St. Joseph Academy’s Jennifer LaRosa Named 2025 Disciples of Mercy Honoree
St. Joseph Academy is proud to announce that Mrs. Jennifer LaRosa, our Director of Servant Leadership, has been selected as the 2025 Disciples of Mercy Honoree for Deanery 4 by Catholic Charities of South Jersey and the Diocese of Camden, in recognition of her extraordinary Community Service and Leadership.
This award celebrates individuals whose lives reflect the compassion and mercy of Christ through their service to others. Jennifer was nominated and chosen for her dedication to guiding students to “become the heart of Jesus, helping the lonely, sick, displaced, and often forgotten people feel the compassion and love of Jesus.”
She will be honored at the Catholic Charities of South Jersey’s Annual Dinner, Diocese of Camden, on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at Resorts Casino & Hotel in Atlantic City.
A Lifelong Commitment to Service
Jennifer is a Somers Point resident and parishioner at St. Joseph’s Church, with deep roots in Catholic education. A cradle Catholic, she attended Catholic school from kindergarten through graduate school at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. From an early age, she was instilled with the values of faith, family, and service—principles that have shaped her life’s work.
Her career in Catholic education has included roles at John Paul II Regional School, Bishop Eustace Preparatory School, and Camden Catholic High School, where she revitalized campus ministry under the mentorship of Fr. Joseph Capella. In every setting, her leadership has reflected her passion for forming students in faith and service.
Leading the Servant Leadership Institute at SJA
At St. Joseph Academy, Jennifer leads our Servant Leadership Institute (SLI), a program unique within the Diocese of Camden. The SLI provides students with meaningful opportunities to live their faith by serving communities throughout South Jersey.
Under her direction, SJA students contribute thousands of service hours each year with more than forty partner organizations in Atlantic, Camden, Cumberland, Salem, and Gloucester Counties. Whether serving meals at Cathedral Kitchen, volunteering at Ronald McDonald House, or assisting at the SSJ Neighborhood Center, Wildcats are taught that service is not simply an activity but a lifelong calling.
Jennifer’s vision has made service an integral part of student life at St. Joseph Academy. She has helped to form a generation of students who view leadership through the lens of compassion and who understand their responsibility to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world.
Impact on SJA and the Wider Community
Jennifer’s work has transformed St. Joseph Academy into a school where service is a defining characteristic of our mission. Families regularly share how the Servant Leadership Institute has deepened their children’s faith and shaped them into young leaders committed to helping others.
Her reach also extends far beyond our school walls. By mobilizing students to partner with dozens of community organizations across the Diocese of Camden, Jennifer has strengthened vital networks of care that address hunger, homelessness, poverty, and social support throughout South Jersey.
A Philosophy of Inspiring Others
Jennifer is guided by a quote that has hung in her office for years:
“Let your actions inspire others to want to do more.”
This belief has defined her ministry and leadership. Through her work, she continues to inspire both students and adults alike to live lives of service rooted in Christ’s mercy.
Congratulations, Mrs. LaRosa!
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Mrs. Jennifer LaRosa on being named the 2025 Disciples of Mercy Honoree for Deanery 4 – Community Service and Leadership by Catholic Charities of South Jersey and the Diocese of Camden.
Her faith, compassion, and tireless dedication inspire the entire St. Joseph Academy community, and we are blessed to have her leading our students in the way of servant leadership.
Please join us in celebrating this remarkable honor and in thanking Mrs. LaRosa for her lasting impact on our Academy, our Diocese, and the wider South Jersey community.
