Archdiocesan leaders recognized by Catholic Extension Society

When the mission church of Saint Elizabeth in Wyckoff was in danger of closing in the early 1900s, a new organization, the Catholic Church Extension Society, stepped in to help pay off the church’s debts, saving the little chapel. “Parishes like Saint Elizabeth of Hungary in Wycoff and others in New Jersey would not be in existence today if Catholic Extension had not come in and helped them,” Sister Patricia Wormann, O.P., Delegate for Religious for the Archdiocese of Newark, told Jersey Catholic.

The Catholic Extension Society continues to serve remote Church communities today. Its programs help construct and renovate church buildings, fund pastoral and social outreach efforts, support faith formation among all age groups, and develop Catholic leaders through scholarships, training, and salary support. The organization also funds the education of more than 500 seminarians around the U.S. each year.

“Many people don’t know about the Catholic Extension Society and the good work it is still doing,” Sister Wormann said. She hopes to change that. In 2024, Sister Wormann travelled to the Texas border, where hundreds of migrants cross into the U.S. Joining her on the trip were Father Anthony Randazzo, now the pastor of Church of the Presentation in Upper Saddle River, and Roland Flores, a parishioner of Holy Trinity Parish in Westfield.

*The Catholic Extension Society held a gathering in September where 74 bishops from diocese aided by the organization were in attendance*

Empowering the Church through relationships

The Mission Immersion trip, sponsored by Catholic Extension, allowed the group to see firsthand how the organization is helping the Catholic Church to serve migrants through programs that teach new skills, offer medical and dental care, feed and clothe families, and provide places of physical and spiritual rest. Other leaders in the Archdiocese of Newark have since made similar immersion trips.

“The whole idea of Catholic Extension is to really empower the Church here in the United States, especially among the poor,” Sister Wormann said. “The focus is on initiating leadership among people, and building relationships, not just throwing money at problems.”

Since the mission immersion trip, Sister Wormann and Father Randazzo have continued to spread the word about Catholic Extension’s efforts. “It’s really about getting people involved and helping them, personally and as a parish community, grow in awareness of the wider Church,” she said. “When people hear the word mission, they think of China, Africa, or South America, but the reality is that we have a significant number of dioceses in the U.S. being served by Catholic Extension.”

“Asylum seekers in Texas, migrants in Yakima, Washington, parishes in Africatown in Alabama — they are all a part of who we are as a Church,” she said.

Fr Anthony Randazzo receives award — *Father Randazzo is recognized by Catholic Extension President John Wall (far left) and Cardinal Blase Cupich (far right), Archbishop of Chicago*

Learning from others

Helping Catholic Extension is a way to “pay it forward” for the help the organization gave to New Jersey parishes when they were forming. According to Sister Wormann, it can also be a source of hope and new ideas.

“People become discouraged because our pews aren’t full — and that is an honest evaluation. However, it’s also exciting to see that in other places, where people may be more disadvantaged, the Church is growing and reaching out in a vibrant way,” she said.

“Our archdiocese is looking around and asking, ‘How can we best preach the Gospel here?’ Experiences like Catholic Extension can help us learn how to share resources in a way that builds communities of faith that can extend even beyond the parish.”

Sister Pat with John Prevost — *Sister Worman with John Prevost, brother of Pope Leo XIV*

In late September, Sister Wormann and Father Randazzo were invited to a Catholic Extension Society gathering in Chicago. Present were 74 bishops from the approximately 80 dioceses around the U.S. helped by Catholic Extension programs, primarily in underprivileged areas.

At a dinner during the event, Sister Wormann and Father Randazzo were acknowledged by Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, and Father Jack Wall, President of the Catholic Extension Society, in “gratitude for your partnership in mission.”

Sister Wormann added that one highlight of the event was meeting one of Pope Leo XIV’s brothers, John Prevost, who lives in the area. “He’s a retired Catholic school principal. There were about eight of us sitting with him at a table. He told us family stories and said that he talks to his brother every day,” she said. “It gave us a nice sense of connection to the pope.”

Featured image: Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, and Father Jack Wall, President of the Catholic Extension Society, acknowledge Sister Patricia Wormann, O.P., for her efforts on behalf of the organization. (Photos courtesy Sister Patricia Wormann)