From The Pastor

The Heart of Jesus is also my heart since I am a member of His body, and with this heart I will pray to God, my Father, and my prayer will always be heard. The words of Saint Katharine Drexel, our patroness and guide, give us direction and focus. She so often reminded her own sisters and the people she served that life is a Gift, and that Gift is for each person to Grow In Faith Together.

Gift: Growing In Faith Together is our theme for the beginning of this great journey, a journey of Church and of the People of God. Each time we meet, each time we pray, each time we serve others in Jesus name, we are Gift. Moreover, our Gift to each other is the most precious grace that God gives.

Gift: Growing In Faith Together is the program that guides us as a new parish community into the future. This document enables and empowers us to do God's work on earth to be present to each other as we build the Body of Christ. We need each other as a Gift to accomplish this great task.

Gift: Growing In Faith Together is the means to achieve our goal as a community of believers. Our faith-filled response to God and each other is a testimony of Gods grace within each person called to serve and be served. It is the People of God working together that creates the Life of the Spirit in our midst. Canon Law reminds us that a parish is a definite community of the Christian faithful (#515). The active and visible ministry of the laity in all aspects of pastoral life is an integral part of each persons baptismal calling. It is through this calling that we respond to each other as Gift.

Gift: Growing In Faith Together is our ministry to one another.

THE VISION OF OUR PARISH REVOLVES AROUND OUR MISSION STATEMENT:

The Church of Saint Katharine Drexel is a Roman Catholic Parish which strives to be responsive to the needs of the community it serves. The proclamation of the Gospel of Christ Jesus is our sacred purpose. We seek to witness to the Catholic Christian Church and Jesus Presence in the world through Word, Worship and Service.

Our response to the Mission should be the living out of our baptismal calling and the creed that we profess. Our ministry is the core of our presence: to serve self, each another and the community.

The Church constantly reminds us of our call to holiness and that each person has a unique relationship with our Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier.

The Church creates an environment of warmth, loving reverence, and prayerful worship. Our Parish Mission Statement captures this idea:

The future is ours, to build, to create, to empower each other with the very gifts God has so freely given us.

In Jesus' Name and in the belief that God is always with us, let us share Gods Gift with everyone we meet.

Be Gift to each other!
In Jesus' Name,
Rev. John Vignone Pastor

Father John Vignone, 55, was born in Jersey City and attended LaSalle University - Philadelphia, Immaculate Conception Seminary - Darlington and Seton Hall University - South Orange. He was ordained May 24, 1975, in Christ the King Church, Haddonfield.

Father John was pastor of St. Michael Parish, Minotola, 1999-2000, and Queen of Angels Parish, Buena Borough, 2001-2004. He served as administrator of St. Teresa Parish, Runnemede, in 1999, and he was parochial vicar at Mary Mother of the Church, Bellmawr, 1975; St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Absecon, 1975-79; St. Agnes, Blackwood, 1991-92; and  St. Mary, Cherry Hill, 1992-94.

He also taught religion at St. James High School, Carneys Point, 1979-86, and Paul VI High School, Haddon Township, 1986-91. He has been a member of the Priests Council, Presbyteral Council and Personnel Board.

Father John became pastor of St. Katharine Drexel parish on Dec. 10, 2004.  He replaced founding pastor Fr. Joe Ferrara. He was officially installed on June 19, 2005.