SEWELL — For the past several years Mike and Jennifer D’Ostilio have devoted their time and talents as stewards at Holy Family Parish and have become examples of how a young couple can find salvation and hope in the Catholic Church.
Mike, 31, is a teacher and supervisor of English and social studies at Gateway middle and high schools. Jennifer, 32, is a clinical psychologist and is part of a group practice. The D’Ostilios are also proud parents of a 3-month-old named Andrew.
“We met one another in Virginia after college,” said Jennifer. She’s originally from Woodstown, Salem County, where she was a member of St. Joseph Parish but moved to Virginia at 18 to go to school. There she became an active member of St. William of York Parish.
“I joined the young adult group for 18- to 35-year-olds,” she explained. “Although not called a traditional stewardship group, the members served the church in fellowship. I devoted my time to this church activity.”
Mike, originally from Newport News, Va., and who was doing an internship in administration, met Jennifer in 2001 and they started dating. “She got me interested in the group,” he said.
Because of job considerations, Jennifer decided to move back into this area with Mike. They were married at St. Joseph in Woodstown.
“We moved to Delaware first,” he said, “before settling in Sewell.”
Last year Mike was elected to the Parish Council, becoming vice president this year. “I wanted to get more involved with the church from the ground up,” he explained. “I like to get involved behind the scenes. Our pastor, Father Robert Hughes, is a very gifted thinker and wanted innovative people on the council. He wants informed decisions made by the council to help the parish.”
Mike noted that he was pleasantly surprised he got elected since he had been a member of the parish for less than a year. He explained that the Parish Council, along with Father Hughes, is supportive of stewardship. “We always have action plans when we do something based on stewardship. We try to get things established on both the council and the Planning Commission,” he said. Mike is chairman of the commission.
“We have this calling to be Eucharistic Ministers,” said Jennifer. “When we moved here we talked to Father Hughes about our desire to be ministers at Holy Family. He was very supportive and urged us to continue our ministry.”
Why did they choose to become Eucharistic Ministers?
“It gives us a warm glow,” said Mike. “The best part of the ministry is that we can go and bring Jesus to those who can’t come to church.”
Twice a month, Mike and Jennifer visit a couple — both in their 80s — who have difficulties making it to Mass, to give them the Body of Christ.
“We also bring our new son with us and that brightens their day,” Jennifer said. “We also exchange gifts. They’ve become close family friends, almost like grandparents.
“Being a Eucharistic Minister helps me be my best,” continued Jennifer. “It helps me be complete especially when I look at the faces of the people who are receiving. It really is a great experience.”
Mike’s experience as a teacher allowed him during his second year in the parish to write lesson plans and formulate activities for the Religious Education Program.
“It’s hard to write these plans during the school year considering my work load at Gateway,” Mike said, “but during the summer I’m able to devote time to write lesson plans.”
Mike and Jennifer take their work with the Diocesan Marriage Prep Program as Natural Family Planning presenters as something sacred.
“We present talks to couples, discuss their spirituality, we pray…” said Mike. “It’s really a hard topic to discuss with couples in their 20s. They feel threatened by natural family planning.”
Natural family planning refers to forms of birth regulation which, in conformity with Catholic teaching, do not involve use of any artificial means of contraception.
On a related topic, the D’Ostilios, as Pre-Cana presenting couple team members, present information couples need that is factual and given without bias. “As team members,” said Jennifer, “it’s important for us to set an example. This is a vocation.”
Indeed, stewardship itself could be called a vocation, a way of giving back to the faith and “to thank Jesus for the wonderful life we have,” said Mike. “There are people out there who want us to make the church a great place. We’re involved because we want to help make everybody’s life better.”
Father Hughes explained that Mike was recommended to him and parochial vicar Father Stephen Rapposelli by Deacon Nick Danzi, who worked with Mike at Gateway, for the Parish Council. Father Rapposelli also invited Mike and Jennifer to Pre-Cana.
“They are a good couple,” said Father Hughes. “Do they really exemplify stewardship? They go beyond that. They edify. They have love for the Church and for God.”
For information on stewardship contact Russell Davis, Office of Stewardship, at 856-583-6102.