Faithful from diocese encounter, reflect on Eucharist at inaugural Lenten Retreat at Cathedral

By Paul J. Peyton Correspondent

METUCHEN — The diocese concluded its Lenten Retreat “Behold,” a three-night encounter with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament,” March 8 with Mass celebrated by Bishop James F. Checchio at the Cathedral of St. Francis Assisi. The retreat

Angel saying, “blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the lamb.”

He noted that it is on the cross that Jesus is “his body, his very self, fully to his bride and becomes one body in Christ… for Jesus is lamb and bridegroom…

“The Church,” he continued, “is the body of Christ because it is the bride of Christ taken from the side of the bridegroom who has become one body with him.

Hajduk, who did his doctoral work in theology at Maryvale Institute, Birmingham, England, and wrote his dissertation on the thought of St. John Paul II, said breaking the commandments of God is a “serious matter.” was in conjunction with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal.

He reminded the faithful that receiving holy Communion does not automatically make you in communion with God if you have a great sin, only the sacrament of reconciliation can do that.

Bishop Checchio, who presided at the Mass, also gave the homily.

“Our Lenten Retreat helps us to get further into Lenten spirituality by thinking of Lent and the prayers of Lent,” Bishop Checchio told the congregation.

The diocese's Lenten Mission concluded the third night with Mass at the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen. At top, Bishop James F. Checchio, who presided at the liturgy and gave the homily, lifts the paten with the Eucharist and Deacon J.P Saggese raises the chalice during the Eucharist Prayer. Above the faithful at the Mass stand to recite the Nicene Creed. In the center Father Timothy A. Christy, rector, Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, distributes communion. He concelebrated the Mass with Bishop Checchio. David Hajduk, director of theology with Array of Hope, who spoke all three nights of the Lenten Mission delivers a talk on "The Eucharist and Communion." He described Jesus' mission as the bridegroom marrying his bride and the Kingdom of God as a wedding feast.

— John Batkowski photos

The third night of the retreat began with music by Array of Hope Ministry which, lead singer Brianne Nealon said, she hoped would help those attending to “experience something different and deeper” in their relationship with the Holy Spirit. They sang “Light of the World,” “On Fire,” and “Lord, I need You,” the latter which Nealon invited everyone to sing the chorus.

A talk by David Hajduk, director of theology with Array of Hope, followed. He described Jesus’ mission as the bridegroom marrying his bride and the Kingdom of God as a wedding feast.

In addressing the night’s theme, “The Eucharist and Communion,” Hajduk read from the Book of Revolution: “Let us rejoice and exult and give Him glory for the marriage of the lamb has come and his bride has made herself ready” with the

“Can you drink of the Chalice that I am going to drink,” Bishop Checchio said in his homily, repeating Jesus’ words to the 12 Apostles in Matthew 20:22. “Strong word from our Lord?” The bishop noted that Jesus said these words as he knew he was headed to Jerusalem, where he would be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes and condemned to death and that he would be “mocked, scourged and crucified.”

He said Jesus reminds us that “our only recognition comes through service — of our brothers and sisters, especially those in need. Service even to the point, like Jesus, [that] they [the Apostles] were willing to lay down their lives,” the bishop added.

He said that in carrying on the mission of Jesus we “need to look for ways to serve our brothers and sisters following Jesus’ instructions, ‘if you love me, be my sheep.’” He said there are a number of ministries at St. Francis of Assisi that need help.

“Perhaps this Lent would be a good time to pick a new one [ministry] to be involved in, a new way to serve, to help drink from the chalice of our Lord,” Bishop Checchio concluded.