St. Peter’s fear and doubt in the Gospel story of Jesus Walking on the Water (Mt 14: 22–33) jump off the page in the bulletin of St. Joseph Parish in Mendham.
For the 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time, a colorful cartoon-like strip captures the drama as Christ invites St. Peter to leave their boat and walk with him on the dangerous dark-blue waters of the Sea of Galilee. The first panel shows Peter’s eyes grow wide with fright as he steps onto the water. Jesus urges him, “Be not afraid.” A second panel shows them embracing, smiling, and walking on the water.
“Since Jesus was surprised at Peter’s doubt, it looks like Jesus never doubted Peter,” Hanneli Hudock, the strip’s creator and a St. Joseph’s parishioner, wrote in the blurb accompanying Jesus Walks on the Water.
Hudock invites St. Joseph’s families into each Sunday’s Gospel story with “At the Table with Jesus,” a cartoon-like series she started two years ago in the weekly bulletin. Accessible yet serious, the strip’s bold illustrations and sharp story recaps draw adults and children to these scenes’ sights, sounds, and emotions.
Each strip poses questions about the Mass readings that help parents continue the conversation with their children at home.
John Patrick Connolly, 13, and his sister, Erin, 10, enjoy “At the Table with Jesus.”
“I understand more what the readings mean. The pictures and summary make it easier to follow [than as written and read in church],” Erin said.
John Patrick said, “They describe really well how Jesus made a difference for people.”
Hudock spends several hours crafting each strip. She prays to the Holy Spirit before reading and reflecting on the upcoming Sunday’s reading, hand-draws the scene using the Fresco app, and adds text.
Then, Hudock reviews her creations with Father Vic Leviste, St. Joseph’s parochial vicar, who ensures that they’re theologically correct and suggests improvements.
“I’m not an artist or theologian, but I want to present the Gospel in a way everyone can understand,” said Hudock, a product manager and married mother of two. “I wanted to show that Jesus is love. It’s about connecting with our Lord.”
Karen Connolly, mother of John Patrick and Erin, uses “At the Table with Jesus” in teaching her fifth-grade catechism class at St. Joseph’s. At home, she discusses the strips with her three children.
“They look at the cartoons and remember the Gospel stories in a new way. They can remember what they’ve learned at Mass,” Connolly said.
Also a catechist, Hudock got the idea for “At the Table with Jesus” in discussions about engaging people during St. Joseph’s participation in the Synod on Synodality.
“It gets families’ attention and reminds them to nurture their relationship with the Lord,” said Father Leviste. “At the Table with Jesus,” he said, is used in St. Joseph’s other media and Children’s Liturgy of the Word.
Hudock is glad to share “At the Table with Jesus” with the faithful via email or shared drive. Email her at hanneli.hudock@gmail.com. You can also view the strip in St. Joseph’s bulletins.
