Holy Innocents Society; Diocese of Trenton
Mrs. Patricia E. Hertz, President
federat1@verizon.net
732-674-0088

As disciples of Jesus, we commit ourselves to companion and learn from those who are challenged by developmental, cognitive and/or physical disabilities.

A healthy and whole faith community is one where all members of Christ’s Body are in right relationship with each other. As disciples of Jesus, we commit ourselves to companioning and learning from those who are challenged by developmental, cognitive and/or physical disabilities.

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Holy Innocents Society

The Holy Innocents Society is a Diocesan Society dedicated to the spiritual welfare of “Special Children” of all ages.

Holy Innocents Centers throughout the Trenton Diocese provide children and adults with special needs, intellectual, cognitive and/or developmental disabilities, who are not able to function in a regular Religious Education Program, with religious education geared to their individual learning ability. Dedicated catechists prepare their students for the reception of the Sacraments, and through programs of continuing religious education, prepare them to take an active role in the Church community. In the love of Jesus Christ for His children and in the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the catechists endeavor to foster within each student a positive self-concept, a sense of morality and participation in the Christian community.

Burlington

St. Peter's Center of Learning, Beverly 
Jesus, the Good Shepherd Parish 
(St. Joseph's Church) 
805 Warren Street 
Beverly, NJ 08010 
Mrs. Joyce Chmielenski 
609-387-4748

Mercer

Contact Mrs. Patricia E. Hertz, President
Holy Innocents Society; Diocese of Trenton
federat1@verizon.net
732-255-6216

Monmouth

St. Mark's Center of Learning. Sea Girt
St. Mark Parish 
215 Crescent Parkway 
Sea Girt, NJ 08750-3107 
Mr. Thomas Dorney 
732-449-9589 

St. Mary's Center of Learning, Middletown 
St. Mary, Mother of God Parish 
19 Cherry Tree Farm Road 
Middletown, NJ 07748 
Mrs. Nancy Rubinson 
732-671-2115

Ocean

St. Justin's Center of Learning, Toms River 
St. Justin's Parish 
975 Fischer Blvd. 
Toms River, NJ 08753-3898 
Mrs. Francine Campbell
732-244-8643

St. Martha's Center of Learning, Point Pleasant 
St. Martha's Parish 
3800 Herbertsville Road 
Point Pleasant, NJ 08742-5499
Kathy Jobes
732 948-5811 

 

National Catholic Partnership on Disability

Talk with your parish religious education leader about your child’s special educational needs. Ask for appropriate options for religious education and sacramental preparation. 

“There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.”
(1 Corinthians 12:4-6)

Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities

Ideas and Recommendations for Families with Children who have Diverse Learning Needs

Seeing the hand of God at work through the Holy Innocents Society

Mary Stadnyk | Associate Editor

Working with the Holy Innocents Society was something neither Angelo Romanello nor Pat Hertz had ever intentionally set out to do.

But it was through different life experiences from years ago that led both of them to begin their ministries to children with special needs.

Between them, Hertz and Romanello have more than 60 years of loving service to the Holy Innocents Society. Romanello has been president of the diocesan Holy Innocents Society and director of the Holy Cross Learning Center for 36 years, and Hertz has been involved with the learning center in St. Justin Parish, Toms River, for 26 years.

While both acknowledged that theirs is a fulfilling ministry in which they receive much more than what they give, Hertz said, that what truly heartens her the most is the children’s “unconditional love.”

The way Romanello sees it, the work of the Holy Innocents Society is not about what the catechists and aides do, but it’s about what God does.

“I find myself standing in awe of God’s work,” he said. “God manifests himself through these children and that is the greatest proof of his love for us that I could ever imagine.”

Read the Trenton Monitor's full article here.