WOOD-RIDGE, N.J.– Twenty-one students from kindergarten through eighth grades at Assumption School here recently posed questions to a TeleCare production crew for consideration on a future program of “The God Squad,” one of the Rockville Centre Diocese’s television ministries.
The interviews were arranged by Susan D’Angelo, Assumption’s school nurse and a fan of the program. She called TeleCare and suggested the Assumption boys and girls would serve as interesting guests.
The program is hosted by Msgr. Thomas Hartman of the diocese, pictured with Fr. Jim Vlaun, and Rabbi Marc Gelman. Their nationally-syndicated weekly cable TV show is viewed by approximately 13 million.
As the TeleCare camera aimed at the youngsters in the school library, each child from tots to teens bravely clutched the mike and then delivered first a test and then a live question. Their faith concerns focused mainly on God and his relationship with creation.
Questions included “Can you still talk in heaven?” “What does God’s voice sound like?” “Who created God?” and “If God knew that the Devil would be evil, why did he create him?”
Afterwards, to broaden participation, the TeleCare crew interviewed students at Solomon Schecter, a Jewish elementary day school in New Milford, N.J.
The producers noted that Msgr. Hartman and Rabbi Gelman will not know the content of the questions until a few minutes before the program airs, possibly in December. The hosts will be responding live to images of the children fed online. From all the students filmed, a diverse group will be selected for the actual program, the producers said.
Brian Cullinane welcomed them to the school on the morning of the interviews and shared with them his enthusiasm for choosing Assumption School.
“We all look forward to seeing our children on TV,” Brian said.