A Christmas Message from our Lay Director, Mary Ann Dowd

Beloved Cursillistas,

When John DiStefano served as Lay Director, he always reminded us that we were children of God, sons and daughters of a King and destined for greatness.  In this Christmas Season, we remember - HE came for love.  HE lived for love.  HE died for love.

Our God loved us more than we can ever fathom.  No words can describe the Christ Child, tiny Baby shivering in a cold dark stable into which HE brought HIS Eternal Light.  In the new Leaders Manual on Page 188, we read the following: "One can only live the Postcursillo with love.  The commitment to temporal and personal relationships to which the postcursillo calls us would be an insupportable burden without love.  With love, it undoubtedly can be the most significant instrument in our lives to enable us to receive The Spirit of God day by day."

With Christ, and others in Christ in the postcursillo, we can make of life an 0n-going Ultreya.  Merry Christmas and forever DeColores!

Mary Ann xo  

DECEMBER SCHOOL OF LEADERS IS COMING by Ronnie Martella, Assistant Lay Director

Blessed Advent!  This wonderful season of preparation is upon us and how blessed are we to be loved by God, loved so much that he sent his Son to be with us, to be one of us.  As you take time this Advent to reflect on your relationship with God and others, remember that on your journey there are others to encourage and help us.

One of the points from Pope Paul's encyclical that Father Jay brought out was the fact that we all need to be well and properly informed in order to instruct others.  School of Leaders is a great place to do get that instruction from the talks, from the sharing and from the literature available.  School in December is on the 16th and will be at Holy Family in Lakewood .  Father Ed will complete the study of "On Evangelization in the Modern World" and the technique talk on Ultreya will be given by Janet Moscuzza.  What a great way to enrich our Advent time as we continue to respond to Jesus challenge to go out and make disciples of all.

At School of Leaders in November, Father Jay's talk on the methods and beneficiaries of Evangelization, from Pope Paul VI's encyclical, had both the spiritual and practical.  This document is as relevant today as it ever was because, as Father Jay reminded us, evangelization means bringing the Good News to all strata.  And the primary way to do that is to be a witness of an authentic life given to God and neighbor.  What a powerful affirmation that Cursillo, through the weekend talks, group reunion and ultreya are right in step with the Church's teachings.  The beneficiaries of evangelization cover every aspect of life and type of person from the "far away", non-Christians, & non-believers to believers and small faith communities--there is no doubt, all peoples benefit from being evangelized. 

John DiStefano spoke about group reunion and the impact it has on our journey.  He asked "How do you keep going in the face of troubles, challenges and struggles?"  The answer is to share your journey with others in group reunion.  John encouraged us all to continue as group reunions or if we are not in group-to put one together because the group manifests the friendship we have in God.  In The Study of the Charism it is put this way-"The Method of Cursillo is based on this relationship of friendship to bring to life the essence and purpose of its Charism."!  No wonder John emphasized friendship.  In addition, The Study of the Charism reminds us that group reunion has four steps; invocation of the Holy Spirit to start, sharing by each members on the card, personal and collective apostolic plans and prayer to end.  For the full text, you can find the Study of the Charism on the website of World Organization of Cursillo at www.orgmcc.org. 

Wishing you the peace and joy of the Advent season,

Ronnie Martella 

A MESSAGE FROM OUR LAY DIRECTOR

Beloved Cursillistas,

A final chapter in the book recounting the Charism of Cursillo is Eduardo Bonnin's Spiritual Testament.  He talks of how the Holy Spirit Blessed and preserved our movement from the time of his youth until his 90's.  He considered the Cursillo in Christianity the greatest gift he could pass on to future Christians in love and fellowship.  

This Thanksgiving in the Diocese of Trenton we have much  for which to be grateful to God; both individually and as a community.  As I count my blessings, you will all be present among them as will those three blessed days of God's Grace poured out as Love.  May the Lord bless you and keep you may He make HIS Face Shine upon you and give you His Peace.  Happy Thanksgiving.

Forever DeColores!

Mary Ann Dowd xo

STUDY OF "ON EVANGELIZATION IN THE MODERN WORLD" CONTINUES

At our last School of Leaders, Father Jay Bowden covered Sections 40 to 58 of On Evangelization in the Modern World focusing on the methods and beneficiaries of evangelization. If you would like to read Paul Paul VI's Encyclical, it can be found at this link. At the December School of Leaders on December 16 at Holy Family Church in Lakewood, NJ, Sections 59 to 82 will be covered.

OUR BELOVED FATHER MALACHY HIGGISTON

Father Malachy J. Higgiston went home to the Lord on Tuesday, November 15, 2011.

Visitation will be in St. Thomas More Church on Friday, November 18, 2011 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. immediately followed by Mass of Jesus Christ High Priest. 

Visitation will resume on Saturday, November 19, 2011 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at 11AM.

Interment will follow at St. Joseph's Cemetery Toms River, New Jersey.

Directions to St. Thomas More can be found at http://www.moremercy.org/directions.html.

To read Father Malachy's obituary, go to http://manalapan.patch.com/articles/obituary-fr-malachy-higgiston-88

A MESSAGE FROM JOHN AND ROE DiSTEFANO

On behalf of Roe and me and our entire family, we wish to thank our Cursillo family for the tremendous outpouring of love which you have shown to us in our time of deepest sorrow. As each of you came up to us to express your individual condolences on our daughter going home to the Lord, the glow of the Holy Spirit was around you and surrounded us with love and healing. Each of you came as individuals but formed one in the Spirit and in the Lord. In your being present to all of us, your caring, sharing, and genuine love, our family was lifted to bear the unbearable. To comfort those who are sorrowful is an act of Mercy and it was greatly felt and appreciated by every member of our family.

DeColores! John & Roe & Family of Susanne Opdyke

NOVEMBER SCHOOL OF LEADERS IS COMING by Ronnie Martella, Assistant Lay Director

I love mornings.  I love to be up before daylight, especially in the winter, to see the sky.  One day I went out and looked at the sky from one side of my house-there were no stars to see.  Oh I thought -it must be overcast.  Then I went out front to get the newspapers and there they were--the moon and stars!  From one perspective I made one observation and came to one conclusion about something.  If I hadn’t gone to the other side of the house, I would have stayed with that conclusion which, while not wrong for what I could see, wasn’t complete.  I also would have missed God’s beautiful creation on this particular day, in this particular way-which would never be seen this way again.

Perhaps there are things, maybe even people, that you have seen from one vantage point and you’ve made decisions or came to conclusions about that something or someone. Could you consider a different vantage point or perhaps try another time to look at something or someone?  Are you ready to move to a place where you can get a different, a more complete perspective from which you can make decisions? 

This Friday November 18^th is School of Leaders at 8 pm in the Parish Hall (little white church) at Epiphany in Brick.  Perhaps you’ve never been to School of Leaders and aren’t quite sure what it is about or what to expect.  Maybe you haven’t been in a while or maybe you are able to join us each month but no matter-come, see & learn with a new perspective.  School of Leaders is a place to learn about Cursillo, the Movement overall and Trenton Cursillo in particular.  There you will hear two talks and share with others.  The learning and sharing experienced at School of Leaders is at the core of the Cursillo Movement-friendship in Christ as we journey together as pilgrims.  Each time you join us we are all richer and the community grows in love.

Ultreya!

Ronnie Martella

MEMORIAL MASS FOR ROGER WEBSTER

We have been told that the Memorial Mass for Roger Webster will be held on Saturday, November 19th at St. Catherine in Middletown (on Bray Avenue) @ 11AM. This is an update of the information we were originally given. Directions to St. Catherine's can be found at this link.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR LAY DIRECTOR

Beloved Cursillistas,

On Friday night the Trenton Cursillo Community gathered to remember our deceased Cursillistas. Those dear friends and relatives who have gone home and are out of our sight but not out of our hearts and minds.  In fact, the memories of those we love so dearly seem to get sharper each year--this year--a wonderful new demension in "hearing" these rememberances.  If you would like to "hear" the complete list of remembrances go to our website and click on "We Remember" at the top right side of the page.  Thanks to everyone who made this Mass beautiful, memorable, and holy.

Forever DeColores!
Mary Ann xo

THIS AND THAT

THE LITTLE FLOWER AND ME

Pat Burke and Fran Romeo recommended this article from the October "Word Among Us" about St.Thérèse of Lisieux and the author's Cursillo experience. The author is Brenda Kindelan, Lay Director for the Cursillo Movement in Memphis, Tennessee.

PALANCA

Please remember the following dioceses having weekends from November 10 to 13:

Women's Cursillo Wichita, KS
Men's #148 (Spanish) - Hartford, CT
Women's #73 - Montreal, CANADA
Men's #84 - South Bend, IN
Women's #22 (Spanish) - Oregon, IL
Women's #169 (Spanish) - Uniondale, NY
Women's #34 - East Helena, MT
Women's #106 - Little Rock, AR
Women's Cursillo - Derry, N. IRELAND
Women's #74 (Spanish) - Abasolo, GTO, MEXICO
Women's #312 - Oakland,CA
Women's #8 (Spanish) - Los Cabos, BS, MEXICO
Men's Cursillo (Spanish) - Dodge City, KS
Men's Cursillo - Kingston, JAMAICA
Women's #200 - Peekskill, NY
Men's Cursillo (Spanish) - Cd. Acuña, CU, MEXICO
Men's #263 - Hammond, IN
Women's #109 (Spanish) - El Paso, TX
Women's #205 - Buffalo, NY
Women's #7 - KwaZulu-Natal, SOUTH AFRICA

NAME TAGS PLEASE!

Mary Ann Dowd asks for all to please wear your name tags on Friday night and pretty much from now on so that the babechicks and new cursillistas can get better acquainted with the community.

STATE ULTREYA ARTICLE

Read all about the State Ultreya held on September 25 by the Spanish-speaking Trenton Cursillo community. The article appeared in the October 13th issue of The Monitor.

WELCOME NEW CURSILLISTAS

We welcome our newest cursillistas from Trenton 121 "Hearts on Fire"

Clarke Bowers/Melissa Banahan and Brick Ultreya
Buddy Goss/Dowd
John Kauppinen/Bayshore Ultreya
Walter Jennings/Dowd
Lou Lastrina/Garrett
Noel Terranova/DiStefano
Thomas Tucker/Ivanko

OCTOBER SCHOOL OF LEADERS IS COMING by Ronnie Martella, Assistant Lay Director

Fellow Cursillistas,

School of Leaders returned in September with a good crowd and two great speakers. We began our study of Pope Paul’s encyclical “On Evangelization in the Modern World”. Sister Simon started us off speaking about Pope Paul and Vatican II talking about ‘new responses to new questions’ and how Pope John Paul II went beyond that to call us to a New Evangelization. Sister reminded us that evangelization is when we accept God’s word, live in service and by our witness invite others to that life. It is a way of life, not a program in which no one is excluded and as ‘everyday evangelizers’ we are charged verbalize Christ in our lives and celebrate the story of God’s healing and renewal.

Frans Tholenaar gave the technique talk on pre-Cursillo, not the section but the way of living that makes it possible to be vertebrae-the backbone in the world. We are members of the community of saints and we shouldn’t take that lightly. Pre-Cursillo involves the selection of people that are in need of evangelization. It is not just a good time, there is a commitment involved. Frans challenged us to think in a new way, to “fish outside the fishbowl”-when studying the environments in which we find ourselves-the square meter around us. Many people we might not consider as candidates might deserve a first, or perhaps, a second look.

At the National Encounter in San Antonio this summer, we were reminded again and again of the value and importance of personal contact. Let’s look with new eyes at those around us-and allow the Holy Spirit to show us the people God has put in our path, the people with whom the saying “make a friend, be a friend and bring that friend to Christ” comes to life!

Some of those people have lived the last few weekends. How about reaching out an inviting some babe chicks to October School of Leaders. Come and see with new eyes, be open to new ways of looking at evangelization, share your walk with new and experienced Cursillistas, be reminded of how it is to be with community-only you can bring your gift and experience-come, be new-make us all better!

Hope to see you there!  Ronnie

Friday, October 7  School of Leaders @ Epiphany Parish Hall, Brick, NJ @ 8PM 

NOTE FROM OUR LAY DIRECTOR, MARY ANN DOWD

Editor's Note: The following remarks were made by Mary Ann Dowd at the Closing Mass for the Women of Trenton 120. Mary Ann started by introducing our newest cursillistas:

Annette Asaro, Missy Banahan, Patricia Cartier, May Catuogno, Terri D'Andrea, Mary Jane Lanuto, Millie Linett, Eileen Martin, Maritza Gonzalez Navarro, Theresa Pawlikowski, Dottie Raponkus, Francine Severini and Jean Tierney

Mary Ann continued:

As you have undoubtedly heard, The Cursillo in Christianity has a history which is very colorful (DeColores!) and steeped in tradition. You can read all about it on this website under the "Short Course" tab. Especially recommended: The Charism of the Movement and My Spiritual Testament by Eduardo Bonnin. As Father Ed has reminded us, the Cursillos teach first and foremost the fundamentals of Christianity and in our Catholic Cursillos, we are always and everywhere under the authority of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. As a matter of fact, the two books; "Fundamentals of Christianity" and the "Fundamentals of Cursillo" are, in essence, the same book! This is why so many priests and bishops have lived their weekends along with us and in the same manner as you have lived it these past three days.

In Eduardo Bonnin's Spiritual Tetatment (this book is so titled because he regarded the Cursillo as his most important possession to be passed down to future generations) we read the following:

"The idea that entered our soul when we were 20-years old was not a figment of our imagination--or some whim of our youth, nor was it an exultation of the time ---but rather--a plan of the Spirit of God."

My dear sisters, what you have received this weekend was not a dream-- or a figment of your imagination nor was it some whim of your youth or old age or an exultation of our time, but rather once again an outpouring of the Holy Spirit --a plan of the Spirit of God.

This Plan has been unfolding for 120 weekends in Trenton but not only in Trenton-- all over the world in every language. Only God could have weaved such a beautiful tapestry of love.

This "idea" which the first pilgrims received is the very same Charism that each of us received when we lived our Cursillo....they carried the same Pilgrim's Guide each of you received and listened to the same rollos....the same for me 18 years ago, for Father Jay over 40 years ago and all of you this weekend Trenton #120--because God only gives one way ---perfectly and for all time.

When the original pilgrims returned from their triumphant pilgrimage with over 70,000 pilgrims in a State of Grace, after having been personally addressed by Pope Pius XII upon their arrival, they asked this question: "We have gone to Santiago to become saints, now what?"

Now what indeed?! and so you see...each of you has returned from living your Cursillo with this same question on your lips....now what?-- and the answer of Sunday afternoon is always the same: Our Beloved Jesus answers it for us: ultreya! Don't let the light go out. Think of this: Eduardo Bonnin kept the light burning for over 70 years into his 90s.

Don't let the light go out - Christ is counting on you - DeColores!

KEEP THE LIGHT BURNING - A MESSAGE FROM MARY ANN DOWD

Beloved Cursillistas,

Trenton #120 has now returned from their pilgrimage. Their journey once again becomes part of the history of our movement.  But their fourth day journey is just beginning......when the first pilgrims returned from their triumphant journey to Santiago de Compostela this is the question they asked themselves:  "We have gone to Santiago to become saints....now what?  Now what indeed?!  The Light that was lit in the souls of the first cursillistas so many years ago, is now your Light to keep burning.  This is both a great joy and an awesome responsibility.  Jesus felt we were up for it....He called each of us by name....He is counting on you.  Ultreya!!!

Forever DeColores!

Mary Ann xo

A CHALLENGE TO BE MORE ATTENTIVE TO THE LORD

Today's meditation at the wonderful "Word Among Us" website focused on Luke 9:43-45:

"While they were all amazed at his every deed,
Jesus said to his disciples,
"Pay attention to what I am telling you.
The Son of Man is to be handed over to men."
But they did not understand this saying;
its meaning was hidden from them
and they were afraid to ask him about this saying."

The Meditation offers us a challenge - "Today, think about what you can do to become more attentive to the Lord and his teaching. Maybe you can think of ways to fight the “pious coma” syndrome and be more present to God as you pray, read Scripture, and attend Mass. You can decide to “pay attention” by learning more— about the lives of the saints, church history, and the doctrines of the faith. Why not read a spiritual classic like St. Augustine’s Confessions, Thérèse of Lisieux’s Autobiography of a Soul, or Francis de Sales’ Introduction to the Devout Life? And see the Catechism, which has a wonderfully prayerful final section about prayer."

In our small groups and Ultreyas, let's challenge each ourselves and others in our Study to "focus more" and "be more attentive" to Our Lord.

SOW EVERY DAY

A recent meditation at the wonderful "Word Among Us" website focused on Luke 8:5 (“A sower went out to sow.” )

The meditation reminds us that:

"Just so, Jesus wants us to sow every day, no matter where we are or what our environment is like. Being a sower is not a highly specialized occupation, reserved for an elite and specially trained few. We can all do it. We don’t have to get stressed about the ground the seed falls on; we don’t have to wait until we find the “perfect” soil to receive the seed.

Just sow! Talk simply, normally, about the things you know about who God is and what he’s done in your life. Tell of his goodness, in whatever ways you have experienced it: through healing, or forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation; in the pleasure of hearing his voice or feeling his presence in your prayer time; through understanding some passage in a new way as you read Scripture.

Fling it wide! Perhaps you’ve received the grace to know joy even on the anniversary of the death of a loved one, or the power to “lose the mood” and ask forgiveness from someone when you’ve lashed out in anger. Go ahead and share these blessings! Spread the seed, and let God worry about the soil that receives it."

What wonderful advice! How blessed we are! As Cursillistas, let us "sow every day!"

WEEKEND UPDATE

Some requests of community for the upcoming weekend regarding our new facility at San. Alphonso's:

• Please do not bring snacks. We can bring fresh fruit like bananas or apples that can be left out on the counter.
• Please bring small bottles of water as there is lot of waste with the larger bottles.  
• Ice and coolers are needed.
• Please bring ALL palanca on Thursday night since access to the building is not available as there are other retreat groups in the building. 
• Please do pray for people for their rollos at home or in any Adoration Chapel where we can visit Jesus and pray for our friends. 
• Parking will be available in the BACK of the facility for community on Thursday night and Sunday afternoon. 

Please watch this space for an announcement regarding a Diocesan Holy Hour (probably at Epiphany) on Saturday. Thank you for all of your prayers and sacrifices. 

NEW "STUDY" ARTICLE BY DEACON TONY MARTUCCI

Please read "The Sower and the Seed" by Deacon Tony Martucci. It can be found at under the "STUDY" tab found above. 

THE TEAM AND CANDIDATES OF TRENTON 120

UPDATED LIST AS OF 9.18.11

Candidates/Sponsor

Browns Mills Ultreya
Millie Linett/ Cindy Diamond and Browns Mills

Brick Ultreya
Maritza Gonzalez Navarro/ Jean Andrejack and Josue Gonzalez
Theresa Pawlikowski/ Paddy Morris

Lakewood Ultreya
Terri D'Andrea/ Sister Clara Schroeder, CSJP
Dottie Raponkus/ Sister Clara Schroeder, CSJP
May Catuogno/Mary Ann Dowd
Eileen Martin/ Mary Ann Dowd
Jean Tierney/ Ann Eby

Bayshore Ultreya
Annette Asaro/ Vera Imparato
Patricia Cartier/ Janet Moscuzza
Missy Banahan/John Severini and Bayshore
Francine Severini/John Severini and Bayshore

Tinton Falls
Mary Jane Lanuto/Patricia Burke

The Team

Father Ed Blanchett - Spiritual Advisor
Sister Clara Schroeder - Spiritual Advisor
Sister Simon Robb - Spiritual Advisor
Carol Gaynor - Rectora (Fourth Day)
Pat Burke - Assistant Rectora (Piety)
Mary Weis - Assistant Rectora in Training (Leaders)
Ronnie Martella - Liturgist
Maria Lonergan - Angel (Ideals)
Jennifer VonSpreckelsen - Auxiliary (Study)
Nancy Creviston - Auxiliary (Christianity in Action)
Paddy Morris - Auxiliary (Laity)
Pat McCormack - Prayer Team (Action/Evangelization)
Micki Tuohy - Prayer Team (Evangelization of Environments)
Pat Ivanko - Palanca/Floater


As always, this list is subject to change.

NOTE FROM OUR LAY DIRECTOR, MARY ANN DOWD

Beloved Cursillistas,

 

Once again special thanks are due to so many.  First our entire community is grateful to all of those who responded, thus far, to our financial appeal.  It is through your generous support that we continue on our pilgrim road and God will surely bless you for it.

 

Secondly, we want to acknowledge, Marty Weisman and Janet Fitzgerald who have both done an outstanding job of keeping our community current with the latest announcements and most particularly, prayer requests and palanca.  Al Martella will once again resume the prayer tree. Al has also built a brilliant new website at www.trentoncursillo.org. Plan to spend sometime as there is much information and spirituality there.

 

Thirdly, as always your prayerful support is what gets us up when we fall and carries us along the pilgrim way.  God bless you always and everywhere.

 

forever DeColores!

mary ann xo

IT'S BACK TO "SCHOOL OF LEADERS" TIME by Ronnie Martella, Assistant Lay Director

Fellow Cursillistas,

School of Leaders starts again on Sept. 9th at Epiphany. Our speakers will be Sister Simon and Frans Tholenaar.

The Gospel today reminds us, through the story of Jesus asking the fisherman to put out their boats and put down their nets, that He asks us to keep trying in our Evangeliztion efforts, to continue to "throw out our nets" even when our efforts don't seem to be very fruitful. That message was very strong at the National Encounter Al and I attending in San Antonio. We heard in many different ways, that personal contact is key and we can never know what the result of that contact is going to be. This is an idea that was really emphasized in an article by the Bishop of Manchester NH found in "Parable" magazine, July/August issue. In the article Bishop John McCormack writes that he always had a reason not to make a Cursillo weekend, but then, at the age of 74, he lived his Cursillo. Here is what he writes about that weekend. "Truthfully, I never expected to be animated by this experience in the way I was. At 74 years old I did not think I had perfected the art of Christian living, but neither did I recognize just how much growth and change was possible."

Let's do more than remember the experience of our weekend, let's come together as community, open ourselves to growth and change and learn how much more the Lord has for us! As the Bishop writes "Our own perspectives and expectations may become limited, but Christ's love for us is not. It is not only abundant, it is infinite."

Hope to see you there! Ronnie

WEEKEND UPDATE by Mary Ann Dowd, Lay Director

BELOVED CURSILLISTAS

Our women's weekend is now unable to accept any more applications for the weekend of September 22-25, 2011.

You may continue to submit applications, and please do so but we wanted you to know that your candidates would go on a waiting list.

Our men's weekend Oct 20-24 is still in need of candidates so please pray that God will send who HE wills for the men's weekend. Keep up your powerful prayers for all of us.

Forever DeColores! Mary Ann xo

THE WAY

Read about the new movie "The Way" is the story of a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella.
Click on the "About the Camino" link to read the history of this ancient pilgrim site which is the birthplace of our movement.

FROM THE INSTALATION OF OUR NEW LAY DIRECTOR, MARY ANN DOWD

(Thank you, Marty Weisman for the pictures.)

Father Ed Blanchette, Chaplain

Father Jay Bowden, Former Chaplain

Father Dave Swantek, Chaplain

Father Ed Blanchette, Chaplain
Father Dave Swantek, Chaplain
Ronnie Martella, Asst. Lay Director
Mary Ann Dowd, Lay Director

Father Dave, Father Jay and Father Ed and
Past Lay Directors including our newest
Past Lay Director, John Distefano

MAP TO ST. RAPHAEL HOLY ANGELS

(A) St. Raphael is at 3500 S. Broad St. Hamilton NJ 08610

(B) Holy Angels is at 1733 S Broad Street, Trenton, NJ 08610

From Shore Points: Take I95 West to Exit 2 (Arena Dr. - South Broad St.) Stay left of exit lane to flow onto S. Broad St. After the first light turn right into the Church entrance- driveway is just before Rosa's Ristorante.
(For Holy Angels, continue on S. Broad Street to destination.)

From the South: take Rt. 295 - North to Rt. 130 North to Rt 206 North. Continue to Whitehorse Circle and turn right onto S. Broad St. (heading toward Yardville) the entrance is just past the first traffic light on the left (immediately past Rosa's Ristornate driveway. (For Holy Angels, continue on S. Broad Street to destination.)

From NJ Turnpike: Take turnpike to exit 7A to Rt. #195-West and follow the directions above.

From #95-North: This automatically becomes Rt. # 295 South. Continue to the Arena Drive Exit (just past the S. Olden Ave. exit) At the 4th traffic light, turn right on Gropp Ave. the Church entrance is on the left.

OUR BROTHER, AL CONDE

May 29, 1939 - September 11, 2001

One of The Heroes of September 11, 2001

We Miss You, Al

From the ASBURY PARK PRESS


ABOUT ALBERT CONDE
AGE: 62
HOMETOWN: Marlboro
FAMILY: Diane, wife of 31 years, of Marlboro; sons Brian, 33, John, 33, and Matthew, 32, all of Jackson; and daughter Stephanie Tedeschi, 31, of Marlboro


EMPLOYMENT: Insurance underwriter for AIG


Memories of Albert Conde still linger everywhere, said his widow, Diane Conde.


She sees a little bit of her late husband in their son Brian, who, like his father, keeps a carefully written record of his gasoline mileage. She is reminded of the family patriarch when any of their four grown children tells a goofy joke.


"My husband was known for his corny jokes, and once in a while the kids will come up with something silly," Conde said. "It's the little things. Every so often something will make us all say, 'Gee, that's what daddy would have said,' or 'That's just like daddy.' "


Her 18-month-old grandson, named Albert Joseph after his grandfather, giggles in the background as she recalls her husband's memorable sense of humor, his faith as a devout Roman Catholic and how proud he would be of his children.


"We still think of him and everything," said Conde. When people ask her how long she was married to Albert, Conde includes the last five years.


"We're trying to move on," Diane Conde said. "It does get easier, but we still miss him."