Let me begin by stating that I am not a member of the Catholic Church. My grandparents came from a village not far from Krakow in the years following World War I, so I share that part of my pedigree with the Holy Father. During my formative years, I was christened a Catholic, but raised as an Episcopalian.
Through the years, my faith journey has taken me in a number of directions. However my primary thrust has always been Protestant in nature. My current role is as a member of the Reformed Church in America (RCA).
During my time in Newark, my ties to the Catholic Church were close indeed. Many times I attended mass at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Newark. I usually went with one or more of my Irish Catholic buddies. I found the experience extremely moving.
Another great tie-in to the church came from my personal relationship with the department