Grateful for his blessings, Spring Lake man strives to help others
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton is pleased to honor Dr. Jack V. Kirnan of Spring Lake as our Light of Hope of Monmouth County.
Dr. Jack V. Kirnan has a few favorite Bible verses, but none captures his commitment to community service like this passage from the Book of John: “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also.”
“That, to me, really speaks to the mission of Catholic Charities,” said Jack, who has supported Catholic Charities for years and served on our Board of Trustees since 2014. “Our mission is to be there for people who have lost their way. Like a good shepherd, we go after lost sheep and bring hope to people who are at a difficult moment in their life.”
Reflecting on his blessings
Jack first got involved with Catholic Charities through his friend Bob Tanzola, a longtime Catholic Charities supporter. As a Trustee, Jack has chaired the Strategic Planning Board and serves on the Finance Committee. He’s a former member of our Monmouth County Board.
“Working for Catholic Charities makes me more grateful for my blessings,” Jack said. “When you see the struggles many people have, you reflect on what you have and how you can help others in need.”
Jack appreciates that Catholic Charities helps everyone, regardless of faith or ability to pay.
“We are all shepherds”
“We don’t care what your gender, sexual orientation or race may be or what country you come from,” he said. “We want to be a bridge to your future. At the end of the day, we are all shepherds. We look at every sheep as a child of God. We want to help them cross that bridge to a better place called tomorrow.”
Jack’s compassion for others has affected his career path.
After a long career in financial services and higher education, Jack now heads Kirnan Coaching Associates, LLC, which provides executive, career and life coaching. Jack is a parishioner, Trustee and Finance Committee member at St. Catharine-St. Margaret Parish in Spring Lake. A former president of the Parish Pastoral Council, Jack is a Eucharistic Minister, helps run the Parish Bereavement group, and serves on the Diocesan Planning Commission and as Secretary for Cohort 19 of the Diocesan Faith in Our Future Planning Initiative.
Jack and Jean, his wife of 40 years, have three children (pictured, left) and two grandchildren.
Celebrate with us!
Dr. Jack V. Kirnan will be honored at Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton’s Guardian Angel Benefit of Hope on Wednesday, September 30th. Comedian and actor Joe Piscopo will host this virtual fundraiser and celebration of our supporters. It’s free to tune in! Register today here.
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For more information, contact Events Coordinator Barbara Yuson at [email protected] or Dana DiFilippo, Catholic Charities communications, at [email protected] or (215) 756-6277 (cell).
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