Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
To Jane Paladro, Catholic faith has been her guide, strength, and foundation throughout her life and is at the heart of everything she does. In fact, her strong commitment to her beliefs and connections to her parish community gave her the impetus to return to school and pursue her love of theology.
Jane earned an Associate’s Degree in Business from Ocean County College and has been working in the insurance industry for over 20 years, but always desired to earn a B.A. in Religious Studies.
She learned about GCU from some parishioners at her church who attended the university and experienced the true Mercy education. This, combined with the flexibility and accessibility of the online courses that fit into her busy schedule, made GCU the perfect choice.
“I could work full-time and go to school remotely,” said Jane, who sometimes found it difficult to balance school, a full-time job, family, and personal life. “Theology is a lot of reading and writing, very time-consuming…time was the big challenge.” With the support of her professors, she persevered. “My professors worked with me and were very understanding.”
The knowledge she gained in her courses enriched her understanding of others. “My professors really promoted conversation and different perspectives, like the Jewish, Muslim, and Catholic perspectives, which broke down a lot of barriers and misconceptions.” She added, “For example, in my feminist theology classes, we focused on perspectives from all around the world and all different cultures and stories, so we got this broad view through the material covered.”
Jane’s religious beliefs have been the cornerstone of her life. “If you really take the time to figure out what you believe and what your core beliefs are, it’s going to guide your morality, principles, and decision making throughout your life,” she explained. “It’s what keeps you centered, so if you ever feel like you’re lost, come back to your core beliefs, and go from there, that’s the center.”
Jane attended Catholic school in Philadelphia and said she was touched by the Sisters of Mercy, who impacted her religious education and helped to shape the person she has become today. The Mercy Core Values are also an integral part of her everyday life. “When I experience compassion, it is put into action through service. Service with and for others is where I believe I belong,” she explained.
An active member and volunteer at Saint Mary’s Parish in Manahawkin, N.J., she also serves as a Eucharist Minister and does weekly outreach to local nursing homes offering residents prayer and communion services. For those who can’t make the prayer services, she visits each room offering conversation, a listening ear, and a friend to brighten up their day. “I love it when they sing because you see them come alive. A lot of them don’t get visitors…I like getting to know each of them.”
She was even able to incorporate her volunteer work into a paper for a social work class about visiting nursing homes and the beliefs of faith and hope among the elderly. “They have such a unique perspective…I’m learning from them and seeing how beautiful their faith is and how it has stayed with them.”
On campus, she assisted with a donation drive for Catholic Charities to help domestic violence victims, and worked closely with Jeff Schaffer, Director of Mission and Ministry, and Amy Cereta, Campus Minister, lectoring for Sunday Masses. “Amy and Jeff go above and beyond…they’re real ministry leaders in their community,” she expressed. “I think my memories that I will take away are my time hanging out with them after Mass and getting to know them. Monsignor Vince, Father Roy, all the other students, it’s a great experience, and you really get a feel for the university there.”
From Jane’s background in business, theology, and ministry, her dream career would either be a Business Manager for a parish or a Director of Mission and Ministry at a university.
She urges prospective students to consider Georgian Court, especially for their undergraduate degree and religious studies education. “If you’re looking to expand your mind, have a nice, diverse world view, and many perspectives, it’s a good school. It’s rigorous, so they’re making sure you’re getting a good education,” she described. “I’m very grateful and blessed for my education. I will always remember this time fondly,” she concluded.
