Jennifer O’Reardon-Meehan
Long Valley, N.J.
Class of 1996
Major: Accounting
I always wanted to do something within the Catholic Church, but I never had the “calling.” So, after the birth of my second child I started to volunteer at our church as a Eucharistic Minister and scheduling the altar servers, lectors, and Eucharistic Ministers for all Masses. My husband and I were also serving on the finance council.
Eventually, I was asked to take over all the financial responsibilities of our parish. I was able to do this on a volunteer basis for two years but, as the job became more complex, this became a part-time paid position that I could bring my children to and even work from home. I am not only being a full-time mom, but I am working within my major and serving the church at the same time. I love doing this because I am meeting people I wouldn’t normally meet and at the same time I am exposing my children to different things.
While I know I won’t be doing this job forever, I know that I am making an impact on our church. In the six years I have been doing this we have launched two successful capital campaigns and are currently trying to pay off the mortgage before our pastor retires in four years.
I love what I do and leave the office every day knowing that while no one might know exactly what I did that day, someone will benefit from what I am doing in years to come.