So she questioned them.

And the Roman Catholic Church.

"They taught me to question so well that I questioned myself out of one faith and into another one," said Ralosky, who was ordained by the New Jersey Association of the Central Atlantic Conference of the United Church of Christ on April 13 in Montclair’s Union Congregational Church.

Counter to her Irish-Catholic tradition, Ralosky’s quest to find a personal expression of Christianity outside of Catholicism was long and emotional, particularly because women are not permitted to be leaders in the Roman Catholic Church.

She loved being immersed in Catholic practices and education as a child, but spent most of her 20s not going to church at all.

"It was the stand that I felt the [Catholic] Church was taking with the role of women, and their position on homosexuality and birth control, that I found to be running counter to my own sense of morality," Ralosky said.

"I had no thought that God was calling me into ministry."

She began her seminary work at Andover-Newton Theological School in Newton, Mass. in 2001 and transferred to Drew Theological School in the autumn of 2003 when her family relocated to Montclair.

Ralosky spent time in Turkey during her final year at Drew, and graduated summa cum laude, receiving the award for excellence in church history in May 2007.

Her two-year supervised ministry at Montclair’s First Congregational Church led to Ralosky being hired as the coordinator for mission and outreach. She then became the acting co-pastor with the Rev. Barbara Prince.

She was named the permanent minister of congregational life of the church on April 6.

Being the mother of two teenagers, working with youth is at the heart of Ralosky’s work.

As Protestant chaplain at Montclair State University, a part-time ministry supported by the Montclair Protestant Foundation, she oversees its Center for Faith and Spirituality, as she can better serve what she says is a "growing engagement with spiritual issues and faith issues on campus."

Before she took the role as MSU’s Protestant chaplain this past September, there had not been one on campus for about 10 years, nor was there a "progressive Protestant presence," Ralosky said.

While nearly 75 percent of the student population identify themselves as Roman Catholic, the Protestant Foundation of Montclair and its chaplaincy program evolved because some students wanted "a place to fit in," said Ralosky.

"I’m there for all of the students on campus, but my particular denomination is progressive, and particularly around issues of LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender]. My congregation is open and affirming."

While some Christian-based clubs on campus lean more Evangelical, "I’m more on the liberal side," Ralosky said.

"My approach is more to engage in relationships with students, understand what their big questions are in their lives and what they are struggling with: Career choices, relationship choices, and where they see themselves in the world," Ralosky said.

Next month, Ralosky and 15 students will travel to Nicaragua with the group "Witness for Peace," a Washington, D.C.-based organization of faith promoting social justice and human rights.

As Nicaragua is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, they will learn about public and health concerns and economic justice, as Ralosky will try to establish a "real connection between our faith and social justice" for the students.

Jhon Velasco, the director of the Center for Non-violence and Prevention programs at Montclair State University, said, "Ann is exactly what this university has been needing.

"She offers a truthful opportunity for people to question the scripture … and also relate it to other religions," Velasco said.

As Ralosky was a member of Montclair’s Union Congregational Church for the past five years, the church’s pastor, the Rev. Stephanie Weiner, said, "she has a natural gift for ministry," encouraging women to seek leadership roles in religious life if they feel called to serve.

"You just have to go for it," said Weiner, a pastor for 32 years.

"Be open to be people who are encouraging, but also to those who find this to be a challenge for them.

"That’s the way we’ll move forward as a people of God."