WILLIAMSTOWN – As far as Joseph Bradley is concerned, his lifelong dedication to the church and stewardship began with his father before he was even born.
“Back in the late ’20s, our family lived in Clayton,” said Bradley, whose parish is St. Mary in Williamstown, “and every Sunday morning, my father, Daniel, would drive to Gloucester to pick up two nuns to take them to St. Mary’s, then drive them back. This was definitely stewardship. It started for me with my father.”
Bradley, 76, said that after St. Catherine of Siena was founded in Clayton as a mission of St. Bridget in Glassboro in the early ’40s, “We became parishioners of St. Catherine. I was one of the first two altar boys there. That was the beginning of my stewardship.”
Besides being an altar server for many years, he served the parish in various capacities, until the Korean conflict broke out and he went to war.
“I came back, got married and became a parishioner of Our Lady of Grace in Somerdale. I served there in several ministries, was an usher and on the parish council and worked with the House of Charity for the parish.”
While there, he and Father John Frey (now Msgr. Frey, pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Haddon Heights) became friends. Father Frey was director of vocations in the late 1980s and 90s and he felt there was more that could be done to help the seminarians. He discussed the idea with Bradley.
“He and I and another parishioner, Frank Smith, founded Amicus,” a non-profit organization that provides financial support for seminarians studying for the priesthood in the Camden Diocese. The group is independent of the diocese and receives no diocesan funds. (“Amicus” refers to impartiality in a court of law.)
“Amicus is a group of business people who contribute quarterly and supplies the money needed to operate the organization,” said Bradley. “Msgr. Frey and I are administrators of the funds. This is part of stewardship where time, talent, and treasure all come together.”
Amicus is still active and operational. When asked where Amicus is based, Bradley noted quickly, “In my home.”
Organized in the early 1970s, Amicus addresses those financial needs not able to be met by the seminarians or their families and helps foreign-born priests who are in need of financial help. The same service is provided to women religious as well.
“For example we helped one seminarian get his teeth fixed,” Bradley noted, “and two others were sent to Israel on sabbatical, while a third received a bicycle in Rome to get to his classes.
“We are simply a group of guys who got together, saw a need, and try to help,” he added.
Eventually, Bradley moved to Washington Township and went back to St. Mary because “that was our mother parish. And after we went back I was looking for something to do,” he noted.
He became involved with the Social Concerns Ministry about 10 years ago and together with Father Carmen Carlone, “decided to expand the scope of social concerns and thanksgiving for God’s gifts,” he said.
The theme of the ministry, said Bradley, is “Whatsoever You Do,” based on Matthew 25.
“Don’t forget our religion is helping others. It’s all based on stewardship.” He became chairman of the ministry two years ago. “I’m still a member,” he explained, “but the group really runs on its own.”
Social Concerns Ministry has gotten so large over the years, Bradley said, that he appointed captains to oversee each of its functions:
Rich Monteiro is captain of the House of Charity-Bishop Appeal; Mother’s Day, Baby Shower (baby items are distributed to women’s shelters in the area) is overseen by Gail Keenan who also is captain of the ongoing food and clothing distribution; Maryann Joseph heads Backpack Sunday (school items are given to schools and agencies); Arlene Wilson is captain of Ministry Sunday; Jim Hallman runs the Agape Dinner; Steve Joseph helps run the Thanksgiving food and clothing distribution; John Stahl is captain of Code Blue/Blanket Sunday (cold weather gear is collected for the homeless; Joyce Hyndman helps with requests for financial help; and the annual carnival is captained by Joanne Basilino.
Bradley said the Social Concerns Ministry helps or has helped various agencies in the region which include, among many others, St. John’s Men’s Hospice, The Catholic Worker, Catholic Charities, Atlantic City Rescue Mission, New Point Health Care, and St. Peter in Pleasantville.
The ministry, in an attempt to visualize the “Whatever You Do” motto, had a statue commissioned for St. Mary’s entitled, The Begging Jesus.
“The beggar is sitting on the ground, his hand up, with a hole in his hand representing the wounded Jesus,” said Bradley. “I don’t know of any place where a similar statue exists.”
Bradley also sits on the pastoral council and the parish planning council.
“He’s been an active member of this parish,” said Father Ken Johnston, pastor of St. Mary, “and has given up much of his time to help, especially the underprivileged.”
Referring to Bradley’s serving as the chairman of the Social Concerns Ministry, the pastor said, “We wish to thank him for all of his time and efforts in assisting the poor as well as his valuable input.”
Father Johnston said he and Bradley have always worked well together. “That’s always been a strong point at St. Mary’s,” said the priest. “He, without a doubt, embodies stewardship’s time, talent, and treasure.”
Bradley has recently agreed to accept his nomination to the Diocesan Stewardship Advisory Board.
For more information on stewardship contact Russell Davis, Office of Stewardship, at 856-583-6102.