Little did Cristina D’Averso-Collins realize last October when she was one of the keynote speakers at the diocese’s Critical Life Issues conference that she would return on July 1 as director of the Office of Family Life. At the conference D’Averso-Collins spoke about the “Beauty and Wisdom of God’s Design for Marriage – A Millennial’s Perspective.” “Her presentation was thought-provoking and was very well received,” stated Jennifer Ruggiero who heads the diocese’s Secretariat for Family and Pastoral Life. She added that several months later, when the director position became vacant, Cristina came to mind immediately as a possible candidate and was ultimately chosen to lead the office.

ANNANDALE - As part of this year’s spiritual preparation for the consecration of the Diocese of Metuchen to Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12, the faithful, especially families and young people, are invited to participate in “The Way of St. Juan Diego.” The nine-mile walking pilgrimage on September 21 will begin at 10 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Parish.

PISCATAWAY — “Our Catholic faith is more valuable than any pearl, and we should be very careful not to waste it,” Father John J. Barbella reminded the boy and girl Catholic Scouts seated before him in the chapel of the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center June 25. “Instead, we should make every effort we can to live our faith fully, to learn it more completely, as many of you have done by earning your religious medals.”

There will be no issue of “The Catholic Spirit” Aug. 22 while the staff takes a brief vacation. Your next issue will be Sept. 5, the annual Back to School edition.