that "there is a reason for everything you do," Gilyard said.

So, as Gilyard goes about revitalizing Corinthian - with marked success in the two years he has been the pastor - he has a purpose: to grow the church by meeting the needs of the community around it. And that's a tall order. A lot of their ministry involves meeting the physical needs of people in the community who are struggling to make ends meet. Twice a week, there is a program called, Our Bread Ministry, where Pathmark in Newark donates bread that is given out to 40 to 50 people. "It's not just bread," said Janice Gilyard, the pastor's wife, who assists her husband, "it's spiritual food." But it also shows that "we have to go beyond the four walls of the church," said Janice, who is an account executive/media specialist for a public relations firm in Summit. And that outward direction has characterized many new ventures that reach out to the community.

Janice also works with the mentoring program that meets every third Saturday. Several of the adults work with youth on personal issues and prepare them for future goals, like going to college. In the fall, before school begins, children are invited to "Back-to-School Night" and each student who shows up is given a free backpack filled with school supplies. Gilyard noted that the first September they sponsored the event, 110 students showed up. Last year, 275 came. He said, they also pray for the students, their parents and any teachers who attend.

All these efforts have boosted attendance at Sunday's morning service from 40 to 70 people, but the greatest increase has been in those who have registered to belong to the church, which now totals more than 200 mostly African-American families. And all their programs, including Bible classes, have seen increased attendance. But they are not resting. The church is always open to new ideas and ways to meet the needs of the people. A media ministry will begin soon and the services will be televised.

Gilyard, who is a public school teacher in a Newark alternative education program called Renaissance, is a Newark native and graduate of Seton Hall University. He lives in Summit and commutes to Jersey City.

The congregation raises most of the $200,000 needed to run the church annually. And he hopes that the 40 Days of Purpose campaign will bring even more people to Corinthian and deepen the faith and commitment of the current churchgoers.

"There is so much more that we as a church have done and are doing," Janice said. "We believe that God has given us hearts and minds to serve. We enter to worship and leave to serve."

Article written by Rev. Alex Santora.

Church service got kids ready!

Monday, September 26, 2005
Letters to the Editor
The Jersey Journal

This is a letter of thanks to Corinthian Baptist Church. I attended their back to school service on Tuesday night and I have never felt so moved in my life. The place was packed with parents and children and we all felt like one big family. The pastor, the Rev. Damon Gilyard, prayed for every person from the front of the church to the balcony. I have never attended a church where the speaker was so strong and powerful.

Mr. Kafele's words really hit home. We all left feeling good and ready for the new school year. All the children there were given school supplies and my son loves his bookbag. Everyone there was nice and helpful and showed they cared about everybody there. It was just great. Thank you so much.

LYNDA MONTGOMERY JERSEY CITY

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