Nineteen members of Oak Knoll School’s Class of 2022 were commissioned during Mass on Thursday, May 13, 2021, as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. The celebration was held in the OKS Grace Hall Chapel and via Zoom for parents. 

The celebration for the newly commissioned Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion concluded the junior’s Eucharistic preparation program, which they began working on after the school’s spring break.

Juniors completed applications, wrote essays and each gathered a letter of recommendation. Students also reviewed theology and attended ministry training sessions to better prepare them to serve Oak Knoll’s community in a special way as seniors.  

“When I toured Oak Knoll as a ‘Freshman for a Day,’ I toured on All Souls’ Day where Oak Knoll was holding a Mass and the current seniors were ministering Holy Communion,” said Lauren Pacicco ’22. “I took this as a sign that if I ended up attending Oak Knoll, I, too would try to become a Eucharistic Minister. Being a Eucharistic Minister is very important to me because I want to administer communion to my family and friends on holidays and special Masses. I am so excited to have my parents and classmates watch me be introduced to the world of being a minister of Holy Communion.”

Paula Sefia ’22 said that she is looking forward to serving as a Eucharistic Minister to give back to the Oak Knoll community. 

“I have been blessed and honored to be a part of this community for almost a decade, and I believe that being a Eucharistic Member to share the Eucharist with them would be one of the many ways I can give back to this loving community,” said Sefia. 

Last week’s Mass was celebrated by Father Tom Dente, Pastor of Notre Dame Church in North Caldwell, NJ, and Director of the Office of Divine Worship for the Archdiocese of Newark.

“Commissioning these 19 young ladies is a perfect example of the true Holy Child spirit,” said Sarah Sicari, Upper School Theology teacher and member of the Campus Ministry Team.  “It is an opportunity for our young women to lead the community as members of the school and the Church,” she said. 

Oak Knoll School’s newly commissioned Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are:

Caroline Burke ’22 of Essex Fells; Audrey Chobor ’22 of Berkeley Heights; Grace D’Alessandro ’22 of Maplewood; Megan Fehrenbach ’22 of Millburn; Katelyn Glory ’22 of Randolph; Sophia Kaiser ’22 of Basking Ridge; Teagan Kocaj ’22 of Westfield, Sarah McManus ’22 of Chatham; Haley Meehan ’22 of Morristown; Ella Metzler ’22 of Franklin Lakes; Lillian Murphy ’22 of Summit; Caroline Nestor ’22 of Madison; Lauren Pacicco ’22 of North Caldwell; Rose Parlavecchio ’22 of Short Hills; Samantha Petrucco ’22 of Short Hills; Grace Schroeder ’22 of Summit; Paula Sefia ’22 of Newark; Grace Sharp ’22 of Bernardsville and Siobhan Stack ’22 of Bloomfield. 

Learn more about Oak Knoll School’s Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.