“Hello, my friend, and welcome. So nice to see your beautiful face.”
Like a glowing beacon of bubbliness, Penelope Tervalon stands in the drop-off lane every Wednesday night at Assumption B.V.M., Bethlehem, to welcome students to the Parish Religious Education Program.
“Hey kiddo. How are you? We’re gonna have some fun tonight, right?”
Bundled in a thick coat and furry gloves against the winter cold, she wears a reflective safety vest and carries a large flashlight.
“Another wonderful Wednesday. It’s getting late. Better get your wiggle on.”
Tervalon is part traffic cop, part greeter, and part safety officer as the cars pull up in a long line to discharge their passengers. No one gets by her without a perky word.
“Penelope’s cheery disposition and welcoming spirit set the right tone for our Religious Education Program,” says Christina Durback, the parish’s Religious Education Director. “This is a place where all children are welcome, and where they experience God’s love as they learn about our Catholic faith.”
You only need to watch Tervalon for a few minutes to get the idea that the parents appreciate her too. “That lady,” said one mom, headed home after dropping off her children, “is so sweet.”
“Because We Are Catholic” tells the stories of how the people of the Diocese of Allentown make a difference in the lives of others, bringing the Light of Christ to each other and to our community.
