| Cathy Deats was trained as a social worker before seeking
ordination and has worked in school systems, The Salvation Army
and most recently in the private practice of psychotherapy in
Montclair. She has always enjoyed doing a variety of types of
work in the social work field, especially work with people with
disabilities. Fluent in sign language, Cathy is an interpreter
for the Diocese of Newark's annual convention and Co-Chair of
the Commission on Ministry to the Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing and
Late-Deafened. She has also worked as consultant to parishes
in the Diocese for retreats, mutual ministry reviews, and special
problem situations.
As Curate at St. Paul's in Englewood, some of the ministries
Cathy initiated included an annual youth group service project
with Episcopal Appalachian Ministries. Traveling to the Appalachian
region of Southwest Virginia or Tennessee, the young people
worked to renovate the homes of families who could not afford
to make their homes safe and warm. Under her direction, the
Lay Pastoral Visitors took the long-standing tradition of
an annual service with the laying on of hands for healing
to a monthly offering. That group also sponsored parish seminars
on such topics as Planning for your Funeral, Resources for
Seniors and Walking the Labyrinth. Projects for the children
included Family Night, education and service work for the
Heifer Project and Gospel dramatizations in the worship service.
Cathy and her husband, Ted, a data communications salesman,
live in Mount Olive. Their son, Alex, a graduate of the Chubb
Institute, works in information technology. All share a love
for outdoor pursuits, from gardening to bicycling and canoeing.
Cathy has competed in two triathlons as a member of the Team
in Training for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to raise
funds for research and treatment.
|
|
