St. Ben's Family Is Making 'a Beautiful Difference'

Halfway into a request for an interview with the Message, Ryan Belmonte says "yes."

Of course. He, and his mom Jeanette, and his sister, Jillian, would love to help in any way they can.

That's his training. To always say, "yes" to the Church.

The three Belmontes are parishioners at St. Benedict Cathedral in Evansville, and as parishioners they've been long-time volunteers in the parish religious education program there. Marty Horning is the parish DRE, and she offers glowing comments about the family and their service to St. Ben's

"Ryan was a student at St. Ben's when I came to work here. Jillian was a peewee, probably in pre-school. Ryan began helping with Vacation Bible School, and when he went to Reitz Memorial as a freshman I asked him if he would consider being an assistant teacher in the second grade class. He did so willingly and never missed a beat. By the time he was a junior he could have taught the class!"

When he graduated from high school and went on to St. Louis University, his sister -- by then a freshman at Reitz Memorial -- was asked "to fill her brother's shoes and be our assistant teacher in second grade," Horning said. "She was, like Ryan, outstanding. She filled in, as did Ryan, as teacher when the lead adult teacher was ill or had to be away.

“Jillian, like Ryan, never missed a beat. I only remember a few times in four years when either Ryan or Jillian called to say they could not be present for class. At times, even Mom came in to fill their shoes."

Jillian graduated from high school in 2012. She is now a freshman at the University of Notre Dame. Ryan graduated in May of 2012 from St. Louis University. After their dad, Dr. Romelle Belmonte, died in May, Ryan returned to Evansville, Horning said. "He is at home with his mom, and has taken the role of man of the house."

When Jillian left for college last fall, the DRE asked Mrs. Belmonte if she would consider the position of assistant teacher in the second grade. "She right away said, 'Yes.'

"Ryan was with her at the time and my light bulb went on as I needed a fifth grade teacher. He also said, 'Yes.'

"So," Horning said, "I got two Belmontes for the price of one that wonderful day in August," adding that they are the perfect example "of how one family can make such a beautiful difference in parish life."

Jeanette laughs at the memory, noting, "When the parish says, ‘We need help,’ we say 'yes.' I can't say 'no.' It's like saying 'no' to God."

She adds, "We'd do anything for school and church, especially for church. We are glad to be a part of it."

Jillian agrees, explaining that she and her brother are active parish volunteers because of the example set by their parents. "Parents are the first teachers, and we watched them -- and then we became them."

The three Belmontes each have unique teaching styles in their religious education classrooms. Ryan says he tries to make the classes enjoyable for his fifth and sixth graders. "We've been exploring their faith, and I suggest they go to Mass more often."

When Jillian works with her second graders, she focuses on teaching them the "Our Father" and the "Hail Mary" because she wants them to be able to say the rosary. Second grade is the year when students make their First Communion and their First Reconciliation. She knows many of them will receive rosaries on those special occasions, and she wants them to see those rosaries not as pretty necklaces but as prayers.

She also encourages her students to attend Mass on Sundays. Sometimes they tell her "my parents don't want to go." She answers, "Tell them you want to go. Ask them to take you," she urges.

In Jeanette's classroom, she discusses the Ten Commandments and Sunday Mass attendance. "I nag them," she admits.

Jillian laughs, as she says, "I can see that." Ryan said he and his sister attended Mass every Sunday when they were growing up. Their mom nods in agreement, remembering that her family attended Mass "even when we went on vacation. People say, 'We are on vacation so we aren't going to Mass.' I say, 'On vacation from God? You want to be on vacation from God? Not me.'"

They all laughed as they recalled their memories of a family vacation in Belgium. They were staying in a hotel right next to a church, and early in the morning they heard the church bells ringing. Jeanette remembers saying, "He's calling us." They were planning to go on a tour that day, but went to Mass instead. They remember their fellow travelers asking for prayers as they all headed out for the day.

Ryan says both of his parents were raised in the Philippines, a country that is 80 percent Catholic. They passed their faith down to their children when they were very young. Jeanette remembers a tiny Jillian learning to say the rosary.

She credits her husband, their father, with teaching them the importance of the Catholic faith. She says he also made her "more Catholic." They each remember how much he valued prayer and going to church, and how he taught by example.

Ryan laughs as he admits, "Catholicism is in our blood."

When Dr. Belmonte died from stomach cancer last May he had just turned 55. The parish community at St. Ben's surrounded the three of them with love and care. Now they try to do everything they can to give back.

Ryan likens their response to the Blessed Mother's response to the Angel Gabriel.

"She said, 'yes.' It's similar to that."

Jeanette agrees. "The Church has been there for us. We should be there for it."