POMONA – For the past five years Jerry and Diane Vekteris of Port Republic have worked together as volunteers at Assumption Parish here where they exemplify all that is good and spiritual with stewardship.
Diane, a stay-at-home mom, said she got involved with the parish because “I feel I have a lot to offer to the ministries I’m working with.” Her husband, Jerry, is a pediatrician and makes it a point to live his religion in his work.
“I see many people in my practice,” he said, “well-off and poor and disenfranchised. I minister very earnestly to them as a doctor. I often counsel teens about the sacredness of marriage and about sexual behavior. Because I bring my faith to my work as a
physician, I feel I become a better physician.”
It all began for them with Marriage Encounter. Because of their positive experiences with Marriage Encounter, the couple started thinking about what else they could do to enrich their spiritual lives.
“Marriage Encounter got us interested in deepening our involvement with the church,” said Jerry. “This was done before the birth of our second son, Nathan.” He’s now 3 and Andrew, who would like to go to Catholic school next year, is 8. The oldest is Alexandra, 13, who – like her parents – is becoming a steward of the parish.
“Alexandra really enjoys helping out,” Diane said, “and is really interested in getting her peers involved with church activities. Many of them are interested and have a positive attitude toward stewardship, thanks to her.”
Last year, Jerry and Diane co-chaired the first family festival fund-raiser weekend. “We handled the games,” Diane said. Both hope to be involved again this year.
At last year’s event, Alexandra brought her horse, Holly, to the festivities. She donated her time and talents during the festival, providing rides to help raise money. The funds are being used for the new school and church now under construction. The funds from the second annual festival – which is still in the planning stages and tentatively set for September – are also earmarked for the construction projects.
The new school, for pre-kindergarten to the eighth-grade, will open for the 2007-08 school year. The new church is set to open for Easter 2008.
“The old sites are being sold,” Jerry explained. “They’re on the White Horse Pike. The area is very congested now and can be dangerous with all the traffic, and Assumption was lucky enough to get a safer, suburban location for the church and school.”
The Vekterises started their journey as stewards of God with the encouragement of Father Michael Matveenko, pastor of Assumption.
“When I think of a stewardship family,” Father Matveenko said, “the Vekteris family comes to mind. Jerry was involved with the Pastoral Council.” He was nominated to the Pastoral Council and elected to a three-year term four years ago. In his third year he served as chairman. After the council Jerry became a lector and has been for some three years.
“Diane volunteers at CCD,” said Father Matveenko, “and both are involved with the Cub Scouts.”
Jerry and Diane are den leaders for Bear Den Pack 634.
For the past nine years, since her daughter started kindergarten, Diane has been helping out with CCD. She’s now in her second year of teaching the second grade.
“I was actually approached by the coordinator of Religious Education to teach second grade,” she explained.
Additionally, Jerry is involved with a Cursillo prayer group. The parish group of men and women meets weekly. His connection with the group has been a great benefit to him.
The Vekterises are on the committee for the third annual dinner-dance, set for the fall. These funds will also be used for the new church and school construction and, said Diane, the dinner-dance is the ideal place for new members of the parish to come out and introduce themselves and meet other parishioners.
“We’ll have a sit-down dinner and a 50-50,” she pointed out. “Last year we had a DJ who donated his time. Then as now, we’re hoping parishioners, who have special talents that could be used for our dinner-dance fund-raiser, will come forth and donate their time.”
Jerry said stewardship “motivates us as a parish community and Father Mike provides the inspiration for us to continue. It is a definitely a win-win situation.”
Jerry feels he and his wife can help others get involved with the church by simply leading by example.
“As we started our stewardship,” he continued, “we found people who were doing as much as we were or even more. My wife and I do what we do because it makes us feel good; we are truly blessed. If we can be there we will do it.”
Diane noted, “I hope our children will see what we do and continue and follow through and will want to do things for the church community.”
“The Vekteris family is the embodiment of the stewardship philosophy,” Father Matveenko said. “They are very generous with their time, talent, and treasures.”
For more information on stewardship contact Russell Davis, Office of Stewardship, at 856-583-6102.