All Saints Parish Bids Farewell to 'Quiet Center'

By Stephanie Tracy
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 6/13/02)

MANASSAS — All Saints Parish in Manassas bid farewell to Marie Riley, long-time director of religious education (DRE), with a special Mass and reception on Sunday.

"For 16 years, Marie has been the quiet center," said Father Robert Cilinski, pastor, during his homily at the 10:30 a.m. Mass honoring Riley. "She has been a servant at the heart of our community; all communities need persons who are the glue, the unifier; Marie has been the heart of the religious education program."

Riley has served the parish as director of religious education for the last 13 years. She spent three years before that as coordinator.

"When I was asked to be DRE, the pastor came to me and said the Holy Spirit had told him I was the one for the job," Riley said. "I told him I wished He’d come to me and told me that!"

Riley and her husband, Tom, moved to the parish from Arlandria 26 years ago. At the time, they both had an interest in teaching. Riley began her years of service as an assistant to her husband in the classroom.

Looking back on her years in the ministry, Riley sees a lot of personal spiritual growth that came from her time spent teaching.

"I’ve learned when the Lord asks you to trust Him, you really have to trust," Riley said. "He’ll show you the way."

At the time she took over the program, enrollment in religious education classes was hovering near the 1,000 mark. Over the years, enrollment has continued to increase, and the number and variety of activities for each age group have also grown.

Referring to the day’s Gospel reading relating the call of Matthew, Father Cilinski noted Riley’s ability to gather different people together to learn about Jesus.

"You have been a gatherer of parents and children; you have built a network of catechists," Father Cilinski told Riley during the homily. "She has truly been a heart person; living a life of selfless service born out of a conviction that God has called her to serve."

Riley helped develop special activities for each grade level, ranging from retreats to prayer services to service projects. Kindergarteners are led on a tour of the church building and attend a special Mass. First-graders participate in a special Jesse Tree prayer service with their parents and the priests of the parish during Advent. Sixth-graders organize and perform the annual Living Stations of the Cross during Lent.

Stewardship is also a big part of the religious education program at All Saints.

"We introduced the idea of stewardship to the children long before the program was introduced to the parish at large," Riley said.

Each class is assigned a specific group of people to pray for throughout the year. Fourth grade students pray for residents and workers of Benedictine Aide and Relief to Neighbors (B.A.R.N.) and participate in service projects there. Fifth-graders send cards to all the children in the parish who are baptized throughout the year; money is collected for postage and excess funding is donated to various charities.

Classes have also been established for students with developmental disabilities, and a two-year sacramental prep program exists for children who have been baptized but never catechized.

Riley credits her family with helping her throughout the years.

"I couldn’t have done it without them," she said. "They did so much work: packing boxes, putting kits together."

Riley has many fond memories of her past 16 years of work teaching children about the Faith.

"First Communions always get to me," she said. "And I’ll always remember when my first special (education) class made their Confirmation; that was breathtaking to me."

She lists Jesus Day, a one-day retreat for second-graders, and Vacation Bible School as some of her favorite memories as well.

To her students, both past and present, Riley offers a few words of wisdom.

"Be rooted in Christ," she said. "Continue to pray, and don’t be afraid of anything; the Spirit is with you."

Riley’s future plans include volunteer and part-time work, perhaps at a bookstore.

"There’s still something of the storyteller in me," she said.

At a reception sponsored by the George Brent Council Knights of Columbus, Father Cilinski further praised Riley for what he termed "one of the finest religious education programs in the diocese."

Riley was presented with gifts from the parish and the catechists from the religious education program.

"Pray for me," Riley said. "That I can continue to dance with God and go where He leads me."

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