BY DONNA CHAMBERLAIN
WEST MILFORD — Rev. Jamie Bono is very familiar with West Milford. For two years, from 2004 to 2006, he served as a priest at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish and from 2006 to 2010 at St Joseph’s Parish as a weekend assistant. Now, he has returned to the community in a different capacity, but still with service as his goal
Bono is a counselor with The Counseling and Wellness Center of West Milford. His speciality is helping children and families, visiting them in their homes. His journey was not a typical one.
A different path
Bono was first drawn to psychology when he was a senior in high school but chose the corporate world as a profession. His love for theology led him to the priesthood while in his 30s. When he served in West Milford's Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Bono discovered a different way of living out the priesthood.
“I found a community, Voluntas Dei Institute. As a member of this institute, which is made up of ordained priests and married couples, I was able to expand my ministry of the priesthood,” said Bono.
In the institute, priests and its members enter into a specific ministry.
Finding his calling
After entering Voluntas Dei Institute, Bono moved to Jersey City where he became a theology teacher and campus minister at Marist High School, a Catholic High School in Bayonne. The director of the institute gave him the opportunity to become a clinical pastoral education student resident.
Bono began his studies at the Manhattan and Brooklyn Veterans Administration Hospitals, where he divided his time throughout the year.
“I began to work with certified chaplains, led and co-led spiritual groups for addictions and post-traumatic stress, as well as becoming a member of the palliative care and psychiatric treatment team,” said Bono. “I found myself falling in love with veterans. Upon completing my residency and certification as a chaplain, I realized God put a desire in me to become some type of mental health counselor.”
Back to the future
Bono's interest in psychology resurfaced. He took night classes so he could get his degree.
“I have always been fascinated, and I’m paraphrasing here, with the great apostle Paul, when he says in his letter to the Romans, I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it; I am doing the very thing I hate,” said Bono.
This statement, Bono said, called to mind those with the disease of addiction. Bono loves to work with those struggling with addiction and believes these are the fallen members of society, which Jesus referred to in the gospel.
In his own life, Bono takes Paul’s words a bit further.
“Why is it that we do anything, whether it is right or wrong? For me, here is the fascination of the human mind as well as God’s creation of humanity.”
"Living a life of service"
Being drawn to psychology and God’s people, Bono began received his master's degree in psychology from Felician College in Lodi. He is now licensed by the state of New Jersey. Counseling children and adolescence was the furthest thing from his mind, but once again, Bono said, God had other plans.
Now, Bono is back in service to West MilfordHe said has always felt that not too many people can say they love what they do in life.
“As for me," Bono said, "living a life of service to God’s people has brought me much joy and love. I truly believe that Jesus was and continues to be the greatest counselor that ever lived. My goal as a priest/mental health counselor is to provide acceptance, healing and most of all love, as He did."
Contact Bono at the Counseling and Wellness Center at 973-657-1222. To find out more about Voluntas Dei Institute, go to voluntasdei.org.