Ministry Spotlight: Parish Nursing Ministry-Maryann Dzibela
Maryann Dzibela joined St. Pius X Parish in 2020 when she and her husband relocated from North Jersey. Before moving, they were longtime parishioners of St. Francis Parish in Metuchen, where they raised their three children and celebrated all of their sacraments. Maryann proudly recalls that her daughter was the first female altar server in the parish.
Today, Maryann serves as the coordinator of St. Pius X's Parish Nursing Ministry.
A Life of Service
After spending 39 years as an oncology nurse, Maryann retired from professional nursing but felt called to continue serving others through healthcare ministry. Her faith has always been an important part of her vocation, and Parish Nursing allows her to combine her medical expertise with her desire to care for her fellow parishioners.
Maryann originally hoped to work as a neonatal nurse, but her first nursing position was in oncology. Looking back, she sees God's hand guiding her path.
"God knew what He was doing," she says. "I loved every minute of it. Being able to use my faith throughout my career, hold patients' hands, comfort them, and walk with them through difficult times was truly a calling."
One of the most profound experiences of her nursing education occurred when a retired nun invited nursing students to help baptize aborted babies. Only two students stepped forward to assist, and Maryann was one of them. The experience left a lasting impact on her faith and commitment to the dignity of every human life.
Faith and Family
Maryann feels blessed by the many ways God has guided her throughout her life. She and her husband raised three children: two sons and a daughter. One son is an eye doctor, another is a detective following in the footsteps of his father, a retired Deputy Chief, and her daughter followed her example by becoming an oncology nurse.
Reflecting on her career, Maryann says she never dreaded going to work and considers it a privilege to have served others while living out her faith.
Beyond Church Life
When she's not volunteering at church, Maryann loves fishing. In fact, she and her husband often plan vacations around fishing trips. She jokes that she convinced her husband to buy a boat—and learn how to operate it—so she could spend as much time fishing as possible. Her favorite type of fishing is fluke fishing.
About the Parish Nursing Ministry
The Parish Nursing Ministry serves the health and wellness needs of the St. Pius X community. During the Knights of Columbus Hospitality gatherings following the 8:00 a.m. Mass, ministry volunteers offer blood pressure screenings, pulse and oxygen level checks, and general health guidance to parishioners.
The ministry seeks to provide compassionate support, help parishioners better understand their health concerns, and encourage them to seek appropriate medical care when needed.
Looking ahead, Maryann hopes to expand the ministry's outreach by offering CPR certification classes, health education programs, and additional opportunities for parishioners to learn how to care for others during times of need. The ministry is also planning a future blood drive to further serve the community.
The Parish Nursing Ministry welcomes nurses who are interested in sharing their talents and serving fellow parishioners.
For more information about the Parish Nursing Ministry, please contact the Parish Office at (609) 693-5107 and ask to be connected with Maryann Dzibela.
