Worker in the Vineyard | Cathy George
by Suzanne Tavani
In A Snapshot:
Born: Richmond, VA
Parents: Jackie and Edward Shibley
Education: Grade School: St. Benedict Catholic School
High School: Saint Gertrude High School
College: Virginia Commonwealth University, B.A., Religious Studies
Siblings: 5
Spouse: Joseph George (also a member of the parish)
Children: Joseph, Jr. and Kelly Marie
Grandchildren: 5
Occupation: Teacher for 36 years (retired), Saint Gertrude High School
Most Memorable Moment:
● Some of her first students are now catechists with her at St. Anthony
Parish Involvement:
● Catechist (1971 - Present)
● VIRTUS Facilitator, St. Anthony and Saint Gertrude in the Diocese of Richmond (2004 - Present)
● Chair, Parish Council (2005 – Present)
● Director, Religious Education (2007 - Present)
● Administrator, Scholarship Committee (2009 - Present)
● Scholarship Moderator (2009 - Present)
When asked to recall her first memories of St. Anthony Church, Cathy George says without hesitation, “Everything! Everything was church, every memory is church. My mother worked part-time for the church, and my dad was on the Parish Council. My lifelong friends are friends I made as a child at St. Anthony. We spent a great deal of time together as members of St. Anthony youth organizations, we worked together at the parish Recreation Center, and I even met my husband at St. Anthony.” The answer shouldn’t be a surprise when coming from someone whose maternal grandfather is counted as one of the founders of the Glen Allen parish. Cathy fondly remembers that she, along with her four siblings and their friends, were always involved in church activities.
However, it was an invitation at age seventeen from then-pastor, Msgr. Beshara Salwan, to volunteer as a Catechist which led to not only her 36-year career as a Theology teacher at her alma mater, St. Gertrude High School, but also helped nurture her deep conviction of the importance of religious education which has since left an indelible mark on the St. Anthony community.
Cathy also credits both her parents and former pastor, Monsignor George Sebaali, for supporting her interest in religious education. She emphasizes, “If a child doesn’t have religious education, they fall away. Students often have difficulty finding meaning and purpose in their lives. Religious education helps children understand their calling and that they can contribute to their community. They learn that they are sacred, and they are here to share love and to grow. They need to know that God guides us through our journey in life—good and bad, and that religion is being connected to something other than themselves. They are worthy of respect and are blessed by God. They don’t have to be the same, but they need to be connected to something.”
Strengthened by this philosophy Cathy, along with a cadre of fellow catechists, has nurtured and solidified the parish’s religious education program for the children of parishioners from pre-school through high school. Using the Faith of the Mountain series, the religious education program meets weekly after liturgy from September through the second week of May. The high school students meet every other week. Topics in the series include the Trinity, the Holy Mysteries, our Church family, the Commandments, Maronite Liturgy, the Bible, the Creed, Church history, and world religions. Cathy is particularly proud that some of her first students are now themselves catechists at St. Anthony instructing and guiding a new generation of Maronites. These dedicated catechists also reviewed and edited the 2010 edition of the Faith of the Mountain.
In addition to her fierce advocacy for religious education, Cathy’s involvement extends to a wide variety of projects at St. Anthony. However, she is quick to point out that the parish is blessed to have the multi-generational involvement of not only her own family members, but also of her husband’s family, and the many other legacy families who still number as parishioners.
As a church family, they host the Richmond region’s Annual Lebanese Food Festival. The festival, which attracts over 30,000 visitors each May to the 14-acre complex in suburban Richmond, includes a pavilion, a social hall and a pool, which adds to the fun experience.
Cathy emphasizes, “Our parish is important to us because it's part of our heart. We can’t leave. Most of us grew up here and witnessed how Msgr. Salwan’s vision of the development of a church and recreational complex on these 14-acres came to life. Many of us married from within the St. Anthony community, and our children and grandchildren are now active members of the parish.”
She adds, “The greatest legacy we could leave our community is for the next generation to value and build upon the mission started by our grandparents' generation and those who came before us.”
We bid a grateful farewell to Suzanne Tavani, who has prepared the beautiful articles about the Workers in God’s Vineyard. She will be devoting a great deal of time and attention to the 2021 NAM Convention in Philadelphia.