August 24, 2023

Artist Anthony VanArsdale’s images of six holy men and women journeying toward sainthood graced the stage during the 13th National Black Catholic Congress, held July 20-23, at Gaylord National Harbor, Maryland. Pictured top, left to right, Venerable Pierre Toussaint, Servant of God Julia Greeley, Servant of God Mary Lange, Venerable Henriette DeLille; bottom, Venerable Augustus Tolton, Servant of God Thea Bowman. Story and photos on pg. 4, 5. Images used with permission from the National Black Catholic Congress.

Embrace summer as a time of renewal in body and soul

all need rejuvenation.

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

When this edition of The Catholic Spirit is published, I will be with my mother and others in my family down the shore. Joining us will be friends who are flying in from the Midwest. For one couple, it will be their first visit to the Jersey shore!

I have always loved the summer and going to the shore. Since I was born, my family has been going to the Jersey shore during the summer. These times have given me many, many happy memories and I, as well as my family, still enjoy going to the shore.

For me there is something special about the shore. Even while I’m driving down the Garden State Parkway, I start to feel different as I pass the waterways and smell the air! Even when it is hot, I open my windows to breathe it in. I always feel more relaxed, right away.

So far this summer, I’ve had only a few days down the shore, so I look forward to a little more extended time down there now. I have been encouraging our priests to also find some time away this summer. So many of them find it hard to break away from all their responsibilities, but it is important for their well being.

It is hard to believe that August is moving along so quickly. It is not too late to take advantage of the summer though. Soon enough, school will start, Confirmations will begin again for me, and the slower pace of summer, will be behind us. So don’t miss out on taking advantage of these last weeks! It is important for us to find some time to relax. Going to a beautiful place like the shore helps. Being with family and friends helps too. Through both we can be rejuvenated. We

Speaking of rejuvenation, we have begun the parish phase of the Eucharistic Revival which is meant to renew us too. Each of our pastors has been asked to appoint a parish coordinator and arrange for some special activities to take place during this year. Some have begun the year with a Eucharistic Procession which in addition to giving praise and thanks to our Father through His Son, allows us to give public witness and reminds us that all our life is really a procession, a pilgrimage, back to our loving Father. We are on a journey together to a blessed place!

Some parishes are looking for ways to enhance their weekly worship, so that the active and full participation of the faithful is enhanced. Others have added more times for Eucharistic Adoration, a chance for us to stop and pray in quiet before our Lord exposed to us in the Eucharist.

There are parishes, too, which have arranged Bible studies on the Eucharist.

I have sent a beautiful Eucharistic Prayer written by St. Thomas Aquinas to each pastor suggesting taking time for common meditation and prayer after receiving our Lord in the Eucharist. Whatever creative ways heighten our love for our Lord in the Eucharist, truly present to us, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity are encouraged!

Our Lord loves us so much, that even though He was to win salvation for us through His death and resurrection, He didn’t want us to be on our own in this world. He knew that it would be challenging for His faithful disciples in our world, so He gave us this great gift of the Eucharist on the night before He suffered death. He gives us Himself, a divine help to us, to accompany us and strengthen us on our journey back to Him.

Our three-year Eucharistic Revival is meant to help us appreciate anew our belief in Jesus’ real presence in the Eucharist. Jesus is alive in the Eucharist, and this Eucharistic Revival is a way for us to be renewed in Him. After all we have been through with the coronavirus,

this is a great time for us to focus anew on Jesus in the Eucharist.

So know that while I am at the shore, enjoying the beauty and slower schedule, I will be praying for you and all our parishes. I hope that you had some time to be revived during this summer, but even more so, I will be praying that the Eucharistic Revival taking place in our parishes will be a time for reviving us all in Him!

Know of my love for you, my grati-

tude and my prayers. Please pray for me too, and for the success of the Eucharistic Revival in our diocese. You might offer to help your pastor, too! God bless you.

PUBLISHER

Bishop James F. Checchio ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Adam J. Carlisle

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MANAGING EDITOR Mary Morrell Father Glenn J. Comandini, STD 732-529-7985, ext2458 (732) 562-2461

ADVISOR

Joanne Ward

BUSINESS MANAGER GRAPHIC DESIGNER

(732) 529-7934 Peter Nguyen • (732) 529-7956

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Most Reverend James F. Checchio, JCD, MBA Bishop of Metuchen

O Sacrum Convivium Prayer

O sacred banquet, in which Christ is received, the memory of His Passion is renewed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.

—St. Thomas Aquinas

Bishop’s Appointments

Bishop James F. Checchio has announced the following priestly appointments. Unless otherwise noted, all appointments are effective September 1, 2023.

Newly ordained

• Reverend Jose M. Lim, newly ordained priest, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Joseph Parish, Hillsborough, from July 6 through September 6, 2023, and then returning to Rome for further studies.

Pastors

• Reverend Krzysztof Kaczynski, from Pastor of Our Lady of Victories Parish, Baptistown, and Saint Edward the Confessor Parish, Milford, to Pastor of Saint John Neumann Parish, Califon, and Saint Joseph Parish, High Bridge.

• Reverend Bede Kim, from Parochial Vicar of Saint John Vianney Parish, Colonia, to Pastor of Our Lady of Victories Parish, Baptistown, and Saint Edward the Confessor Parish, Milford.

• Reverend James Kyrpczak, from Administrator of Saint Joseph Parish, High Bridge, to Pastor of Saint Joseph Parish, Washington.

• Reverend Edmund A. Luciano, from Parochial Vicar of the Parish of the Visitation, New Brunswick, to Pastor of the Church of the Sacred Heart, South Plainfield.

• Reverend Ronald Machado, from Administrator of Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish, Perth Amboy, to Pastor of Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish, Perth Amboy, effective July 16.

• Reverend Guy Selvester, from Pastor of Saint Joseph Parish, Washington, to Pastor of Saint Mary Parish, South Amboy.

• Reverend Mauricio Tabera-Vasquez, from Administrator of Saint Joseph Parish, North Plainfield, to Pastor of Saint Joseph Parish, North Plainfield, effective April 3, while remaining Pastor of Saint Luke Parish, North Plainfield.

Parochial Vicars

• Reverend Ariel Bautista, from Parochial Vicar, Immaculate Conception Parish, Annandale, to Parochial Vicar, Saint James Parish, Basking Ridge.

• Reverend Frank Fellrath, to Parochial Vicar, Parish of the Visitation, New Brunswick, effective July 12.

• Reverend Wilson Jerusalem, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Philip and Saint James Parish, Philipsburg.

• Reverend Edgar Madarang, from Parochial Vicar, Cathedral of Saint Francis of Assisi, to Parochial Vicar, Immaculate Conception Parish, Annandale.

• Reverend Lancelot McGrath, from Parochial Vicar, Nativity of Our Lord Parish, Monroe Township, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Matthias Parish, Somerset.

• Reverend Robert Pinnisi, from Saint James the Less Parish, Jamesburg, and Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center, Plainsboro Township, to Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Piscataway, effective July 17.

• Reverend Gustavo Rodriguez Perez, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Joseph Parish, North Plainfield, and Saint Luke Parish, North Plainfield, to Parochial Vicar, Parish of the Visitation, New Brunswick, while continuing as Diocesan Coordinator of Hispanic Lay Formation

• Reverend Gilbert Starcher, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Philip and Saint James Parish, Philipsburg, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Joseph Parish, North Plainfield, and Saint Luke Parish, North Plainfield.

Continued on page 15

Correction: On the cover of the July issue, the date of Father Jose Manuel Lim’s Ordination appeared as July 24. The correct date is June 24.

The history of the Sacrament of Reconciliation: Part I

and love of neighbor. Though these commandments are not new, insofar as these are in the Old Testament, the new revelation is actually in the person of Christ. He not only tells the Jews and Gentiles what has to be done, he shows them how by the example of his life.

In the Torah or Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible, “sin” is a failure to observe the commandments laid before the people at Mount Sinai. In the prophetic literature, sin is a violation of the covenant between God and his people. Hence, there is emphasis on collective culpability and social sin. In the wisdom literature of the Bible, sin is foolishness. Whereas holiness or righteousness is depicted as true wisdom, that is, a healthy respect or fear of the Lord.

In the New Testament, the Gospel upholds the validity of the Ten Commandments and underscores the role of the heart in one’s observance of the Law. Moreover, Jesus constantly chastises the Pharisees for rendering lip service to the Law and for double standards in the interpretation of the Law. However, in a sense, the sin signifies the violation of the two Great Commandments – love of God

Through his Death and Resurrection, Christ ushers in a new covenant, not etched in stone but in the heart. Acceptance of the person of Christ is thereby acceptance of the new covenant and concomitantly of salvation. Acts and Paul’s letters again reiterate the reality of sin and describe Christ’s death and Resurrection as atonement or satisfaction for the sins of all people; whence arises the understanding of vicarious suffering as hinted at in Isaiah. Moreover, this atonement not only restores us to communion with God the Father, it transforms us, and calls us to share in God’s glory, an end that transcends the potentialities of our nature. Christ institutes the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He bestows the power of the keys to bind and to loose, to forgive and retain sins to the apostles; however, it is from the pen of Paul and John that we apprehend how sin not only offends God but also the faith community, known to us as “Church.”

Having already traced the roots of this sacrament in the Scriptures, let us now move to Tradition. Here, our point of departure is within the faith communities of the early Christians. It was the understanding of the early Church that after Baptism, only once could someone be reconciled. If someone is in sin, the faith community excommunicated him or her temporarily. Meanwhile, the faithful would pray for the sinner that he or she might repent. When the faith community had ample reason to believe that this sinner repented, then the penitent could be reconciled to the Church. We should also bear in mind that in the early Church, penance was public. The person who confessed sin joined a liturgical order of penitents, which, under the direction of the bishop, would perform certain penances publicly; then, on Holy Thursday evening, the bishop absolved these penitents of their sins and reconciled them with God and the community of faith. This form of penance pervaded in the Eastern Christian communities, such as in Ephesus, Cappadocia and Greece.

In the West, private confession was the norm. This practice’s roots stem from the Irish monks. Remember that in Ireland, the Church evolved around

the monasteries, instead of the diocesan network of continental Europe. The structure of the monastery was such that neither the monks nor the abbot could leave the abbey to observe public penitents; wherefore, people would come to the monastery to confess sins. The monks assigned the penitents a penance to perform on their own. To help the monks, many of whom were uneducated men, hear confession, tables of commutation were constructed, and these guided the monks in assigning penances. For example, if someone confessed missing Mass, then the penance on the table would indicate one decade of the prayer, “Hail Mary.” These tables of commutation were probably responsible for the fetish of frequency, which is, asking penitents how many times they committed each sin. The only benefit of frequency today, if confessed, is that it indicates to the priest whether someone freely committed a sin or may be suffering from a mental disorder. Stealing one apple may qualify for a sin; however, stealing an apple every time one enters a store might be a compulsive act due to complex, psychological factors.

Father Comandini is managing editor of “The Catholic Spirit.”

Through the memories of elders, the past becomes present

with which Mary set out to visit Elizabeth. In this way, they invite us to reflect on the bond that unites young and old. The Lord trusts that young people, through their relationships with the elderly, will realize that they are called to cultivate memory and recognize the beauty of being part of a much larger history.”

Next month, on Sept. 8, we will celebrate the Golden Jubilee of our Sister Rose Marie of the Sacred Heart. During the public Mass in our chapel, Sister Rose Marie will renew the vows she has so faithfully kept for the past 50 years. Such faithfulness is impossible without a deep love to sustain it. Fifty years encompasses two generations. If Sister Rose Marie had married, she would be a grandmother, and indeed Sister fits easily in the role of grandmother to the younger nuns in our community. (Our oldest Sister is 94 and she has been in our community for nearly 75 years, which qualifies her as our greatgrandmother!)

Pope Francis has a deep respect for grandparents and in 2021, he began the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, set for the fourth Sunday in July. In his message for this year’s celebration, he wrote, “This year, the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly takes place close to World Youth Day. Both celebrations remind us of the “haste” (cf. v. 39)

The theme of this World Day for Grandparents is “His mercy is from age to age.” In Sister Rose Marie, in our own grandparents, we see how God’s mercy has taken shape in the past, how it has touched the lives of those who came into this world before us. The French have a proverb: Si jeunesse savait, si vieillesse pouvait. “If youth knew, if old age could.”

The present is the time of action, the time when we “remember that our life is meant to be lived to the full,” as Pope Francis writes. It is a time open to the future, open to discovery. Yet there are some things that can only be known and understood through experience.

We who are young have not yet had the chance to grow through such experiences, but we can see in our parents and especially in our grandparents the wisdom that they have acquired through their own experiences. Such experiences are often painful, and when they share with us their experiences, we can come to share their wisdom without having experienced their pain.

Having parents, grandparents, great-

grandparents shows us that we have roots. We are heirs to their memories. Someone without such roots, without the memories that have come down through the generations, is like a person with amnesia. Who am I? How did I get here? Why am I here? If I have no past, will I have a future? If I have no memories, can I dare to have any hopes? If all I have is the present, what do I have to stand on? Parents pass on to their children the physical life that they have received from their parents, from our grandparents. Parents also pass on the knowledge and the faith that they themselves have received. People often come to the Carmel and tell us about the heartbreaking struggles that they are going through, the family ruptures, financial needs, job challenges,

various problems that they face and with which they must deal. We listen and share their present suffering with them. Then we lead them to look at their own past: look at all the problems God has helped you with in your life. Look at the ways he has helped you through those struggles. He didn’t abandon you then; he won’t abandon you now. Your own past shows you that, in him, you have hope for the future.

Grandparents can share with us their memories of God’s help in their lives. In this way, they give us courage to go forward trusting in his graces.

Sister Gabriela of the Incarnation is a member of the Discalced Carmelites order in Flemington. Learn more at www. flemingtoncarmel.org.

How to report abuse

If you were sexually abused by a member of the clergy or anyone representing the Catholic Church, or you know of someone who was, you are encouraged to report that abuse to local law enforcement, the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency at 1-877-NJ ABUSE (652-2873) or 1-800-835-5510 (TTY/TDD for the deaf), and also the Diocesan Response Officer at (908) 930-4558 (24 hours/7 days a week).

By Mary Morrell Editor-in-Chief

Christina Leslie

Contributing Editor

When more than 3,000 Black American Catholics gathered for the 13th National Black Catholic Congress July 20-23, they were continuing an initiative that began in 1889 when journalist Daniel Rudd, born a slave in Kentucky, founded the Congress.

According to the NBCC, as a lifelong Catholic and successful newspaperman, Rudd worked tirelessly to promote the welfare of African Americans in the United States. He saw in the Church the home of freedom and unity for all people, and a force for challenging the injustices of society.

Rudd’s inaugural congress, held in St. Augustine Church, Washington, D.C., included Mass celebrated by Father Augustus Tolton, one of the “saintly six” whose causes for sainthood are being considered.

Since 1987, Congresses have been held every five years, with each one developing a pastoral plan that supports the mission of the NBCC and serves as a framework for discussion and action plans within Dioceses nationwide.

NBCC XIII, which was delayed a year due to the pandemic, was held in Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, Md. Themed “Write the Vision: A Prophetic Call to Thrive,” the Congress aims to enrich the Church by evangelizing African Americans within and outside the Catholic faith; enhance the physical and spiritual well-being of African Americans as full members of the Church and society; create an ongoing agenda for evangelizing African Americans and collaborate with national Roman Catholic organizations.

Deacon Rick Fortune, who ministers at the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen, led the diocesan delegation to this year’s Congress.

In a personal reflection on the experience, Deacon Fortune shared his thoughts, acknowledging the significance of the event stemming from those Black Catholics who “rooted themselves in the Eucharist and the Gospel as proclaimed by the only Church that could trace its origins back to Jesus Christ.”

He explained that the Congress unfolded with “Mass each day, including a glorious liturgy on Friday at the Basilica of The National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., which was followed by a reception at the National Museum for African American History and Culture.

“Service took center stage on Saturday as hundreds of the attendees gathered to prepare an astonishing 75,000 sandwiches to be distributed throughout the United States by the ‘No Child Hungry’ charity organization.

“Between workshops, talks, and musical performances, time was allotted for Adoration, the Sacrament of Recon-

National Black Catholic Congress a legacy of faith

ciliation, and networking … meeting people and sharing experiences.”

Those encounters proved revelatory, said Deacon Fortune, as he discovered that tens of thousands of Black men, women and children “have lived cradle Catholic lives that were developed in and through a Black cultural experience.” He shared that, like many other Blacks, his personal experience was of being “formed in, and now ministering in, a Catholic life developed through a ‘white’ or European cultural experience.”

Deacon Fortune recalled that Father Joshua Johnson, a priest of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, “said it best: ‘Unfortunately, it is a common experience for Black Catholics to never see a priest who looks like them, so whenever they come to this conference, they see bishops and priests and sisters and deacons and married couples, radical disciples of Jesus Christ who look like them.’”

Deacon Fortune also noted that the Congress offered a separate talk and experience track for youth. “Hundreds were in attendance. One of the most moving moments of my Congress experience came near the end of the closing Mass, when main celebrant, NBCC President Bishop Roy Campbell, called for any youth discerning the priesthood or religious life to come forward for a blessing.

“Slowly, eight young Catholics came forward to be blessed by Bishop Campbell as 3,000 others extended their hands over them in prayer, in the shadow of huge images of the six Black Catholics with current causes for canonization. One of them, we pray, will soon become the very first African American Saint in

Church history.”

Deacon Fortune recalled, “It was as if we could hear the young Catholics thinking, ‘I can be a priest, a deacon, a religious sister or brother, a bishop, or even a cardinal, because I see them right here!’ There weren’t many dry eyes in the house.”

As baptized Christians, emphasized Deacon Fortune, “we are all called to go and make disciples, and bishops are called to that in a particular way within the geographic boundaries of their dioceses.”

He expressed appreciation to Bishop James F. Checchio for supporting the Metuchen presence at this and past Congresses, explaining that dioceses are meant to review and assess the informa-

1 On the third day of the National Black Catholic Congress, July 22, Memphis Bishop Emeritus J. Terry Steib, together with Bishops and priests from across the country prepare to hear the Gospel proclaimed at Mass in the Gaylord Convention Center, National Harbor, Md.

2 This mural depicting an image of Mary and Jesus viewed as African descendants, greeted attendees at the Black Catholic Congress as they walked up from the main hall of the Gaylord Convention Center to the breakout ballrooms. The mural was impressed upon the stairway on both sides of the main hall.

Deacon Rick Fortune photos

tion gathered at the Congress to develop and implement a plan for Black Catholic ministry over the next few years.

“The goal is to invite all Blacks within our Diocese to know that the Jesus who died for them only established one Church, and that his One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church is their Church,” stressed Deacon Fortune. “Dialogue is the key, and that’s what this conference has proposed, promoted, and invited others to for over 100 years.”

To learn more about the National Black Catholic Congress, including the six Black holy men and women on the journey to sainthood, visit nbccongress.org

First Black Americans considered for sainthood

Pierre Toussaint was born a slave in Haiti. After his owner moved his family to New York, Toussaint gained his freedom and became a respected benefactor of the poor of New York City.

Mother Mary Lange was a gifted yet humble woman from Cuba who settled in Baltimore in 1813. Seeing a need for education of the children of slaves and immigrants of color, she began teaching them although it was illegal.

Mother Henriette DeLille was born into one of the oldest and most affluent racially mixed Catholic Creole families. She founded the Sisters of the Holy Family who ministered to the poor.

Julia Greeley was born a slave in Missouri and moved to Denver after gaining her freedom, working as a cook and nanny. Julia became known as Denver’s “Angel of Charity” for her work with the poor, especially children.

Augustus Tolton endured the inhumanity of slavery and racism in Illinois to become the first ordained Black priest in America. People were drawn to Father Tolton because of his humility, innate compassion and attention he offered those in need, as well as his devotion and willingness to be of service.

Thea Bowman was born in 1937 and reared in humble Canton, Mississippi. Sister Thea spent her life communicating God’s universal and unconditional love to those most in need of the good news, especially the poor and marginalized.

Information from Liguori.org

‘The Church needs our gifts’: Black Catholics reflect on their calling

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (OSV News) – As people left the July 23 closing Mass for the National Black Catholic Congress, Vernon Taylor of St. Joseph Parish in Wilmington, Delaware, said he was moved particularly at the end of Mass when Washington Auxiliary Bishop Roy E. Campbell Jr., the congress’ president, invited any young people considering a vocation to the priesthood or religious life to come up for a blessing – and some young adults, teens and children stepped forward. “The most moving thing to me, and it really brought tears, was to see the young folks go up to profess their faith and potential vocation,” Taylor, a member of the Knights of Peter Claver, told Catholic Standard, the Washington Archdiocese’s newspaper. Among them, Lux Leverette, 12, who told Catholic

Standard what interested him about priesthood: “In general, the whole idea to go wherever is needed and help people is very pleasing to me.” The National Black Catholic Congress also offered a time for participants to reflect on the legacy of the six U.S. Black Catholics being considered for sainthood. Sister Stephanie Henry from Philadelphia, the president of the Blessed Sacrament Sisters founded by St. Katharine Drexel, said she had actually met and spoken with one of those potential Black Catholic saints, Sister Thea Bowman. “Her whole being radiated praise and joy,” Sister Stephanie told Catholic Standard, saying Sister Thea emphasized “Black Catholics have a place in the Church. We belong here, and the Church needs our gifts.”

Religious pray during the opening Mass for the 13th National Black Catholic Congress July 21, 2023, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate

Conception in Washington. —OSV News photo/Jaclyn Lippelmann, Archdiocese of Washington sisters

3 Participants in NBCC XIII pray in the Adoration Chapel, a room set aside where the Blessed Sacrament was exposed periodically throughout the days of the Congress.

4 Metuchen Diocese Delegates to the National Black Catholic Congress included, left to right, Carol Afriyie, Joan Pritchard, Dolores Christmas, Phyllis Stone, all from St. Matthias Parish, Somerset, and Deacon Rick Fortune, who exercises his ministry at the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen.

5 Deacon Rick Fortune poses with Bishop Jaques Fabre-Juene, the first black bishop in the 200-year history of the Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina. Deacon Rick Fortune photos

REAL PRESENCE

Remember, understand, strengthen Eucharistic devotion

By Father Ariel Bautista Jr. Special Contributor

As a priest, I often reflect on that memorable and faithful night when our Blessed Lord “took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in memory of me” (Luke 22:19). Remembering is an essential part of our Catholic faith. We are believers by recalling our faith and believing those who have come before us. We not only remember, but we live by and trust in God’s word.

Do we still remember partaking in our first Communion? My first Communion was one of my earliest memories of practicing my Catholic faith. I still remember the anticipation of preparing for this Sacrament. It was an extraordinary realization of my faith to be able to actively participate in Holy Mass. I still recall the day of celebration of my spirit connecting with Christ and receiving his Real Presence.

Some other profound witnesses of this excitement in receiving our Blessed Lord in the Holy Eucharist are our students from Immaculate Conception School who received their First Communion last May. Days after their Communion I joined them for lunch and asked them: How does it make you feel whenever you receive our Blessed Lord in the Eucharist? These second graders surprised me with their answers.

One student said that whenever she

Adore Jesus’ real presence in the Eucharist, Pope tells U.S. Catholics

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Catholics need to recover a sense of awe and adoration before the Eucharist, knowing that it is “the real and loving presence of the Lord,” Pope Francis told members of the committees organizing the National Eucharistic Revival and the National Eucharistic Congress in the United States.

The group was led by Bishop Andrew H. Cozzens of Crookston, Minnesota, chair of the U.S. bishops’ advisory group for the National Eucharistic

receives Holy Communion, she feels very happy because she receives Jesus, and it makes her feel that her sins are forgiven. Another student said that he feels very good, because he feels united with Jesus. And the last one that I interviewed said, “Father, I’m always nervous but excited because I know Jesus will be with me.” Many of the most meaningful things we learn come through the novel perspectives our children can offer, and what they said is true about the Holy Eucharist.

As we continuously celebrate and progress in the Eucharistic Revival, we are prompted again to REMEMBER that

Revival, a multi-year process aimed at renewing and strengthening faith in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, and chair of the board of directors planning the Eucharistic Congress.

Bishop Cozzens told Catholic News Service it was “an incredible privilege” to meet the Pope and experience “his love, his passion for the Eucharist and for the work that we’re about.”

Jesus spoke of himself as “the living bread which came down from heaven, the true bread that gives life to the world,” the Pope told the group June 19, just three days after leaving the hospital following abdominal surgery. “This morning, while I was celebrating the Eucharist, I thought about this a lot because it is what gives us life,” the Pope said.

“Indeed, the Eucharist is God’s response to the deepest hunger of the human heart, the hunger for authentic life because in the Eucharist Christ himself is truly in our midst to nourish, console and sustain us on our journey.”

Pope Francis walked into the library using his cane instead of a wheelchair. And although he sat when he read his prepared text – and added spontaneous com-

the Holy Eucharist is the source and summit of our Christian Life. Even little children can help us realize the significance of the Eucharist. In the Gospels, we can read the long discourse about the Eucharist, as real food for our Christian Life: “For my flesh is real food, and my blood is real drink. He who eats my flesh and drinks My blood lives in me and I live in him.” The National Eucharistic Revival aims to restore this UNDERSTANDING and devotion to this great mystery by helping us remember our worship of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. We are reminded of who we are receiving as we come up for Holy Communion. It is

ments – he stood to bless the four-foot-tall monstrance, paten and chalice that will be used during the Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis July 17-21, 2024.

“It is my hope, then, that the Eucharistic Congress will inspire Catholics

the Body and blood of Christ. And what we eat, we must become, meaning that if we truly believe that we are receiving Jesus, then we must become like Jesus.

We are on the second phase of the National Eucharistic Revival which focuses on the Year of Parish Revival. STRENGTHENING our liturgical life through faithful celebration of the Mass, this year’s emphasis is to foster Eucharistic devotion at the parish level. There are about 17,000 Catholic parishes in the U.S. Imagine what an impact we can have on the culture at large if each one of those parishes revive the passion on encouraging faith in not only the Real Presence, but in all Catholic teachings. When we see the faith being lived out by those who are already in our lives, especially by our fellow parishioners, it’s easier for us to follow them by example.

Today, Jesus, himself, in the Blessed Sacrament serves as a powerful testimony that reminds us who we are receiving. In this year of National Eucharistic Revival, let us give thanks for such a great Divine Gift. May we always treasure this gift of our Lord Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, and may we always remember not to take this sacred gift for granted.

Father Ariel Bautista Jr. serves as parochial vicar in Immaculate Conception Parish, Annandale. His column is the third in a monthly series that focuses on increasing devotion to the Eucharist during the Year of Parish Revival.

throughout the country to discover anew the sense of wonder and awe at the Lord’s great gift of himself,” he said, “and to spend time with him in the celebration of the holy Mass and in personal prayer and adoration before the Blessed Sacrament.”

Pope Francis blesses a four-foot-tall monstrance, a chalice and a paten as Bishop Andrew H. Cozzens of Crookston, Minn., looks on during an audience in the library of the Apostolic Palace June 19, 2023. The blessing took place during the Pope’s meeting with members of the organizing committees of the U.S. National Eucharistic Congress and Eucharistic Revival. —CNS screengrab/Vatican Media

ST.JOSEPHPARISH, HILLSBOROUGH

ST. ANN PARISH, HAMPTON

Parish Eucharistic Adoration

St. Pope John Paul II proclaimed, “The Church and the world have a great need of Eucharistic Adoration.”

As year two of the National Eucharistic Revival, the Year of Parish Revival, moves forward, parishes in the Diocese of Metuchen continue to show their devotion to Jesus in the Eucharist through this ancient practice which recognizes the Real Presence of Jesus in body, blood, soul and divinity under the appearance of the consecrated host.

“When you look at the Crucifix, you understand how much Jesus loved you then; when you look at the Sacred Host you understand how much Jesus loves you now.”

–St. Teresa of Kolkata

“A thousand years of enjoying human glory is not worth even an hour spent sweetly communing with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.”

–St. Padre Pio

“I am quite sure that if we could but once approach the Most Holy Sacrament with great faith and love, it would suffice to make us rich. How much more so if we approach it often!”

–St. Teresa of Avila

“The greatest love story of all time is contained in a tiny white Host.”

–Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

World Youth Day Pilgrimage inspires zeal, hope in diocesan youth

By Annie Nason, Correspondent

“Count and lean on the generosity of the Father!’’ was the encouragement from Bishop James F. Checchio during a send-off Mass on July 28, as 41 delegates from the Diocese of Metuchen embarked on the 10-day pilgrimage to World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal.

Since its inception by Pope St. John Paul II in 1985, World Youth Day defines its purpose as, “an opportunity to personally experience the universality of the Catholic Church, and to share with the whole world the hope of many young people who are committing their lives to Christ and His Church.”

This year’s celebration marked the 17th time that Catholic youth and young adults gathered together in faith and celebration. An estimated 1.5 million people from around the globe made the journey to Lisbon between July 28 - August 6.

Among the 41 delegates from the Diocese of Metuchen, eight parishes were represented as well as members from five different youth and young adult groups, members of diocesan staff, seven seminarians and two priests.

At the helm of the pilgrimage were Megan Callahan, diocesan director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, Father Tom Lanza diocesan Vocation Office, and Jonathan Camiolo of FIAT Ventures. Camiolo was particularly instrumental in leading the pilgrimage in conjunction with

the Diocese of Patterson, and extending the opportunity for high-school students.

As part of a long-term goal, the past four World Youth Day celebrations have dovetailed off one another drawing from the inspiration of the Blessed Virgin Mary. With her youthful spirit at the center, the intention is to energize young people to live out their vocation and bring their faith and gifts to various ministries.

Over the course of the pilgrimage Callahan encouraged pilgrims to approach reflection times with honesty and openness. “Throughout the course of the trip, I encouraged our pilgrims to share their ‘high, low, and ‘God’-moments’ each day with their small groups. During those times, many graces were unpacked and encounters with our Lord expressed.”

This year’s particular theme drew from Luke 1:39, “Mary arose and went with haste.” On the mornings of August 2-4, pilgrims participated in catechesis (newly named “Rise Up Encounters”) which covered three topics from Pope Francis’ pontificate: Integral Ecology, Social Friendship, and Mercy, all in accordance with the theme, “Give young people a mission by saying that now is the time to dream and work for a new world, just as Mary did as a young woman.”

In the days that followed, pilgrims participated in events on a large and more intimate scale including Stations of the Cross that was attended by 800,000 people.

The two papal Masses during the

pilgrimage were held at the Parque Tejo - Campo da Graca (aptly translated to “Field of Grace”). It was during these events that the impact of the pilgrimage especially came to life, especially in the sacrifices made which distinguishes a pilgrimage from that of a vacation.

“The overnight vigil was tough but beautiful,” remarked Callahan. “The crowds were overwhelming and it was extremely hot those days. Nonetheless, the Lord blessed us abundantly with His love, joy, and safety.”

At the Sending Mass the following morning on The Feast of the Transfiguration, the Pope’s homily addressed tangible encouragements as to how pilgrims can share what they experienced on such a grand scale in Lisbon within their own communities. He highlighted three verbs in particular: Shine, listen, and do not be afraid.

“It is no longer I, but Jesus himself who is now looking at you,” the Holy Father said in a personal address to pilgrims. “He knows each of your hearts, each of your lives; he knows your joys, your sorrows, your successes and failures. He knows your heart. Today, he says to you, here in Lisbon, at this World Youth Day, ‘Have no fear, take heart, do not be afraid!’.”

Scenes from the Welcome Ceremony of the 37th World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, with pilgrims of the Diocese, including seminarians, young adults and youth. Zach Callahan photos

“The excitement of Portugal, the people I got to travel with, and the memories I made both within the religious setting and outside of it made these 10 days so special and unforgettable. Whether it was getting to see and interact with the beauty of God’s people from around the whole world first hand, hearing the testimonies of so many religious officials and why they said yes to God, or praying with the millions of people with the same faith as me, World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon really felt like a taste of what heaven is going to be like.”

Sunny

Youth Group; St. Cecelia’s Monmouth Junction

“Throughout World Youth Day, God reminded me that I am not alone. His family is spread throughout the world, making me realize His love is universal, yet also personal.”

Stronger

Lisette Vilanova with children, Juan, 15, IHS student, Somerville, and Gabriela, 12, St. James School, Basking Ridge. They are members of Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish, Perth Amboy. “This trip gave us an opportunity to submerse ourselves in prayer and love for the Lord as we carried out each day with others that were looking to do the same. It was amazing to feel that while we were all at different levels, we supported each other and grew together through this journey. I am more thankful for being Catholic and confident that I am stronger when I live my life through prayer.”

Emily Chavez; Age 17; St. Matthias Parish, Somerset

Bugarin; Age 17; Family of Faith

I am not alone

With her return home, Callahan shared, “I am exhausted but filled with much joy after experiencing so much grace … I think I can say the same for our group.” When asked about the reactions of the pilgrims who shared their thoughts about the journey, many remarked it was full of joy and was truly nothing like pilgrims ever experienced before, noted Callahan, confident that the personal impact left on each one of the pilgrims can be a source of invigoration for the Diocese as a whole.

“The Lord calls us each by name, to a particular mission and to set the world on fire. World Youth Day was a call to step into the hope and love we experienced in Lisbon for our diocese here at home,” she said.

Some information for this article came from Catholic News Agency.

Metuchen youth ‘share the light of Christ’ during pilgrimage

Immaculata High School student Nathan LaRoche sits on the shoulders of another pilgrim for a better look at Pope Francis who appears on a giant screen, one of many set up throughout the park.

Evening Vigil at Campo da Graca with Pope Francis, on the big screen, was a powerful time of prayer, Adoration, silence, and sleeping on the ground until closing Mass the next morning.

Issa Somera, Metuchen young adult, Natalie Thall, I.H.S. student, and Megan Callahan, diocesan director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, share the smiles and excitement prevalent during WYD Lisbon.

By Maria Agnese Special Contributor

World Youth Day in Lisbon this year was an experience of God’s Providence in every way.

Eighty-five pilgrims from the Dioceses of Metuchen and Paterson traveled together for an unforgettable journey in friendship with each other and God.

Thanks to the leadership of Jonathan Camiolo, Megan Callahan, Father Tom Lanza, DubeTravel, and many others, the experience was smooth; the perfect balance of challenging exertion and rest, mindful attention to God’s presence and goofy fun with new friends.

Aside from witnessing a Eucharistic miracle, visiting the site of a significant Marian apparition, and celebrating Catholic identity with young believers from every nation (minus Maldives), what struck me most was how our group from New Jersey blended so naturally. It truly was a blessing. The Holy Spirit had everyone’s hearts open to free dialogue and unexpected connection.

We departed on Friday, July 28th, and returned Monday, Aug. 7th. After arrival in Portugal, we hit the ground running, our first stop being the Eucharistic Miracle in Santarém. The exquisitely decorated church hosted long lines of faithful bearing witness to a host that first bled in 1247, a powerful gift from God to ignite greater belief in Jesus’ Real Presence in the Eucharist.

Next, we made our way to Fatima,

where Our Blessed Mother appeared to three shepherd children, requesting we pray the rosary and do penance for peace in the world. Peace permeated that city, even as excited pilgrims sang and danced through its streets.

After two days in Fatima, we traveled to Lisbon and the World Youth Day festivities began. We attended an opening Mass celebrated by the Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon, Manuel Clemente; the opening ceremony with Pope Francis himself; multiple catechesis sessions, and special events with speakers such as Jonathan Roumie (who portrays Jesus in “The Chosen”) and Bishop Robert E. Barron, founder of “Word on Fire.” We had opportunities to try out the local cuisine and were well taken care of by WYD volunteers, vendors, and our hotel’s staff as we trekked many miles every day!

The height of the WYD experience was the overnight vigil under the stars and Sunday Mass with the Pope the following morning. Walking amongst 1.5 million people of shared faith was both challenging and awe-inspiring. What it evoked in me was a sense of the Mystical Body of Christ. We moved as one body as we all journeyed to our destination.

Was this a “high, low, or God moment” for me? All of the above. The crowds, heat, dust, and rocks reminded me of the Israelites in the wilderness as God led them to freedom. The Adoration tents in our campsites paralleled the meeting tents in the desert. Communing with “strangers” reminded me that we are not alone in the journey, no matter how isolating or desolate it may seem at times.

The value of World Youth Day exceeds what the eye can see, but in essence it boldly proclaims this: the Church is not antiquated or dying, but youthful. We are not alone, we are stronger together, and God is with us, so we cannot fail. “Do not be afraid,” as Pope Francis exhorted us. Our mission is to share the light of Christ with the world.

Unforgettable

St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish, Kendall Park; I.H.S. student. “WYD was truly an unforgettable experience that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Every step of the journey left an impression on my soul that allowed me to spiritually connect with our Lord. Especially after years of hearing stories about such a holy place, just being in Fatíma was so incredibly surreal to me that it felt like Heaven on earth.”

Our Lady

Jimmy Prumos (Seminarian)

For me, the most meaningful part of the trip was when we went to Fatima. That was an amazing experience, going to the two different vigil processions at night, having Monday morning Mass at the chapel on the spot where Our Lady appeared to the three shepherd children. I know I’ve heard about Our Lady of Fatima before, but it’s just something else when you’re there in person at this sacred site where she appeared, exhorting us to pray for peace, to pray the Rosary. I’ve been learning a lot about Our Lady of Fatima ever since going there, and I hope that I can continue to live out the Fatima message.

Maria Agnese (24) is the current Youth Minister at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Bernardsville. Maria led the Metuchen Young Adult contingent on the WYD trip.

“World Youth Day is a special experience, plain and simple. Youth from around the world join together creating a mini ‘heaven on earth.’ Participants share life and search for meaning. Priests shepherd their people as spiritual guides. Bishops and other Church leaders teach the faith. WYD Lisbon exemplified God’s ideal for how the world should operate. It was one of the most rejuvenating and life-giving experiences I have had as a priest.” Father Tom Lanza, who appears in the photo with James Corrigan, a recent I.H.S. graduate beginning college in North Carolina.

REJUVENATING

AJ Dzanoucakis; Age 16;

Zach Callahan photos

Catholic schools remain a bright light in dismal academic forecast

By Mary Morrell, Editor-in-Chief

In spite of the challenges encountered during the three-year health crisis of COVID-19, “Catholic schools have continued the legacy that has characterized Catholic education: academic excellence, a strong partnership with parents, a sense of community and a faith-filled education for students nationwide,” reports the National Catholic Educational Association.

Their recent data brief notes that, with the 2022-2023 school year Catholic school enrollment increase (0.3%) which maintains a national two-year trend, Catholic schools continue to attract and retain new students, supporting their academic, spiritual and mental health.

Academically, the merits of Catholic schools continue to be evident in scores from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as the “Nation’s Report Card,” which show noticeable achievement for Catholic schools in a post-COVID-19 environment compared to schools in both the public and private sectors which have suffered steep declines in math and reading at both grades assessed – grades 4 and 8.

A recently released NAEP Long-Term Trend assessment report reveals a continuing decline for public schools with average math scores for 13-year-old students falling nine points between 2020-2023. Reading scores fell by four points. For 9-year-old students who were administered the LTT assessments in 2022, scores dropped by seven points in math and five points in reading.

The same LTT assessment showed 13-year-old students in Catholic schools outpacing their public-school counterparts by 20 points in math and 21 points in reading. There were no results for 9-year-old Catholic school students as sample size was insufficient.

Since the 1970s, the NAEP has monitored student performance in math and reading through long-term trend (LTT) assessments across three age levels, 9-, 13-, and 17-year-old students. While usually administered every four years, with the last being

administered in 2020, the National Center for Educational Statics decided to administer the assessment ahead of schedule for students ages 9 and 13 to provide data on post-pandemic student performance.

When the first national study of the pandemic’s impact on learning was released, the 2022 NAEP results (unrelated to LTT assessments) showed that Catholic schools had done remarkably well in mitigating learning loss resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and related challenges while revealing an unprecedented decline in average scores for public school students coming out of the pandemic.

Comparing results from 2019 and 2022, the main NAEP indicated reading and math scores declined in public and charter schools for grades 4 and 8 for the majority of states. Average national reading scores reverted to 1992 levels, and math scores had the most significant declines ever recorded for that subject.

In contrast, Catholic schools showed a slight increase (1 point) in 8th-grade reading and maintained levels for 4th-grade math at achievement levels already higher than public schools. Catholic schools saw declines in 8th grade math and 4th-grade reading, though declines were less than those in public and charter schools.

In a 2021 article in America Magazine, Kathy Mears, then-interim president and chief executive officer of the National Catholic Educational Association acknowledged, “Catholic schools have placed students first in the teaching and learning processes. We have continued to orient these endeavors toward the pursuit of beauty, truth and goodness in the person of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is at work, breathing life and fostering renewal in the souls of the young people entrusted to our care. It is through this unique and blessed devotion and service to God’s people that generations will be transformed.”

To read more about student achievement visit nationsreportcard.gov. Go to Dashboards to access Catholic school information. Go to Reports to access highlights or full reports of various assessments.

Average scores in NAEP Mathematics for all students, by grade and type of school: 2022 (grade 4) and 2022 (grade 8).

Average scores in NAEP Reading for all students, by grade and type of school: 2022 (grade

School Type: Public Public: Charter Private Private: Catholic

Average scale scores for age 13 long-term trend by public or nonpublic school, 2023, National

Private school information is not available. Reporting standards not met.

NOTE: The NAEP Long-Term Trend Mathematics scale ranges from 0 to 500. Some apparent di erences between estimates may not be statistically signi cant.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2023 Long-Term Trend Mathematics Assessment.

Students in St. Augustine of Canterbury School, Kendall Park, are using the 5 “C’s” of the Engineering Process: Creativity, Communication, Critical Thinking, Collaboration, and Curiosity to guide Ozobot robots through a maze using color codes – short sequences of color used to teach basic coding concepts, from cause-and-effect to debugging. —Photo courtesy St. Augustine FB page

46 Immaculata High School students earn A.P. Scholar honors

Story and photos by Tara Smith

Students at Immaculata High School, Somerville, marked an academic milestone, taking a five-year record number of 321 Advanced Placement exams, a stark contrast to the nationwide decline in academic performance since the pandemiccaused learning setbacks.

The parochial Catholic high school in Somerville, which offers 22 A.P. courses, administered the exams in the spring of 2023 and, as a result, received a 100 percent passing rate in eight course exams, with 46 students earning A.P. Scholar Awards.

Kristin Boczany, vice principal for academic affairs, lauded the students, saying, “These students took bold steps in challenging themselves to a full roster of Advanced Placement courses.” Citing the teenage students’ ongoing commitments to their coursework, extracurriculars, family, friends, and jobs, she noted

that balancing their commitments and taking A.P. courses, and the subsequent exams, is no easy task and “takes selfmotivation, time management, and courage beyond their years.”

While the distinctions are notable in their own right, Boczany pointed to the results as an important indicator of the school’s academic health and culture.

“These distinctions tell us that our academic programs at Immaculata are strong, and build upon one another to give students the best chances for success,” she said. “This data also speaks to the fact that our teachers never settle and that they are constantly learning and evolving as educators, so that they can deliver the best possible faith-based instruction as the world continues to evolve and change.”

As many schools in the nation continue to face a deluge of post-pandemic problems – among them teacher shortages, declines in student attendance, shorter

attention spans, and experiments with new curriculums – the vice principal said she is grateful that Immaculata High School seems to be far removed from the problems that many other schools are facing.

“From office hours, to extra study sessions, to engaging lessons, and assessments, our teachers are dedicated to students and their success. If Immaculata has one secret to academics, it is simply this – we build relationships with our students, and we see them as unique individuals,” said Boczany. “By building these relationships, we earn the trust of our students, and through that trust, students feel empowered to take educational risks and go beyond the boundaries of what is comfortable to explore what is great.”

The students’ A.P. exam scores and scholar award standings seem to bear that out.

Tara Smith serves as IHS director of Marketing and Communications.

Recognized for having demonstrated exemplary college-level achievement on A.P. exams, the following Immaculata High School students were recognized:

Students who earned scores of 3 or higher on three or more A.P. exams:

Davis Adams; Caroline Colitti; Kirsten Connelly; Kimberly Dalessio; Periklis Drecolias; Sophia Feuker; Gabriella Fitch; Samantha Hummel; Ethan Kassai; Matthew Kirschner; Tehya Lim; Elise MacMillan; Kristin McNally; Jon Moreno; Ava Nagengast; Andre Rivera; Abigail Serrao; Olivia Serrao; Abigail Stowe; Adam Tiongson; Asha Toczek; Jack Tully; and Talia Wong

A.P.

Scholar with Honor

Students who earned an average score of at least 3.25 on all A.P. exams taken and had scores of 3 or higher on at least four exams:

Aidan Cannatelli; Gabriella Glaz; Sharbella Jacobs; Jillian Kenny; Charlotte Lezny; Erin Lyttle; Keira McCabe; Caitlin Mustillo; Jillian Tareco; Finn Tully; and Owen Zohn

A.P. Scholar with Distinction

Students who earned an average score of at least 3.5 on all A.P. exams taken and had scores of 3 or higher on at least five exams:

Molly Arkoulakis; Ella Cosman; Gavin Fitzgerald; John Hanlon; Tara Khosla; Matthew Kolakowski; Marissa Mellyn; Theresa Musto; Daniel O’Connor; Giavanna Pechilio; Lilliel Shun; and Ainsley Zohn

A.P. Capstone Seminar and Research Certificate

ate and former Marian Scholar student Ainsley Zohn ’23 presents her year-long A.P. Research project in the spring of 2023 on “Critical Thinking and Misinformation in Media.”

A.P. Scholar with Honor Aidan Cannatelli ’23 participates in the American Scholastic Mathematics Association competition as a representative of Immaculata High School’s Math League, in which he was only one of 65 students worldwide to hold a perfect score on the tests for four consecutive tests.

Students who earned scores of 3 or higher on A.P. Seminar and A.P. Research, but not on four additional A.P. exams:

Keira McCabe

A.P. Capstone Diploma

Students who earned scores of 3 or higher on A.P. Seminar and A.P. Research and on four additional A.P. exams of their choosing:

Molly Arkoulakis; Gavin Fitzgerald; Gabriella Glaz; Ethan Kassai; Marissa Mellyn; Caitlin Mustillo; Theresa Musto; Giavanna Pechilio; and Ainsley Zohn

A.P. Scholar

Overcoming obstacles to prayer with trust, humility, perseverance

Article 177 - Catechism of the Catholic Church Series

Paragraphs 2725-2745

as failure in prayer: discouragement during periods of dryness…disappointment over not being heard…wounded pride” (CCC 2728). Our life of prayer is not just something – it is everything. Our battle is “to overcome these obstacles…[and] to gain humility, trust, and perseverance” (CCC 2728).

last resort…In each case, our lack of faith reveals that we do not yet share in the disposition of a humble heart” (CCC 2732). We are reminded of Jesus’ words: “Apart from me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

Another temptation “…is acedia

on our behalf” (CCC 2741).

The Catechism explains: “The great figures of prayer of the Old Covenant before Christ, as well as the Mother of God, the saints, and he himself, all teach us this: prayer is a battle,” a battle “against ourselves and against the wiles of the tempter who does all he can to turn us away from prayer, away from union with God” (CCC 2725).

In the battle of prayer, “we must face in ourselves and around us erroneous notions of prayer” (CCC 2726). Prayer demands effort on our part. One major reason: “those who seek God by prayer are quickly discouraged because they do not know that prayer comes also from the Holy Spirit and not from themselves alone” (CCC 2726). But, “Christian prayer is neither an escape from reality nor a divorce from life” (CCC 2727).

Some say that prayer is a grand waste of time and that is why we fail in prayer. It is “useless” because it is “unproductive” and is in fact “a flight from the world” (CCC 2727). In truth, it may seem to be all these things and more. That is why “our battle has to confront what we experience

One of the most “habitual difficulties in prayer is distraction” (CCC 2729). “A distraction reveals to us what we are attached to, and this “humble awareness before the Lord should awaken our preferential love for him”, enabling us to “offer him our heart to be purified. Therein lies the battle, the choice of which master to serve” (CCC 2729). As Sacred Scripture puts it: “No one can serve two masters…You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24).

On the positive side, “the battle against [our] possessive and dominating self requires vigilance, sobriety of heart” (CCC 2730). Jesus himself insists on vigilance. Our love for the Lord poured forth into our prayers helps us recognize how intensely God loves us.

Another battle in prayer is dryness “Dryness belongs to contemplative prayer when the heart is separated from God, with no taste for thoughts, memories, and feelings, even spiritual ones” (CCC 2731). “If dryness is due to the lack of roots, because the word has fallen on rocky soil, the battle requires conversion” (CCC 2731), which involves a movement of the heart more intently on God.

A more common battle in prayer is the temptation toward a lack of faith. “Sometimes we turn to the Lord as a

Liturgy of the Hours 101

By Daria Sockey, OSV News

(OSV News) – During his pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI said that there was one prayer that he wished all Catholics would learn to use. Can you guess what it is?

Guess again – not the Rosary. Nope. Not the Divine Mercy Chaplet either.

Here are some hints. This prayer is nearly as old as the Church itself. Most laity have no idea what it is, but your pastor says it every day.

Give up? It’s the Liturgy of the Hours, also known as the Divine Office.

The Liturgy of the Hours is a repeating four-week cycle of psalms, biblical canticles, prayers and Scripture readings that has been part of the Church’s public prayer – in one form or another – almost from the beginning. The prayers vary in accordance with the liturgical season and – like the Mass – commemorate the feasts of the Church calendar.

The complete Liturgy of the Hours is contained in four books and is also commonly known as the breviary. It is prayed at morning, midday, evening, night, plus a “floating hour” that can be

The spiritual writers understand by this a form of depression due to lax ascetical practice, decreasing vigilance, carelessness of heart” (CCC 2733). As Jesus observed: “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).

Certain people stop praying “because they think their petition is not heard. [T]wo questions…should be asked: Why do we think our petition has not been heard? How is our prayer heard, how is it ‘efficacious’?” (CCC 2734). Sacred Scripture reminds us: “Our Father knows what we need before we ask him” (Matthew 6:8). However, God “awaits our petition because the dignity of his children lies in their freedom. We must pray, then, with his Spirit of freedom, to be able truly to know what he wants” (CCC 2736). When we submit to “the desire of his Spirit, we shall be heard” (CCC 2737).

You ought not to feel abandoned if you do not immediately receive from God what you ask of him. Why? Because “he desires to do something even greater for you, while you cling to him in prayer” (CCC 2737). It is God’s will “that our desire should be exercised in prayer, that we may be able to receive what he is prepared to give” (CCC 2737). Christ is our model. “He prays in us and with us” (CCC 2740). “Jesus also prays for us – in our place and

I often recall an incident that happened many years ago when I first entered religious life. I walked into the monastery courtyard and observed an older “Brother” in our congregation walking back and forth, with his prayer book opened while smoking a pipe.

Realizing that I was nearby he suddenly turned to me and with a glimmer in his eye blurted out: “Brother, it may not be right for me to smoke while I am praying, but I’ve learned that it is ok to pray while I am smoking.” I always remembered that lesson.

The Catechism explains this further: “It is always possible to pray” (CCC 2743). Quoting the 4th century Early Church Father, Saint John Chrysostom, it continues: “It is possible to offer fervent prayer even while walking in public or strolling alone, or seated in your shop, … while buying or selling, …or even while cooking” (CCC 2743).

This section then concludes with a challenge to each of us that “balance” in our spiritual lives is crucial. We are reminded to unite our prayer to good works and our good works to prayer. Quoting the 3rd century theologian, Origen of Alexandria, the Catechism takes up Saint Paul’s directive to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) with Origen’s words: “Only in this way can we consider as realizable the principle of praying without ceasing” (CCC 2745).

Father Hillier is director, diocesan Office of Pontifical Mission Societies, the Office for Persons with Disabilities and Censor Luborum.

done at any time.

Normally, laypeople who pray the hours only use one or two of these. Praying the two principal hours of Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer, either individually or in common, is especially encouraged by the Church … is well-suited for the busy layperson, and is available on a number of websites and mobile applications.

The term “hours,” by the way, does not refer to the length of the prayers, which take perhaps 10 minutes to say. These short sets of psalms, readings and petitions are spaced throughout the day in order to sanctify the various parts of our day, hence the name “hours.”

The Acts of the Apostles refers several times to St. Peter or other apostles going to the temple to pray at morning, afternoon or evening. Early Christians developed this Jewish custom, adding New Testament elements to the Old when they gathered for daily prayers. Desert hermits and monastics expanded the daily hours of prayer. St. Benedict, with his vision of liturgical prayer as the “work of God,” laid the foundation for the hours as they exist today, although there have been many re-

visions since his time.

For many years before the Second Vatican Council, the Liturgy of the Hours was seen as the spiritual territory of clergy and religious. The breviary was completely in Latin. Each of the hours took longer to say, since the entire 150 psalms were recited or chanted over the course of each week.

Vatican II called for the revision of the Liturgy of the Hours in the 1960s. It was simplified in several ways in order to make it easier both for busy priests and for the laity.

Pope St. Paul VI expressed the wish that the revised Liturgy of the Hours would become “the prayer of the whole people of God,” recommending that it be prayed in parishes and by individuals at home.

Pope St. John Paul II also promoted the Liturgy of the Hours … devoting Wednesday general audiences for several years to catechesis on each psalm and canticle of Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer. Pope Benedict XVI continued this series after Pope John Paul’s death and called for greater lay participation on several occasions.

Finally, more than 40 years after its revision, the Liturgy of the Hours is starting to gain ground among the laity. The advent of online breviaries and mobile breviary applications now makes the Liturgy of the Hours accessible to everyone. Some of these even include audio versions of the hours so that beginners can hear how the prayers are meant to be done and have a “virtual community” to pray with.

Daria Sockey is author of “The Everyday Catholic’s Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours,” and faith formation director at St. Joseph Church, Oil City, Pa.

The breviary, or the liturgical book containing the Liturgy of the Hours, is seen in this illustration photo.

CNS photo/Bob Roller

For young men of the Diocese, Quo Vadis 2023 offered discernment, community and fun

By Dennis J. Wieboldt III Correspondent

“Where are you going?”

The question was at the heart of the annual Quo Vadis retreat sponsored by the Diocese of Metuchen and held in Camp Shiloh, Hewitt, July 11-14.

Quo Vadis, which translated means, “Where are you going?” offers an opportunity for young men between the ages of 14 and 17 to develop practical and spiritual tools for discerning where God may be calling them in their lives.

Inspired by Jesus’s exhortation in Matthew 4:19 to “[f]ollow me and I will make you fishers of people,” Quo Vadis is one of the main forums organized by the diocese’s Office of Vocations in which young men can reflect on their gifts, talents, and shortcomings – and begin prayerfully processing where God is leading them.

Described as an “an action-packed few days with opportunities to play sports, participate in leadership/team building exercises, pray, share meals, and grow in faith together,” Quo Vadis 2023 provided participants with time for individual discernment, communal fellowship, and fun. On the retreat’s second day, for example, retreatants heard a presentation on discernment tools, prayed the Rosary on a hike, attended Mass, competed with seminarians in a volleyball tournament, and learned about Eucharistic Adoration.

According to Father Thomas W. Lanza – the organizer of Quo Vadis 2023 and a member of the Office of Vocations – combining typical summer camp activities with focused opportunities for reflection and discernment was by design. “The aim this year was for Quo Vadis to become more of a summer camp retreat with hiking, rock climbing, basketball, volleyball, swimming, team building activities, etc.,” said Father Lanza. “This experience took place

narians and priests, hearing their witness and testimony, and praying together and growing in our relationship with God.”

As Michael J. Ortiz, a 2023 retreatant noted, Quo Vadis “was a great time bonding with seminarians and kids from all over the Diocese.”

“Being able to connect through group activities such as sports and games,” Ortiz added, “contributed greatly to our pleasant stay and fellowship.”

Kyle Giuliano, another 2023 retreatant, similarly observed at the conclusion of Quo Vadis that he was “able to meet great friends and have a fun time with all of the activities we did.”

In addition to traditional summer camp activities, Ortiz and Giuliano expressed that Quo Vadis’s unique focus on helping young men develop practical and spiritual discernment tools was helpful as they continue their faith journeys. For Ortiz, one such example of how Quo

frequent opportunities that Quo Vadis provided to hear from current seminarians: “Listening to the shared testimonies of the seminarians and how they got to this point in their lives made me identify with them. Their talks gave me valuable lessons and spiritual advice.”

Known as “Witness Talks,” these times for seminarians to share their experiences of discernment were incorporated into all four days of the retreat.

As Father Lanza noted in an interview with The Catholic Spirit about the advice he would give to young men discerning their vocations, listening to others share their stories is an important part of a young man’s ability to know himself.

“[O]ne of the most important things a young man can do,” according to Father Lanza, in fact, “is to get to know himself.” As such, Quo Vadis “encouraged the participants to contemplate their gifts, talents, and their weaknesses. Then

KOC installation

take this self-knowledge to prayer and see where God may be leading them. Knowing yourself authentically and knowing God through prayer, the sacraments, and Adoration is the only way to understand where God is calling you.”

For Giuliano, who shared with The Catholic Spirit that he has had a calling to the priesthood since he was five years old, Quo Vadis was a “wonderful experience” that has contributed to his spiritual development. “This has definitely been the best experience ever and I am so glad I was able to take part in it,” he said. “As I continue my journey to the priesthood, I will take these memories with me and enjoy the friendships I have made there. The experience really was incredible!”

Bishop James F. Checchio celebrates Mass for Quo Vadis participants July 14, the last day of the retreat. Patrick Rasimowicz photo

Bishop Dennis Sullivan stands with Father Ernest G. Rush, assistant to the Knights of Columbus state chaplain, and recently installed Knights of Columbus members and their wives after Mass on July 15 in Saint Agnes Church, Our Lady of Hope Parish, Blackwood. From left, Edward Michalak, state warden, Diocese of Trenton; James P. Sweeney, state secretary, Diocese of Paterson; Raymond C. Sands, state deputy, Diocese of Camden; Russell D. Petrocelli, state treasurer, Archdiocese of Newark, and Scott C. Williams, state advocate, Diocese of Metuchen.

Photo by Mike Walsh / Catholic Star Herald

Diocesan Catholic school graduate becomes FOCUS missionary

By Dennis J. Wieboldt III Correspondent

James Talocka, a graduate of St. Augustine of Canterbury School, Kendall Park, and St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Edison, recently announced that he has accepted a position at the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, popularly known as “FOCUS.”

Founded at Benedictine College in 1998, FOCUS is a Catholic ministry that accompanies college-aged students through their journeys of faith. According to FOCUS, missionaries “[express] God’s love by meeting students where they are and making a personal, sacrificial investment in their lives.”

Since FOCUS’s founding, the ministry has grown to nearly 500 missionaries serving on more than 100 college campuses across the country.

In an interview with The Catholic Spirit, Talocka, who is also the nephew of Msgr. Joseph Kerrigan, pastor, St. Joseph Parish, Bound Brook, said he will serve as a missionary at West Virginia University. He conveyed that his education in the Diocese of Metuchen was an important part of his faith formation. “I am absolutely positive this education benefited me greatly and it is the reason why I am still Catholic and not another type of Christian,” Talocka said.

During his time in Catholic schools, Talocka remarked that a “seed of faith was certainly planted” that “blossomed after I returned to the Church from a period of emptiness outside of it.”

Noting that he struggled to maintain a Catholic lifestyle as an undergraduate student at a secular university, Talocka expressed that he was motivated to “have a relationship with God” after experiencing spiritual restlessness. As a FOCUS missionary, Talocka is excited to “walk with students who are going through a similar experience of doubt or faithlessness.”

When asked how young Catholics can maintain their faith amidst nonCatholic cultural pressures, Talocka began with prayer: “Set aside time to pray every day and attend daily Mass if possible. These two things are the main components of my relationship with God and they have strengthened me in profound ways.”

In addition, Talocka encouraged young Catholics to seek spiritual direction, counseling, or deep relationships with trusted friends because “God does not want us to face our problems alone.” Finally, Talocka suggested that young Catholics should not be trepidatious about evangelizing. “In my experience,” Talocka observed, “people are far more intrigued by the Gospel than our culture

James Talocka

would have us believe.” By initiating a conversation about God or inviting a non-Catholic friend to attend Mass, Talocka said that young people can “cultivate some very strong friendships.”

Talocka does not have definitive plans for his time after FOCUS but is anxious to see what “God has in store.” In the meantime, Talocka is excited to be a “witness to the joy that Christ offers through the Church, and to be an instrument for the Lord to build up a Church community among young Catholics.”

The youth of Saint Augustine of Canterbury School, Kendall Park

With prayers for God’s many blessings! For

“The Lord has called me to serve the students of West Virginia University! I can’t wait to arrive on campus and be a witness to the Gospel ...”

James Talocka Class of 2013 Saint Augustine of Canterbury School

James receives a blessing from Reverend Canon Robert G. Lynam, St. Augustine of Canterbury pastor, as a new FOCUS Missionary.

Bishop’s Appointments

Bishop James F. Checchio has announced the following priestly appointments. Unless otherwise noted, all appointments are effective September 1, 2023.

Continued from page 2

• Reverend Tholitho, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux Parish, Bridgewater, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Ambrose Parish, Old Bridge.

• Reverend Gregory Zannetti, from Parochial Vicar, Saint James Parish, Basking Ridge, to Parochial Vicar, Saint John Vianney Parish, Colonia.

Educational Ministry

• Reverend David Keyes, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Ambrose Parish, Old Bridge, to Theology Teacher, Saint Thomas Aquinas High School, Edison, while assisting at Saint Luke Parish, North Plainfield, and Saint Joseph Parish, North Plainfield

• Reverend Thomas Lanza, from Theology Teacher, Immaculata High School, Somerville, to School Chaplain, Saint Joseph High School, Metuchen, while remaining Vocation Recruiter and Chaplain at the Catholic Center at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, while residing at St. Peter the Apostle University and Community Parish, New Brunswick, effective August 15.

• Reverend Ronal Vega Pastrana, from Theology Teacher, Saint Thomas Aquinas High School, Edison, to Theology Teacher, Immaculata High School, Somerville, while remaining as Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Bernardsville, effective August 15.

Deans

• Very Reverend Michael J. Gromadzki, Pastor of St. Mary of Ostrabrama Parish, South River, has been named the Dean of Raritan Bay Deanery, effective July 21.

• Very Reverend Charles Sabella, Pastor of St. Patrick and St. Rose of Lima Parish, Belvidere, has been named the Dean of Morris Canal Deanery, effective July 21.

• Very Reverend Thomas Serafin, Pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Three Bridges, has been named the Dean of Round Valley Deanery, effective July 21.

Retirement

• Reverend Monsignor Seamus F. Brennan, from Senior Priest, Saint Matthias Parish, Somerset, to retired status, effective July 1, 2023.

• Reverend John Alvarado, from Pastor, Parish of the Sacred Heart, South Plainfield, to retired status.

• Reverend Richard Rusk, from Pastor, Saint John Neumann Parish, Califon, to retired status.

• Reverend Dennis Weezorak, from Pastor, Saint Mary Parish, South Amboy, to retired status.

Congratulations Father Dennis!

Congratulations on your upcoming retirement! Your friends at St. Mary Food Pantry wish you a happy and healthy retirement. We always appreciated your support to allow the food pantry to operate in St. Pat’s Hall , to grow and serve more and more of our community.

Best Wishes. St. Mary Food Pantry

THE GOSPEL THE GOSPEL OF WORK OF WORK

You’re Amazing Experience

This Diocese-wide event is an active and dynamic encounter for 7th-12th graders and families to experience a breakthrough that will (re)ignite their relationship with Christ and the Catholic Church

TICKETS OR

$10.00 PER YOUTH

as the pastor of St. Luke Parish and St. Joseph Parish, both in North Plainfield.

The parishes, St. Luke with approxi mately 200 registered families, and St. Joseph with some 1,600 families, are 2.5 miles from each other and will remain separate parishes with Father TaberaVasquez as pastor and Father Gilbert Starcher as parochial vicar at both.

Bishop Checchio served as principal celebrant and homilist at both installa tion Masses. Father John Pringle, a re tired priest of the Diocese, who recently had served as temporary administrator of both parishes, and Father Michael Fragoso, pastor of Visitation Parish, New Brunswick, were concelebrants at St. Luke.

Concelebrants for the Mass at St. Joseph were Father Gustavo Andres Rodriguez-Perez, parochial vicar; Msgr. Randall Vashon, pastor, St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish, Bridgewater, and Father Ronal Vega-Pastrana, pastoral vicar, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Bernardsville.

In his homilies Bishop Checchio recalled hearing Pope St. John Paul II say, “The first role of a pastor is to be someone who the parishioners can believe with.” Not to believe in but to believe with. “The gift of the priesthood,” the Bishop continued, “is to give every single member of the human family someone to believe with.” As their shepherd the Bishop assured the parishioners gathered in each church that, “I am a believer,” he told both congregations, “You can be confident that Father Mauricio also is a

believer.”

Bishop Checchio challenged both congregations to, “always make Jesus a priority in our lives. Not just for an hour on Sunday but every day of our lives, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

Father Tabera-Vasquez was born in Columbia to Enrique and Maria Estella. He was the seventh of their nine children. His father’s parents still live in Columbia. He began his preparation for the priesthood at a minor seminary in that country. After coming to the Diocese he studied at St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Pa., where he received a Master of Divinity degree. Father was ordained May 28, 2016, by Bishop Checchio.

Prior to being named as administra tor of St Joseph Parish July 6, 2022, Father Tabera-Vasquez was chaplain at Immaculata High School, Somerville and then served as the vocations director for the Diocese. Father said, “Encouraging and fostering vocations to the priesthood is still a major focus of my life.

Dennis Curran, who has been a member of St Luke Parish since 1995, said, “I am very excited to have Father Mauricio as our full-time pastor. The parish has been waiting for someone like him, energetic and creative. He reinstated both the pastoral and financial councils.”

Beth Willoughby, a life-long member of St Luke Parish feels, “Father Tabera-Vasquez is very welcoming to everyone and he will be a very active pastor.”

Robert and Alexandra Benson attended the installation Mass at St Joseph Parish along with their three children, including a two-week-old daughter. Both members of the parochial council, they agreed that Father Tabera-Vasquez has been, “a great gift to St Joseph. He is orthodox in his beliefs and very energetic. He is very gentle towards everyone but speaks his mind.”

Father Vega-Pastrana said as vocation director Father Tabera-Vasquez, along with Msgr. Vashon, were instru-

mental in bringing him to the Diocese. The two priests knew each other at the seminary in Columbia. “I am grateful to Father Tabera-Vasquez for the major influence he had on my vocation,” he said.

Attending the Mass at St. Joseph Parish were most of the deacons ordained last year in the first Hispanic Permanent Diaconate class for the Diocese. Deacon Sergio Diaz, who serves at Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Perth Amboy, explained, “In one way or another Father TaberaVasquez has had an impact on each man’s vocation and was one of our instructors in formation.”

Father Tabera-Vasquez said he was grateful and impressed with the welcome he received at both parishes. “The congregations are very supportive, generous and enthusiastic.”

At the end of each Mass Father expressed his gratitude to Bishop Checchio for his trust and confidence in him. He also thanked his brother priests for their presence and everyone who contributed to the celebrations and to all who attended.

In his closing remarks at the end of Mass at St. Joseph, Bishop Checchio reiterated, “We need more priests. The Diocese needs more priests, our world needs more priests, so if you know someone who you believe would be a good priest, please encourage him.”

Top: During his installation by Bishop James F. Checchio as pastor of St. Joseph -

Bottom: Following the Mass and his installation as pastor of St. Luke Parish, North John Batkowski photos

The first role of a pastor is to be someone the parishioners can believe with.

Senior Care at Home

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SCHOOL YEAR 2023-2024 PUBLIC ANNOUNCEM ENT

The Diocese of Metuchen – Office of Schools announced today that ow cost, nutrit ous school lunches and/or breakfasts and/or milk are available to al children enrolled n the schoo Meals, snacks and/or milk will be provided free or at a reduced pr ce to children living in households whose gross ncomes are at or below those shown or the r househo d size on the ncome sca e below Applicat ons or Free and Reduced Price School Mea s are available to the househo ds of a l children enrolled n the school

EFFECTIVE FROM JULY 1, 2023 TO JUNE 30, 2024

(As announced by the United States Department of Agriculture)

Application forms are availab e on the school’s webs te and at your child’s school. Applicat ons can be submitted at any t me during the school year If a househo d member becomes unemployed or the househo d size or income changes during the school year parents are encouraged to contact the school so that a l children receive the proper benefi s For the school offic a s to determine eligibility the household must provide the follow ng nformat on listed on the application: names of al househo d members; househo d income received by each household member; type of income; frequency of ncome such as week y every two weeks tw ce a month or monthly; and the s gnature and last four d g ts of the social secur ty number of an adu t househo d member cer ify ng that the informat on provided s correct. The nformation provided by parents on the applicat on wil be kept conf dent al and wil be used on y for determ n ng eligibility

Foster children, Head Start enrollees, homeless, migrant and runaway children, as defined in 7 CFR 245.2, are categorically elig b e for free mea s or free milk Households receiving assistance under NJ SNAP or Temporary Ass stance for Needy Families (TANF) for the r children wil be notif ed of their elig bility for free benef ts un ess the househo d notif es the school that i chooses to decline benefi s Households receiving assistance under NJ SNAP or TANF shou d on y subm t an application f they are not not f ed of their elig bility by a specif ed date determ ned by the schoo

Households with children that are certified participants in SNAP or TANF may submit school meal applications for their children using the abbreviated information as indicated on the school meal application and instructions. WIC participants may also be eligible for free and reduced price meals. Parents/guardians should contact their child’s school for more information. The school wil advise parents of the r child s elig bility within 10 working days of rece pt of the application. Any parent d ssatisf ed w th the elig bility determ nation may contact the school to request an informal conference or may appeal the dec sion by request ng a ormal hear ng.

For up to 30 operating days into the new school year (or until a new eligibility determination is made, whichever comes first) an individual child who was determined as free or reduced price eligible during the previous year will continue with this determination When children move to a new LEA, either at the beginning of the new school year or during the summer months, the new LEA is encouraged to use the former LEA’s eligibility determination from the previous school year and carryover the child’s eligibility status. Once determ nations are completed, school offic a s are required to ver fy three percent of the approved free and reduced pr ce applicat ons on file. For additional information, contact your child’s school.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation) disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits.

Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDAOASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or

program.intake@usda.gov.

Name of school district(s) participating in one or more of the School Nutrition

T h e d i o c e s a n c h u r c h c o r d i a l l y i n v i t e s

c o u p l e s c e l e b r a t i n g t h e i r 2 5 t h o r 5 0 t h w e d d i n g a n n i v e r s a r i e s i n 2 0 2 3 t o a t t e n d t h e S i l v e r a n d G o l d A n n i v e r s a r y P r a y e r S e r v i c e w i t h B i s h o p J a m e s F . C h e c c h i o

R E G I S T R A T I O N I S R E Q U I R E D T O A T T E N D T H E P R A Y E R S E R V I C E

R E G I S T R A T I O N W I L L C L O S E O N O C T O B E R 1 2 , 2 0 2 3

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I f y o u h a v e a n y q u e s t i o n s , p l e a s e e m a i l A n g e l a M a r s h a l l a t a m a r s h a l l @ d i o m e t u c h e n o r g o r c a l l 7 3 2 - 5 6 2 - 1 5 4 3

Embracing the Season of Creation with prayer and action

By Mary Morrell, Editor-in-Chief

Each year, Pope Francis invites the Church to commemorate the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on Sept. 1. This day of prayer begins a month-long “Season of Creation” which concludes on Oct. 4 with the feast of St. Francis, the patron saint of ecology. Calling on all Christians to pray and work together to care for our common home, the theme for this year’s Season of Creation is, “Let justice and peace flow.”

In 1989, Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios I proclaimed Sept. 1 as a day of prayer for creation for the Orthodox. The Orthodox church year starts on that day with a commemoration of how God created the world. Through the efforts of the World Council of Churches, the season was extended through Oct. 4.

Over time, Christians around the world embraced the season as part of their annual calendar. Pope Francis made the Catholic Church’s warm welcoming of the season official in 2015.

In his message for the 2023 Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, Pope Francis explained that the theme for the ecumenical Season of Creation was inspired by the words of the prophet Amos: “Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream” (5:24).

The Holy Father asks, “How can we contribute to the mighty river of justice and peace in this Season of Creation? What can we, particularly as Christian communities, do to heal our common home so that it can once again teem with life? We must do this by resolving to transform our hearts, our lifestyles, and the public policies ruling our societies. …

“First, let us join the mighty river by transforming our hearts. This is essential for any other transformation to occur; it is that ‘ecological conversion’ which Saint John Paul II encouraged us to embrace: the renewal of our relationship with creation so that we no longer see it as an object to be exploited but cherish it instead as a sacred gift from our Creator. Furthermore, we should realize that an integral approach to respect for the environment involves four relationships: with God, with our brothers and sisters of today and tomorrow, with all of nature, and with ourselves. …

“Second, let us add to the flow of this mighty river by transforming our lifestyles. Starting from grateful wonder at the Creator and his creation, let us repent of our ‘ecological sins’, as my brother, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, has urged. … With the help of God’s grace, let us adopt lifestyles marked by less waste and unnecessary consumption, especially where the processes of production are toxic and unsustainable. Let us be as mindful as we can about our habits and economic decisions so that all can thrive – our fellow men and women wherever they may be, and future gen-

erations as well. …

“Lastly, for the mighty river to continue flowing, we must transform the public policies that govern our societies and shape the lives of young people today and tomorrow. Economic policies that promote scandalous wealth for a privileged few and degrading conditions for many others, spell the end of peace and justice. It is clear that the richer nations have contracted an ‘ecological debt’ that must be paid (cf. Laudato Si’, 51). …

“So too, like a river basin with its many tiny and larger tributaries, the Church is a communion of countless local Churches, religious communities and associations that draw from the same shared waters. Each source adds its unique and irreplaceable contribution, until all flow together into the vast ocean of God’s loving mercy. …

“In this Season of Creation, as followers of Christ on our shared synodal journey, let us live, work and pray that our common home will teem with life once again. May the Holy Spirit once more hover over the waters and guide our efforts to ‘renew the face of the earth’ (cf. Ps 104:30).

To read Pope Francis’ full message visit seasonofcreation.org/2023/05/25/ message-of-pope-francis-for-creationday-2023.

Myrtle Falls near Bonners Ferry, Idaho, is seen in this file photo from Sept. 3, 2022. In his message for the 2023 World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, Pope Francis said that when the faithful keep “a right relationship with God, humanity and nature, then justice and peace can flow like a never-failing stream of pure water, nourishing humanity and all creatures.” CNS photo/Cindy Wooden

A Prayer for Our Earth

All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures. You embrace with your tenderness all that exists. Pour out upon us the power of your love, that we may protect life and beauty. Fill us with peace, that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one. O God of the poor, help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in your eyes. Bring healing to our lives, that we may protect the world and not prey on it, that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction. Touch the hearts of those who look only for gain at the expense of the poor and the earth. Teach us to discover the worth of each thing, to be filled with awe and contemplation, to recognize that we are profoundly united with every creature as we journey towards your infinite light. We thank you for being with us each day. Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle for justice, love and peace. Amen

Luau-Palooza

Father Hank Hilton, pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Hillsborough, keeps the beat during the church’s July 27 Hawaiian-themed celebration arranged by the parish, including its SAGES Senior group. Adults and children of all ages adorned themselves in tropical shirts and leis as they ate hot dogs and Italian ice, participated in the “Drums Alive” activity, pictured, and cooled off with water games. Christina Leslie photo

100th Birthday

Bishop James F. Checchio blesses Helen Scupp, a parishioner in St. Stephen Protomartyr Parish, South River, on the occasion of her 100th birthday.

—John Batkowski photo

Guiding Lights

This image of Sts. Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary, graced a table for “Celebrate Life!” A Day for Grandparents and Seniors, held July 26 in the Diocesan Chancery, Piscataway, on the feast day of these two sainted grandparents.

—Gerald Wutkowski Jr photo

ENCOURAGED TO CONTINUE SHARING

By Christina Leslie Contributing Editor

A diverse, invaluable resource filled the meeting room inside the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center, a resource that had taken many decades to come to fruition –scores of senior citizens from throughout the Diocese of Metuchen eager to share their knowledge of, and love for, the Catholic faith with those of younger generations. The young woman standing before them issued a clarion call to action.

“It is more crucial than ever for all living generations to stay as close to each other as possible and practice the faith,” declared Erin Younkins, keynote speaker at the Day for Grandparents and Seniors held July 26 in the Piscataway Chancery.

Sponsored by the diocesan Offices of Human Life and Dignity and Family Life and held on the Feast of Sts. Joachim and Anne, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the program offered a mix of fellowship, breakfast, Adoration, Younkins’ keynote and a concluding Mass celebrated by Father Jonathan Toborowsky, diocesan vicar general and moderator of the curia.

Bishop James F. Checchio shared some boyhood memories about his grandmother and great grandmother which had the audience both smiling – “We sat on the porch, and she taught us prayers in German” – and chuckling with recognition –

“We had an ‘in’ every time the ice cream truck went by.”

Reflecting upon the day’s Gospel reading from St. Matthew about the sower and the seed, the Bishop reminded the seniors of their important role in the faith journeys of their grandchildren.

“As you probably know, I spent 12 1/2 years in Rome as [rector of the Pontifical North American College] at the Vatican, and 490 men were ordained as priests while I was there,” Bishop Checchio said. “So many of them said it was their grandparents’ faith which inspired them. To our priests in parishes, you are our spiritual grandparents. You play such an important role in our society Thanks for all you do.”

Father Toborowsky echoed the Bishop’s appreciation during his homily, advising the congregation of seniors to “show perseverance if your kids or grandkids don’t go to Mass or think their faith is an important part of their lives. Pray they will turn to God. God will give us what we need to be strong,” he said.

Keynote speaker Younkins is the director of Life, Justice and Peace in the Institute for Evangelization in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Before working for the Church, the 41-year-old married mother of seven children had been an occupational therapist for 19 years, focusing on geriatric patients and those with dementia. In her presentation entitled “His Mercy is from Age to Age,” Younkins shared lessons of love and faith she had learned from her patients and other senior citizens.

“We are at a pivotal moment in time …

There may never have been a harder time to be a parent, and one of the hardest times to be a child, because for the first time, the whole world has access to your child,” she said, due to the Internet and electronic devices. “The children are the victims. Media is a constant barrage fostering self-loathing in insidious and relentless ways.”

One in three teens have no faith at all, and society today does not support faith nor a wholesome culture, she said, “but there is good news: the Word made flesh. We have an unchanged mission, the same from generation to generation. Start by going home and loving your family. Show them bravery, honesty, authenticity and joy.”

Younkins concluded, “The oldest generation among us will lead the way by saying to the youth: ‘You are worth the fight, we believe in you, and you are born for this.’ We need to hear that … God comes to us in the context of family.”

“We sat on the porch and she

“More than ever I find myself in the hands of God. This is what I have wanted all my life from my youth. But now there is a difference; the initiative is entirely with God. It is indeed a profound spiritual experience to know and feel myself so totally in God’s hands.”

– Pedro Arrupe, SJ

1 Alma Sanjuan, parishioner of St. Francis Cabrini, Piscataway, expresses the enjoyment many senior guests experienced during the July 26 Day for Grandparents and Seniors held in the diocesan Chancery.

2 Ed and Eileen Fisher from Holy Trinity Parish, Bridgewater, present the Offertory gifts to Father Jonathan Toborowsky, diocesan vicar general and moderator of the curia, who celebrated a concluding Mass for the grandparents and seniors.

3. Erin Younkins, keynote speaker, shares lessons of love and faith.

4 Little Sister of the Poor Bernice Marie Wall joins others in prayer during the closing Mass.

5. Bishop James F. Checchio greets Joseph and Carolina Donahue from St. Francis Cathedral, Metuchen.

Gerald Wutkowski Jr. photos

As grandparents we show our commitment and love of our church by faithfully attending Mass, communicating to our grandchildren the love that Jesus has for us all.

SHARING LOVE, FAITH WITH YOUTH

As a grandparentstep… they see my example by attending Mass each morning and their grand- father, who isnot Christian, also attendingwith me.Theyare fully aware of myCatholicism.

Ihavemygranddaughter, atsoontobe3,stayingovernight month.myhometwotothreetimesper encourageIsaygraceatmealsand hertodothesame.TheresaLCormier, St.BernadetteParish,Parlin

Pearls of Wisdom

Bishop Checchio shares boyhood memories about his grandmother and great grandmother, and reminds guests of the important role they play in the faith lives of their grandchildren.

As a grandmother, I made sure that I was always present from the start of their church involvement: Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation. I brought them to their weekly CCD classes. Now, I remind the parents of the Sunday Masses. I am praying that one of my grandsons will be a priest.

RosemaryandIawait the arrivalofourfirst grandchild,inNovember. Baptism,Weareexcitedattheprospectof andwehavetwolifetimes’ worthofCatholicheritagetoimpart! BobMcCormick,St.PeterCommunityand UniversityParish,NewBrunswick she taught us prayers in German.”

Marcia Pozarycki, Church of the Holy Trinity, Bridgewater

Ihavebeenvery fortunatetobemygrandchildren’seducator. I am helpingthemlearnabouttheirfaith andpreparingthemfortheirSacraments,andIfeelveryblessed. MaripatZupko, St.MaryParish,SouthAmboy

Alma San Juan, St. Frances Cabrini Parish, Piscataway

MariaRajan,HolyTrinityParish, Helmetta

– Bishop James F. Checchio

By Lois Rogers Special Contributor

The solid maple dining table is considered vintage now. If things go as I pray they will, it’s well on its way to becoming a cherished antique.

Just recently, it went out the door of my house, where it settled after my parents’ home was sold, never to return. Safely conveyed with its matching chairs by good friends to the young adult son of another good friend, it’s my hope that the table is once again destined to serve as a linchpin, connecting good meals and good conversation with good faith.

Such was its role from the time my mother settled on its wide, round, archetypal Colonial frame – the trend back in the ‘60s when it was new. She and my father found its shape appealing, I remember her saying to all of us.

No one sat at the head of the table or, by extension, at its foot. Everyone had good eye contact with each other. Best of all, our parents explained, sitting in a circle obstructed the view of the equally new, large color television set in the living room during meals, making conversation while perhaps not mandatory, certainly highly recommended.

Since those days, the table has taken a few hard knocks, from myself and my brothers, our friends and the frisky onslaught of the generation that followed us.

While well-intentioned roughhousing – a burn here, a nick there – left marks over the decades, the table moved steadily through time, a bulwark that gathered family together into safe harbor at least once a day.

Getting it ready to leave for its new home as part of the “de-cluttering” process recommended by a home sale expert, I couldn’t help but revisit those meals.

The number of graces prayed over

Memories made, lessons learned at our family table

everyone shared at one time or another.

The image of my mother spreading clear plastic over the table when the grandchildren were just little tykes so they could make as much of a mess as they wanted and just have a good time stands out clearly in the mind’s eye. So does the picture of my dad engaging in philosophical conversations over snacks with our friends who sought out his company on Friday and Saturday nights.

When the table came to my house, I knew I inherited more than a round piece of wood on a sturdy base. I inherited a whole legacy, passed down by my mother and father of traditions that spanned, if not the world, at least Europe.

Blended together were ingredients that sparked the desire to know all about the people who created them, their customs, and their beliefs. It created a thirst to know what caused them to depart Ireland, Italy, the British Isles, the backwaters of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Scandinavia and stick it out in the face of terrible hardship.

The insights I gleaned from sitting with grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and our friends made it hard to give that table up. Still, it would have been much harder to send it off to a secondhand store or a garage sale, where its fate would have been unknown.

Just this week, while researching a story on how grandparents are coping with the digital whirlwind enveloping society, I found a number of stories on how the dining table had dropped from the single most important piece of furniture in the house to fourth or even fifth place.

the food spread out on its surface like manna on holy days, holidays and Sacramental occasions is incalculable. The

bread broken at that table among relatives and friends was something like loaves and fishes, especially in the lean times

After years of knowing the mom of the young man who wanted the table for his first apartment and her love of family and home, I have a feeling our family table will buck that trend.

Sometimes remembering is as simple as leaving a stone

By Mary Morrell Editor-in-chief

My mother-in-law was a feisty woman, who was always up for a rousing debate, especially about her faith. Still, given that she was a cradle Catholic who spent several years in a convent boarding school as a child, her decision to join the Jewish Community Center in her 70s, after her husband died, was a surprise to all of us.

Sure, they had a great pool, which was her primary reason for joining, so she said, but it became obvious that she also took great pleasure in being the lone Catholic voice in what would soon become her small community of Jewish women. I’m sure there was more than a little fire in their conversations, and her name was Muriel.

So, when her funeral procession pulled into the cemetery, and I realized that the veteran’s section where my mother-in-law would be buried with her husband was adjacent to the Jewish section of the cemetery, I had to laugh.

There would certainly be no dearth

of spirited dialogue for this special lady of blessed memory.

While we waited along the narrow path in our cars, my husband noticed that most of the tombstones on Jewish graves had small rocks of various sizes resting on top of them, and he wondered at the significance. Stones, after all, are ordinary, cold and lifeless, certainly lacking the color and beauty of flowers.

But, as with so many things, the beauty of meaning often lies beyond sight.

The Jewish people find great significance in stones – ancient altars were often formed with piles of rocks, and graves were marked with them in the form of cairns. One of the most sacred sites of the Jewish faith, the Western Wall of the Temple Mount, is comprised of stones that have tasted the tears and heard the prayers of the Jewish people for centuries.

And then there is God, who King David calls “the Rock of my salvation,” and who is known as the Rock of Israel.

And didn’t Jesus, the “cornerstone,” change Simon’s name to Peter, saying,

“Upon this rock I will build my church.”?

In Jewish tradition, when a visitor places a rock or pebble on a headstone, it symbolizes the presence of God, whose love and covenant is enduring. By engaging in this meaningful ritual, a person is also participating in the mitzvah, or commandment, of making a marker at the grave to honor the deceased.

As one rabbi has written, “We are taught that it is an act of ultimate kindness and respect to bury someone and place a marker at the site.”

Looking out across the wide expanse of the memorial garden where Muriel was to be buried, I looked in wonder at the sight of hundreds of tombstones, and almost everyone had stones of varying shapes and sizes sitting on top; stones of remembrance.

I thought a lot about remembering, about love and kindness, and was grateful for the Spirit of God which propels us to toward holiness even when we really don’t fully understand how, or why. Like the Jewish people, we trust that God’s commandments and God’s whisperings

are leading us into wholeness and communion, with God and each other.

And I like to think that God, like so many visitors to a Jewish grave, leaves markers in our lives as a sign of his presence and a reminder that we are loved and never forgotten.

BEARING WITNESS • “This photo shows my mother holding her granddaughter, Jeannie, at the beloved family table. The table, now on its way to a new home, was at the center of more than one lifetime of memories.” —Lois Rogers

“The number of graces prayed over the food spread out on its surface like manna on holy days, holidays and Sacramental occasions is incalculable.”

Mohammad Mardani photo on Unsplash

A family tradition of savory blessings on the Feast of the Assumption

tered, a gathering of the clan on special feast days is often possible only on via the internet and I thank God it’s there to link us all from Jersey to California to India! The day is spent instead with good friends who still hug the shoreline. Following Mass, we’ll trek off to the beach and following that, we’ll share a traditional seafood meal that always seems to involve at least one really great shrimp recipe.

The one presented here is adapted from a favorite cookbook – “The Best of the Best” from the Junior League. It’s a snap to make and a savory treat.

Shrimp with Feta Sauce

Ingredients:

-1/2 cup minced sweet onion

-1-1/2 cup tablespoon butter

-1-1/2 tablespoon vegetable oil

-1/2 cup dry white wine (optional)

-4 ripe medium Jersey tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped

-1 small clove garlic minced

-1/2 teaspoon salt

-1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

-3/4 teaspoon dried oregano

By Lois Rogers Special Contributor

Each year of my childhood and young adulthood that I can remember, the family came together for a seafood meal as the culmination of solemnities marking the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

We lived at the shore where the feast was known simply by many as “Saltwater Day” – focusing around Mass and

Elders are the ‘guardians of our collective memory’

Thoughts from our Holy Fathers

then a stroll to the water. There, we paid homage to the age old tradition that as the Blessed Virgin rose to heaven on this day so long ago, her tears cascaded into the oceans, turning them into healing waters.

Pious belief has it that the healing essence of the water returns every year on this day, so we’d dip our feet in the water for good health and carry some home in buckets and bottles to share with those unable to make the trip down to the beach.

These days, with the family scat-

“When we think of an inheritance, at times we think of goods, and not of the goodness that is done in old age, and that has been sown. That goodness is the best legacy we can leave. … When we are old, we lose some of our sight, but our inner gaze becomes more penetrating – one sees with the heart. We become capable of seeing things that previously escaped us … It is true: the Lord does not entrust his talents only to the young and the strong. He has talents for everyone, made to fit each person, the elderly too.”

POPE FRANCIS, 2022

-4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled

-1 pound large uncooked shrimp, shelled and deveined

-1 pound spinach pasta, cooked according to package directions

-1/2 cup chopped parsley

Directions: In a heavy skillet, sauté the onion in the butter and oil until soft. Add the wine, tomatoes, garlic, salt, pepper and oregano. Simmer until the sauce is slightly thickened. Stir in the feta cheese

“Do not forget that one of the valuable resources you possess is the essential one of prayer: become interceders with God, praying with faith and with constancy. Pray for the Church, and pray for me, for the needs of the world, for the poor, so that there may be no more violence in the world. The prayers of the elderly can protect the world, helping it, perhaps more effectively than collective anxiety. Today I would like to entrust to your prayers the good of the Church and peace in the world.”

and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes longer. Just before serving, add the shrimp to the simmering sauce and cook 5 minutes or until the shrimp are just tender. Be careful not to overcook. Serve over spinach pasta and garnish liberally with parsley for color. Crusty French bread and a crisp green salad complete the meal.

Lois Rogers is an award-winning writer and guest blogger who has been sharing about faith, family and food since the late ’90s. She can be contacted

sonings and cheese can become a lasting tradition and savory treat when celebrating a feast of the Church and a day at the shore. —Eilie Aceron photo on Unsplash.

“Elderly people help us to see human affairs with greater wisdom, because life’s vicissitudes have brought them knowledge and maturity. They are the guardians of our collective memory, and thus the privileged interpreters of that body of ideals and common values which support and guide life in society. To exclude the elderly is in a sense to deny the past, in which the present is firmly rooted, in the name of a modernity without memory. Precisely because of their mature experience, the elderly are able to offer young people precious advice and guidance.”

Chalk art of Mary greets worshippers Aug. 14, 2021, for vespers on the eve of the Feast of the Assumption at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore. CNS photo/Kevin J. Parks, Catholic Review

POPE BENEDICT XVI, 2012

ST. POPE JOHN PAUL II, 1999 Roman Kraft photo on Unsplash

Aging with Grace Facing the challenges of growing older with God’s grace and the faith community

By Cori Urban Contributing Editor

When many people reach a certain age, they suffer losses unlike those they may have experienced in the past: loss of mobility, loss of independence, loss of vision or hearing, loss of the family home. Loss of a spouse.

At any age, the death of a spouse is life-changing. But in the golden years, when it is the spouse who is one’s confidant, comforter and constant companion, the loss can be devastating.

Without God’s grace and the support of family and friends, the grief process can be lonely and frightening.

“The elderly may not have the support systems in place. Additionally, they may see this as the end of their having purpose or being a burden on others,” said Cheryl C. Gatti, bereavement ministry facilitator at St. Mary Parish-Stony Hill, Watchung.

“With the elderly, we are concerned about two things: the secondary losses and the health,” she explained. The secondary losses include no longer having a purpose as a caregiver, financial issues and isolation.

“The elderly often have physical and mental health issues as well that are exacerbated by the loss of a loved one,” she continued. “This is a big part of what we talk about because they may not happen initially. We share that it is important to

recognize this and stress the importance to reach out to their healthcare provider or others.”

The parish program is open to all who have suffered a loss, and most of the participants are seniors who have lost spouses or children.

“The group offers a safe place to share anger, fears, etc.,” Gatti said. “One of the most important rules is that everything shared in our group is confidential. It offers a group of people sharing similar experiences. Most importantly, it is a

place of hope, of defining a life after loss than can be meaningful and joyful.”

It has been estimated that by 2030, about 70 million Americans – 20 percent of the population – will be over age 65.

“Sadly, the biggest changes in later life often involve losses: of spouse or adult children; of friends, home, health or career identity; and, finally, of one’s very life,” the U.S. bishops wrote in “Blessings of Age,” their 1999 pastoral message on growing older.

They observed, “This stripping away of so much that is held so dear is a painful process, one that can seem almost unrelenting, especially in advanced years. It can, however, be a natural preparation for death – the ultimate stripping of externals – and eternal life in heaven.”

Recognizing the social, economic and spiritual implications of this rapidly growing age group, the bishops encouraged a fresh perspective that embraces the gift of aging, recognizing the blessings and the losses, and embracing the vision of older persons as active participants in contributing to the Church’s life and mission and in meeting the spiritual needs of its members.

St. Pope John Paul II once said, “Arriving at an older age is to be considered a privilege: not simply because not everyone has the good fortune to reach this stage in life, but also, and above all, because this period provides real possibilities for better

evaluating the past, for knowing and living more deeply the Paschal Mystery, for becoming an example in the Church for the whole People of God.”

Gatti encourages family members and friends to check in on elderly persons who have lost a spouse. “Offer assertive choices like ‘What day this week am I picking you up for lunch?’ rather than ‘Call me if you need anything.’”

The parish can also be a lifeline, offering a sense of community and the opportunity to become involved and have purpose. The grace of the Sacraments is valuable beyond measure.

“We are all growing older, not just as individuals but as members of a faith community,” the bishops wrote. “The spiritual growth of the aging person is affected by the community and affects the community.

“Aging demands the attention of the entire Church. How the faith community relates to its older members – recognizing their presence, encouraging their contributions, responding to their needs and providing appropriate opportunities for spiritual growth – is a sign of the community’s spiritual health and maturity.”

The Diocese of Metuchen has 24 Ministry of Consolation Support Groups for those who are grieving, and two in St. Peter’s University Hospital, New Brunswick. For a brochure contact the Office of Human Life and Dignity at amarshall@ diometuchen.org or call 732-562-1543.

Conference honors God’s gifts of water, wisdom and elders in faith

By Joe Ruff, OSV News

ST. PAUL, Minn. (OSV News) -- Celebrating Native American Catholics’ cultures and traditions along with a special Mass with Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis were the focus July 22 of the 84th annual Tekakwitha Conference in the Twin Cities.

Several hundred people traveled by bus from a hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota, where most of the North American conference was held July 19-23, to the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul for a cultural day that included a morning water ceremony with prayers and hymns honoring God’s gift of the precious resource and its life-giving importance.

Maryanna Harstad of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and program director at Gichitwaa Kateri in south Minneapolis guided the water ceremony with stories, prayers and hymns. She noted the outdoor gathering at the university was only five miles away from the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers, which in Dakota and Ojibwe spirituality is considered a place of creation and healing. Water used in the ceremony was drawn from Minnesota’s Lake Itasca at the headwaters of the Mississippi River.

James Vukelich Kaagegaabaw, an author, international speaker and digital content creator who lives in Apple Valley, Minnesota, spoke about insights to wisdom and healthful living he gained while learning and helping create a dictionary of the Ojibwe language.

Ojibwe words with complex structures and multiple but interconnected interpretations brought him to understand the sacred nature of relationships with people and nature fed by humility, respect and love, said Vukelich Kaagegaabaw. He is a descendant of Turtle Mountain, who has written a book about his adventures with language and culture titled “The Seven Generations and the Seven Grandfather Teachings.”

In his homily at Mass in the auditorium, which was celebrated in English with hymns sung in Ojibwe and English, Archbishop Hebda spoke of the importance of elders including grandparents, and he thanked those gathered for the way they enrich the Church and teach about faith and life.

“I couldn’t help but note that today, throughout the world this weekend, the Holy Father has asked us to celebrate grandparents and elders,” the archbishop said of Pope Francis instituting the World

Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, adding, “you’ve taught me so much about elders and respect for family.”

“My suspicion, brothers and sisters, is that many of you can speak not only about your parents but about a grandparent or a great-grandparent who introduced you to the faith and who helped you persevere even in difficult times; who taught you about what’s important in life,” the archbishop said. “And not just your grandparents by blood, but those elders who have been so much a part of Catholic Indian communities throughout this country and who have passed on not only the wisdom of the elders but have

Joseph Bester plays the hand drum during Mass July 22 at the Tekakwitha Conference. The Mass took place at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn. Bester belongs to Gitchitwaa Kateri parish in Minneapolis —OSV News photo/ Dave Hrbacek, The Catholic Spirit

passed on our faith.”

After Mass, Michelle HakalaBeeksma, an enrolled member of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in northeastern Minnesota and co-chair of the conference, gave blankets of appreciation that were placed on the shoulders of several organizers and supporters of the Tekakwitha Conference, including Archbishop Hebda. The blankets are an Ojibwe way to honor people, Hakala-Beeksma said, by “wrapping them in your love and prayers.”

Joe Ruff is the editor-in-chief of The Catholic Spirit, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Prayer and the parish can be a lifeline for grieving seniors, say grief counselors. Gerald Wutkowski Jr. photo

Sisters of Life founding superior honored by Knights with Gaudium et Spes Award

Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly and wife Vanessa (center), New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan (second from left) and Knights Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E Lori of Baltimore (right) gather Aug. 1, 2023, with Mother Agnes Mary Donovan and other members of the Sisters of Life after the annual States Dinner of the Knights of Columbus 141st Supreme Convention in Orlando, Fla. During the dinner, Mother Agnes received the Gaudium et Spes Award – the Knights’ highest honor –for her leadership of the Sisters of Life as founding superior over the past 30 years. —OSV News photo/Matt Barrick, via Knights of Columbus

ever published in a Catholic newspaper: “Help Wanted: Sisters of Life.”

The five simple words led a 1989 column penned by New York Cardinal John J. O’Connor -- and within two years, eight women took up the call to be emissaries of Jesus Christ’s life-giving love as the first ever “Sisters of Life.”

founding superior, Mother Agnes Mary Donovan, with its Gaudium et Spes Award that recognizes those who have made “outstanding contributions to both the Catholic Church and to society.”

The award first was given to St. Teresa of Kolkata in 1992 and then to Cardinal O’Connor himself in 1994. Archbishop

William E. Lori of Baltimore, the Knights’ nes as “a true disciple of the Lord working “Cardinal O’Connor’s column with its unique appeal was the catalyst for what she has called the best decision of her life,” Archbishop Lori told the 2,300 Knights of Columbus, spouses and family members gathered in the ballroom of the Orlando Marriott World Center Aug. 1 for the annual convention’s States Dinner.

Archbishop Lori shared how under Mother Agnes’ leadership, the oncefledgling diocesan order of well-educated, professional women dedicated to pro-life work that Cardinal O’Connor called “my cathedral” and a “great gift of God” had blossomed into one of the most defining Catholic features of building a culture of life through genuine love for each and every human person.

Peter Jesserer Smith is national news and features editor for OSV News.

Obituary Deacon John T. Flynn, served parish 46 years

sey Hose Fire Company and received an honorary lifetime membership there.

A funeral Mass was celebrated for Deacon Flynn at the parish on July 25, 2023, the Feast of St. James. Father John Barbella, former pastor of the parish was the principal celebrant and homilist. Father Antony Arockiadoss, pastor, was among those priests who concelebrated.

In his homily, Father Barbella said that when he was first appointed pastor in St. Philip and St. James 14 years ago, he was told that the parish had, “great deacons.”

By Deacon Pat Cline Correspondent

Deacon John T. Flynn, ordained five years before the creation of the Diocese of Metuchen, died July 18, 2023, having served his home parish of St Philip and James, Philipsburg, for 46 years. He was ordained a permanent deacon on May 14, 1977, by Bishop George W. Ahr, Diocese of Trenton.

In addition to his parochial ministries, Deacon Flynn was a member of the former Phillipsburg Area Council of Churches and was active with their food pantry. Deacon Flynn was co-chairman of the Warren County Jail Chaplaincy Council, a member of the Warren Hospital chaplaincy committee, and a teacher in their ecumenical school of faith. He formerly served as the assistant chaplain of the Jer-

“Indeed, there are good deacons in this church, and at the head of them was Deacon John Flynn. It was men like Deacon Flynn who showed us what a servant a deacon could be. It was women like his wife, Florence, who served us by sharing her husband with the larger Church,” said Father Barbella.

Born on May 20, 1937, in Phillipsburg, Deacon Flynn was the son of the late Francis T. Flynn Sr. and Blanche Jean Cantrel Flynn. He was a member of the parish for his entire life and was a resident of Philipsburg for 63 years. He received all his sacraments in the church, attended St. Philip and St. James elementary and high schools, and on Jan. 24, 1959, he and his wife, the former Florence Edith Ruch, were married in the church, as well. After an honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy, Deacon

Flynn returned to Phillipsburg. He was employed by Ingersoll Rand Company as a pyrometer technician until 1983 before becoming a member of the board of directors and a loan officer for IRCO Community Federal Credit Union until his retirement in 2002.

Although Bishop James F. Checchio was unable to attend the funeral Mass, he sent a letter to the family that was read by Deacon Stephen F. Kern, diocesan director, Office of the Diaconate, in which the Bishop assured them that, “I joined with you at the altar, as I offered Mass for John and your family, too.”

Bishop Checchio recalled the many souls Deacon Flynn helped in his many years of service and mentioned that two young priests “whom I ordained in recent years were baptized by Deacon John.”

Stating that no deacons do all this alone, the Bishop also expressed his gratitude to “Florence, John’s dear wife, for her support of his ministry over the years.”

Surviving Deacon Flynn, in addition to his wife, Florence, are three sons, Edward C. and his wife, Stephanie, with whom he resided; Thomas P. and his wife Ellen, Bethlehem, Pa., and Brian F. and his wife Linda, Palmer, Pa; seven grandchildren; three great grandchildren; his three sisters, Mary Lilly, Patricia Flynn, and Blanche Gebhard, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his

three brothers, Joseph, Francis, and Daniel. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Finnegan Funeral Home in Phillipsburg and interment was in St. Philip and St. James Cemetery in Greenwich Township. Memorials to his memory may be made to St. Philip and St. James Church, 426 South Main St., Phillipsburg, N.J., 08865.

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BALTIMORE (OSV News) – Since No vember, three Sisters Poor of Jesus Christ – a new international order of nuns based in South America – have been living inside a renovated convent at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in downtown Baltimore. They were later joined by another sister from Brazil. The newcomers’ mission in Charm City is simple, yet profound: to be Christ’s presence among the poor, lonely and forgotten. In addition to the traditional religious vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, the sisters take a Marian vow of total availability to the poor. “We are here to provide people with

of Jesus (squatting) joins Sister Samaritan of Scourged Love (left) and Sister Maria Clara of the Crucified in giving food to a man near Lexington Market in Baltimore May 3, 2023. OSV News Photo/Kevin J. Parks, Catholic Review

an encounter with the person and love of Jesus Christ,” said Sister Giovana of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, 26. “That is what is most needed among the homeless and the poor – and also among those who might have a home but are so lonely and broken. We provide them an opportunity to believe and to have hope and joy.”

Lay parish missionaries indispensable co-workers in evangelization from the city to the prairie

Father James Keiter, who ministers to 12 parishes in the farthest flung parts of the Archdiocese of Omaha, Neb., is seen at the center of a table with FOCUS lay missionaries and others in this undated photo. The priest is working with missionaries from the Fellowship of Catholic University Students to build up disciples of Jesus in his parishes. —OSV News photo/ courtesy Father James Keiter

Compiled from Our Sunday Visitor

Greek church leaders urge ‘learning of lessons’ amid devastating fires

RHODES, Greece (OSV News) -- Catholics in Greece have called for lessons to be learned after a wave of fires devastated parts of the country amid highest summer temperatures for half a century. “We still don’t know how many church communi ties have been affected, as hotels burned and people were evacuated,” said Arch bishop Josif Printezis of Naxos, Andros, Tinos and Mykonos, secretary-general of Greece’s Catholic bishops’ conference. “But the Pope has talked many times about how we all need to collaborate in reversing climate change. Although it’s been hard in Greece to tell whether these latest fires are directly connected with this, we need to start reflecting properly and respecting our common home.” The Tinos-based archbishop spoke with OSV News as people continued fleeing their homes on Rhodes and Corfu, as well as in mainland areas, and as thousands of tourists remained stranded after having holidays suddenly curtailed. Pope Francis in his July 28 telegram to Bishop Petros Stefànou, president of the Greek Catholic bishops’ conference, said that he is “deeply concerned by the threat to life and damage caused by the widespread wildfires” in various parts of Greece. Hundreds of fires were reported across Greece

from mid-July, mostly blamed on arson and human negligence, under heatwave conditions with high-velocity winds.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (OSV News) – Lay men and women working as full-time or volunteer missionaries in parishes and campuses are helping priests expand the evangelizing reach of their ministry wherever they are, from urban centers to prairie towns. In the Diocese of Memphis, Rebecca Talarico, the diocese’s associate director of youth ministry, told OSV News that first and foremost, in order to teach young people what it means to follow Jesus Christ, she explained, “you want someone who is grounded in the Catholic faith.” At St. Michael Catholic Church, located in midtown Memphis, youth director Enrique Montiel, told OSV News his missionary effort has seen transformation take place. Attendance at these weekly, two-hour evening meetings

averages 50 - 75 people. “We started with just 10 visitors and it grew from there,” he said. Additionally, Montiel is assisted in his ministry by a young couple who “attended our events as teenagers.” Sarah Horinek, FOCUS’ director of parish outreach, a full-time FOCUS missionary at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, with its 350 registered families in rural Beloit, Kansas, told OSV News, “One of our greatest spiritual needs is opening the hearts of people to Jesus, in spite of the challenges and messiness that exists in their lives.” She noted, “We serve as an extension of the Church, reaching out to people in this remoteness and inviting them into a relationship with us, and through that relationship introducing them to Jesus Christ.”

A firefighter walks next to rising flames as a wildfire burns near the village of Vati, on the island of Rhodes, Greece, July 25, 2023. Extreme heat waves have seen Greece, Italy and Spain record alltime high temperatures with the heat index in several Middle Eastern countries reaching 152 degrees Fahrenheit, near the limit of human survival. OSV News photo, Nicolas Economou, Reuters

Russian missile destroys Transfiguration Cathedral’s central altar in Odesa

ODESA, Ukraine (OSV News) – A Russian attack on a key Ukrainian port city has partially destroyed a historic Ukrainian Orthodox cathedral and UNESCO World Heritage site, prompting international outrage and pledges to rebuild. Amid a July 23 nighttime attack by Russia on Odesa, an X-22 anti-ship missile struck the Ukrainian Orthodox Holy Transfiguration Cathedral (Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral). The missile directly hit the central altar, as a result of which the cathedral building and the three lower floors were partially destroyed, while the interior and icons were significantly damaged. The missile was one of 19 various kinds launched against the city that evening in a barrage that killed one and injured 22, including four children. Since abandoning the Black Sea Grain Initiative on July 17 – a deal brokered by Turkey and the United Nations to ensure vital grain supplies from Ukraine to Africa, the Middle East and Asia – Russia has relentlessly targeted Odesa, the key port for

such shipments. “We cannot allow people around the world to get used to terrorist attacks. The target of all these missiles is not just cities, villages or people. Their target is humanity and the foundations of our entire European culture,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Along with the cathedral, almost 50 other buildings, 25 of them architectural monuments, had also been destroyed that night in Odesa’s historic center, which as a whole forms a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Damage is seen to the roof of the Transfiguration Cathedral following a Russian missile strike in Odesa July 23, 2023. OSV News photo/Yan Dobronosov, Reuters

July 30, 2023

Dear Brothers and Sisters, buongiorno! Today the Gospel tells the parable of a merchant in search of precious gemstones, who, Jesus says, “on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it” (Mt 13:46). Let us pause a little on the actions of this merchant, who first seeks, then finds and finally buys … and ask ourselves some questions. Seeking: am I searching, in my life? Do I feel fine, accomplished, am I satisfied, or do I exercise my desire for good? Am I in spiritual retirement? How many young people are in retirement! The second action, finding: do I practice discerning what is good and comes from God, knowing how to renounce what leaves me with little or nothing? Finally, buying: do I know how to spend myself for Jesus? Is He in first place for me, is He the greatest good in life? It would be nice to say to Him today: “Jesus, You are my greatest good”. Each one of you in your heart, say now: “Jesus, you are my greatest good”. May Mary help us to seek, find and embrace Jesus with all of ourselves.

Divine food: how the Eucharist changes our life

We eat food in order to live. Jesus offered himself as the “bread of life” so that we could live a different kind of life. We have a hard time imagining what that different life looks like. When Jesus says, “I have come that you may have life and have it abundantly,” (Jn 10:10) it is tempting to think of good health, vacations, and prosperity. Jesus didn’t need to die for us to live that kind of life, however. That may be what we want, but our desires fall short of what God wants to give us.

When we eat the flesh of the Son of God, we enter into “communion” with him, a nourishment strong enough to make us as one. He himself is in perfect communion with the Father, so much so that he lives from this communion: “My food is to do the will of him who sent me” (Jn 4:34). When we come into communion with Jesus during Mass, he is offering us his own food so that we can know his Father and live also in communion with him. He passes on everything that he has to us in the Eucharist.

In response, we might be tempted to think, “Is that all?” It seems so simple and hidden, while we look for something more easily sensed and practically used. Jesus offers us something infinitely greater: the food of his divine life. Such a great gift can be easily overlooked or taken for granted. We miss the hidden offering of Jesus’s whole self to the Father, which draws us into his love, offering us the communion for which we were made. We can’t be happy without it, but we continue to look past it, fixated on the junk food of earthly pleasure and comfort. We cannot preserve his presence in us if we

live like everyone else in the world, pursuing other things more than him. If we are in communion with Jesus, we must live “as one” with him, enabling him to be present in us and through us.

The true gift of Jesus’s life might be an interior one, but it should change everything. Jesus himself said that those who eat his flesh and drink his blood will never die (Jn 6:50), because his life is greater than the life of this world. Without this food, we live more like zombies, maintaining biological life while lacking the true life of the soul that comes only as a nourishing gift from Jesus. This gift acts as a spiritual leaven that enlivens everything, beginning within our heart as the core and building out from there, layer upon layer. A Eucharistic life cannot be secular, because Jesus desires to be with us in everything that we do. Neither can it be individualistic, because it is based on communion, creating real community with others and shared life that flows from and back toward the altar.

Even if the Eucharist doesn’t seem like a practical gift, it is one that can and should make everything better, even on a human level. If Jesus wants to give us life, we can expect him to change us, and he will, if we let him. If he changes us, he will then change others through us. He will build an entire way of life centered on his Eucharistic presence. By eating the body of Christ, we become his body in the world, extending it concretely in time and space. This life puts God first, prioritizing prayer, while also attending to Christ present in others. The Eucharist is the sacrament of love, and thus a Eucharistic way of life must express char-

Bring generations together this summer!

evening, year-round, by all those who pray the liturgy of the hours.

As we sing this canticle day after day, it imprints itself on our memories and on our souls.

This summer, Catholics around the world were invited to participate in two exciting, interrelated events in the life of the Church. The World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, which took place July 23, and World Youth Day, celebrated in Lisbon, Portugal, during the first week of August.

Echoes of the Visitation are quietly woven into our daily prayer life as Catholics. Part of the traditional Hail Mary prayer – Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb– is drawn from Elizabeth’s greeting to her young cousin when the Virgin arrived to visit her.

The Magnificat – the exuberant hymn of praise to God sung by Mary during the Visitation – is repeated every

But I think that even as we repeat the Hail Mary and the Magnificat each day, we tend to take for granted the encounter from which these texts were born.

By focusing our attention on the Visitation this summer, Pope Francis is inviting us to find new meaning in this scene.

In his messages for the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly and World Youth Day, the Pope presents the Visitation as a significant intergenerational encounter.

“In the meeting between Mary and Elizabeth, between young and old, God points us towards the future that he is opening up before us,” he wrote. “Indeed, Mary’s visit and Elizabeth’s greeting open our eyes to the dawn of salvation: in their embrace, God’s mercy quietly breaks into human history amid abundant joy.”

Pope Francis continued, “I encourage everyone to reflect on that meeting, to picture, like a snapshot, that embrace between the young Mother of God and the elderly mother of Saint John the Baptist, and to frame it in their minds and hearts as a radiant icon.”

Following the Pope’s advice, we could add the first chapter of Saint Luke’s Gospel to our summer reading list, especially verses 39-56!

The Pope is asking us to do more than just frame an image of the Visitation in our minds, however. He is also inviting us “to make a concrete gesture that would include grandparents and the elderly.”

He challenges us, “Let us not abandon them. Their presence in families and communities is a precious one, for it reminds us that we share the same heritage and are part of a people committed to preserving its roots ... Let us honor them, neither depriving ourselves of their company nor depriving them of ours. May we never allow the elderly to be cast aside!”

Just as it is important for the young

ity, embodying God’s love concretely to others. The sacrament becomes a shared center, uniting us to others by creating stronger families, forming friendships, building community in the parish and becoming a source of celebration that provides joy throughout the year.

When Mass ends, Jesus asks us, “Will you also go away?” We should answer as Peter does in John 6: “Lord, to whom shall we go?” (Jn 6:68). We all face this choice. After communion, what are we doing with the rest of our lives? Are we abiding in Jesus or going about our own business? Are we trying to sustain ourselves with human food? Most of us do not even realize that we can live a divine life of communion with the Holy Trinity. We aim lower and miss even on that level. With Jesus in us, however, everything is better and becomes a means of expressing our communion with God. Jesus becomes present in every detail of our lives, becoming present within it, changing it, and directing it in his love. He becomes our daily bread, nourishing us into everlasting life.

Dr. Staudt’s column is distributed by the Denver Catholic, the official publication of the Archdiocese of Denver; 303715-3230.

to reach out to the old, the opposite is also true. If you are an older adult with young people among your relatives or neighbors, why not honor the spirit of World Youth Day by reaching out to them with a gesture of welcome or support?

Pope Francis really believes that the young won’t make it without their elders.

He has said that if older people do not reach out to the young, the latter “will no longer see the things that must be done to open up the future ... If grandparents fall back on their melancholies, young people will look even more to their smartphones. The screen may stay on, but life will die out before its time.”

Whether you are young, like Mary, or older, like her cousin Elizabeth, this summer set aside some time to reach out to someone who is not from your own age cohort. If you do, your life, and the lives of others, will be richly blessed.

Sister Constance Veit is the communications director for the Little Sisters of the Poor in the United States and an occupational therapist.

HEADLINES

Compiled from Our Sunday Visitor

Catholics appeal for help as Maui fires declared a Federal Emergency

HONOLULU (OSV News) – Catholic Charities Hawai’i in the Honolulu Diocese has appealed for donations to help the agency meet housing, food and other needs of what could be thousands of victims from wildfires raging on the island of Maui that wiped out an entire town and drove people to seek refuge in the ocean.

More than 11,000 people were evacuated as wildfires burned the historic town of Lahaina “to the ground,” as numerous news outlets reported. Maui County officials confirmed Aug. 12 that at least 93 people have died, though that number was expected to multiply, and dozens of others were injured. An assessment of the Lahaina fire by the Pacific Disaster Center and Federal Emergency Management Agency reported 2,170 acres burned and more than 2,200 structures were damaged or destroyed.

Other Maui communities affected by the fires include the Kihei area and inland communities known as Upcountry. News reports said that wildfires also were affecting the Big Island (officially named Hawaii), and crews were battling a total of six fires, with three simultaneously torching Maui.

Firefighting crews continued to extinguish flare-ups in Lahaina and Upcountry into the evening Aug. 12, and the

Pope Francis’s Monthly Prayer Intentions

September

The shells of burned houses, buildings and cars are what’s left Aug. 11, 2023, after wildfires driven by high winds destroyed most of the town of Lahaina, Hawaii, on the island of Maui Aug. 8-9. Lahaina’s Maria Lanakila Catholic Church was spared from the flames. —OSV News photo/Hawai’i Department of Land and Natural Resources handout via Reuters

Pulehu/Kihei area fire was declared 100% contained to avoid further spread of the flames. “We can only imagine the distress and heartache that many are currently experiencing from the destructive wildfires on Maui, and our thoughts and prayers are with everyone impacted,” said a statement posted on the website of Catholic Chari-

Polish village prepares for Ulma family’s beatification for heroism in face of Nazis

Wiktoria Ulma is pictured in an undated photo outside the Ulma home in Markowa, a village in southeastern Poland. Wikotria, her husband, Józef, and their seven children were executed March 24, 1944, by Nazis who discovered that the family had been sheltering eight Jews —OSV News photo/ courtesy National Remembrance Institute

ties Hawai’i, which urged people to make a donation to the agency for Maui relief at catholiccharitieshawaii.org/maui-relief.

On Aug. 10, President Joe Biden issued a federal disaster declaration for Maui and the Big Island, ordering “all available federal assets on the Islands to help with response.”

We pray for those persons living on the margins of society, in inhumane life conditions; may they not be overlooked by institutions and never considered a lesser importance.

Marquette Method Natural Family Planning Services Training Scholarship

is

KRAKOW, Poland (OSV News) – A few years ago people of the little village of Markowa, in southeastern Poland, would never have thought that in the summer of 2023, they would have dozens of guests coming to visit every day from all over the world. With the Ulma family beatification coming up Sept. 10, the people of Markowa are busy telling the story of their ancestors and preparing for what is for them an event of the century.

For the village of roughly 4,000 people, a mostly farming community, “it is a bit overwhelming in a sense,” Urszula Niemczak told OSV News. Her husband is Wiktoria Ulma’s nephew. “We have media, pilgrims, people from all over Poland but also the United States coming to visit. Lots of renovations, preparation and a bit of stress, yes, that’s what it is at the moment!” she said.

Józef and Wiktoria Ulma, who lived in the village during the Second World War, gave shelter to eight Jews for almost two years in German-occupied Poland, hiding them from the Nazi regime. The Ulmas had seven children, including the unborn child in Wiktoria’s womb.

The Nazis, informed by a local policeman that Jews were being hidden in the household, came early in the morning March 24, 1944, right before Easter. First, they killed all eight of the Jewish fugitives. Then they shot Wiktoria and Józef. Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, will preside over the beatification Mass in a soccer field in Markowa, 1,300 feet from the grave of the Ulma family and about 1.2 miles from their house and the place they were killed.

Peter, the unifying pillar of the Christian community

21st Sunday of the Year (A)

By Msgr. John N. Fell

In this Sunday’s Gospel, the unfolding of God’s plan is seen in St. Peter’s increasing faith and in the mission of strengthening the faith of others that the Lord entrusts to him. Guided by divine inspiration, Peter’s faith developed rapidly from being so weak that he almost drowned when crossing the sea to meet Jesus to the point where his faith-filled insight was strong enough for him to proclaim boldly that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.

Jesus used Peter’s strident faith as the firm foundation upon which to build his church community. It is important that we always keep these two Gospel events together – in the story of Peter’s attempt to walk toward Jesus across the sea, we see the depth of his enthusiastic love for Jesus. In this Sunday’s Gospel story, we see Peter’s great faith in Jesus. Both would be necessary for Peter in his mission to be the pillar of the Christian community.

as the Christ, Peter was acting within the general expectations of Israel, but by further recognizing Jesus as the Son of God, Peter dispels any misconceptions about Jesus’ exact role and significance.

In combining these two titles, Peter captured the essence of Jesus’ unique relationship with the Father.

Jesus next commissions Peter to be the solid rock foundation of his soon to be established Church. Significantly, Matthew uses a word for church which means “the gathered assembly;” Jesus commissions Peter as the strong, unifying pillar of the Lord’s community – his faith and love will be the sturdy support which will hold the community together and keep the “gates of the netherworld” (Matthew 16:18b) at bay.

As a symbol of Peter’s authority and stewardship, Jesus confers upon him the “keys to the kingdom of heaven.” Peter is being given responsibility for the proper functioning of the Christian community. He must keep all in good order, having special oversight concerning admission into the kingdom (for example through Baptism, subsequent church discipline, etc.). The Catechism of the Catholic Church, #553, tells us “The power of the keys designates authority to govern the house of God, which is the Church.”

Joseph Calasanz

1556 - 1648

feast - August 25

This Spaniard studied law at the University of Lerida and was ordained a priest in 1583, despite his father’s hope that he would be a soldier. He became vicar general of a Spanish diocese, but in 1592 left for Rome, where he joined the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine and worked with neglected children. In 1597 he established the first free school in Rome with three other priests. This work led him to found the Clerks Regular of the Religious (or Pious) Schools, known as Piarists. He overcame internal and external opposition and served as superior general of the order. He was canonized in 1767, and in 1948 Pope Pius XII named him the patron saint of Christian schools. He is also a patron of students.

Saints

SCRIPTURE SEARCH®

Gospel for August 27, 2023

Matthew 16:13-20

The Gospel opens with Jesus having gone to Caesarea Philippi in Northern Palestine. This actually marked the beginning of his journey toward Jerusalem and the cross. Jesus begins a conversation with his disciples, asking them who the crowds think he is. Their answers betray a diversity of viewpoints: some say he is John the Baptizer (like Herod, many in the crowd saw Jesus as a populist, charismatic leader similar to John); others say he is Elijah (recalling the expectation that Elijah was to return before the day of the Lord); still others see him as Jeremiah (the prophet Jeremiah suffered much rejection and persecution for the message he proclaimed, just as Jesus would).

Taking their conversation to a more personal level, Jesus next asked his disciples who they thought he was. The question gives Peter the opportunity for his confession of faith, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God” (Matthew 16:16). By recognizing Jesus

Finally, Jesus gives Peter the power to bind and to loose both on earth and in heaven. In rabbinic literature, the power to bind and to loose involved the power to impose and dispense from obligations; to bind and to loose could also be used in a technical sense to mean excluding someone from the community and granting re-admission. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, #553, offers, “The power to bind and to loose connotes the authority to absolve sins, to pronounce doctrinal judgments, and to make disciplinary decisions in the Church.” Peter is assured that his decisions regarding the Christian community will accord with heavenly truth.

Peter’s special place in the Christian community is recognized throughout the New Testament. In Catholic tradition, we believe that the special authority and stewardship handed by Christ to Peter continue to be wielded by Peter’s successors, the Bishops of Rome. Each Pope, then, is commissioned to be the strong support who upholds and defends the Christian community. As the Second Vatican Council taught in its Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, #23, “The Roman Pontiff, as the successor of Peter, is the perpetual and visible source and foundation of the unity . . . of the whole company of the faithful.”

Msgr. Fell is a Scripture scholar and director, diocesan Office for Priest Personnel.

Following is a word search based on the Gospel reading for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A: The promised of the Rock. The words can be found in all directions in the puzzle.

HE ASKED OF MAN THE BAPTIST ELIJAH JEREMIAH ONE OF THAT I AM PETER LIVING GOD SON OF JONAH FLESH BLOOD REVEALED THIS THIS ROCK GATES GIVE KEYS KINGDOM ON EARTH TO TELL

WHO DO YOU SAY?

“The Roman Pontiff, as the successor of Peter, is the perpetual and visible source and foundation of the unity … of the whole company of the faithful.”

Global status of religious liberty ‘dire,’ House lawmakers warn

By Kate Scanlon OSV News

WASHINGTON (OSV News) – U.S. House lawmakers called the global status of religious liberty “dire” during a hearing July 18, citing concerns across the globe from China to Nicaragua.

At a hearing of the Subcommittee on Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations titled, “The Dire State of Religious Freedom Around the World,” lawmakers identified several countries where religious freedom is “under serious assault,” subcommittee chairman Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., said.

“Tragically, billions of people around the world – half of the world’s population – are not able to practice their faith freely,” Smith said at the hearing. “Many are persecuted by oppressive governments or extremist groups – brutally attacked, tortured, jailed, and even slaughtered for their beliefs.”

Some of the countries identified by lawmakers on the panel include China, where Smith said the “Chinese Communist Party is committing horrific crimes against believers, including genocide against Uyghur Muslims,” and Nigeria, where Smith said he has “seen firsthand the aftermath of Boko Haram’s destruction of churches and mosques.”

“While on paper Nigeria has robust protections for all religions, violations of

religious freedom are escalating,” he said. “Extremist groups like Boko Haram and ISIS West Africa commit indiscriminate violence against those they consider to be infidels. In the Middle Belt, Fulani Muslim extremists target and kill predominantly Christian farmers in brutal raids.”

Smith also took aim at “the Ortega regime’s brutal persecution of the church in Nicaragua,” referencing the committee’s earlier examination of what it called Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega’s anti-Catholic persecution.

“I remain deeply concerned for Bishop Álvarez, who was recently released only to be rearrested for bravely refusing to leave his country,” Smith said in reference to Bishop Rolando Álvarez, who was sentenced in February to 26 years in prison the day after he refused to be deported to the U.S. with more than 200 other Nicaraguan political prisoners.

“The Ortega regime is attempting to silence the Catholic Church as the single most important independent institution remaining in Nicaragua, but it will not succeed,” Smith continued. “I am committed to doing everything possible to urge the release of all Nicaraguans imprisoned for their faith.”

“The challenge we face today is clear: to protect and expand freedom of conscience, the ability to freely believe or not to believe, in the face of the forces of authoritarianism and exclusion,” Rep.

Father Liam McDonald, pastor of St. Therese of Lisieux Church in Montauk, N.Y., holds a monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament as he leads a Eucharistic

Susan Wild, D-Pa., said during remarks at the hearing. She noted these forces “have gained momentum in far too many corners of the world, including right here at home.”

Witnesses for the hearing included Rabbi Abraham Cooper, chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom; Eric Patterson, president of the Religious Freedom Institute; the Rev. Susan Hayward, associate director of the Religious Literacy and the Professions Initiative at Harvard Divinity School’s Religion and Public Life Program; and Rashad Hussain, U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom.

9 • 9 • 2023

Saturday, September 9, 2023, 1-8 pm

Raindate: Saturday, September 16 Raritan Bay Waterfront Park

Smith, who is Catholic, said religious liberty is “one of America’s founding ideals -- a cornerstone of our democracy – and it is an internationally recognized human right.”

Kate Scanlon is a national reporter for OSV News covering Washington. Follow her on Twitter @kgscanlon.

The annual observance of Religious Freedom Week took place June 22–29. The theme this year was “Embracing the Divine Gift of Freedom.”

Daily topics for prayer, reflection, and action may be found at: www.usccb.org/ ReligiousFreedomWeek.

• Enjoy the “Sounds of Ireland ...Classical to Rock” featuring the D. B. Kelly Pipes and Drums

• Demonstrations by local schools of Irish Dance

• Musical performances by: Collegium Musicum – Classical

The Willie Lynch Band – Traditional

The Bantry Boys – Folk

The Snakes - Rock

• Visit the many food trucks, craft, vendors or our beer garden

• Kids Zone with FREE activities including face painting, rides, puppet shows, activities and amusements.

Please visit southamboyparade.com for additional event information. Crafters and vendors interested in participating please contact Elliotj@southamboynj.gov. This event is handicapped accessible.

This project is supported in part by the Middlesex County Board of Commissioners and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment of the Arts.

OSV News photo/CNS file, Gregory A. Shemitz

Catholic Charities supports homeless in ‘Coming Home’

By Tiffany Workman

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen’s Unity Square Community Center in New Brunswick has services that help community members with food insecurities, social concerns and housing resources. Last month, thanks to a partnership with Coming Home, Middlesex County, Unity Square is increasing their efforts to address the issue of homelessness.

Coming Home is an organization that wants to prevent homelessness, even try to end it completely. Coming Home connects people to resources and opportunities and hope that people will find a place to live. Once that is accomplished, the organization hopes this will lead to them living a healthier lifestyle.

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen is an active and essential member of the County’s Housing Continuum of Care. Up until about a year ago, the only option a homeless person had was to call 211, the State’s Homeless Hotline, for help. Last year, members of the CoC

decided to expand their options. Instead of just calling 211, there would be physical access sites added in New Brunswick and Perth Amboy. The CoC asked Coming Home to apply for the funding from HUD to operate this “enhanced Coordinated Assessment Process.”

According to their website, Coming Home administers a coordinated entry process where all persons experiencing homelessness call 211 for help or visit a physical access site, such as Unity Square in New Brunswick. They are then entered into the system of helpful providers.

Coming Home then uses that system as a tool, to access resources and prioritizes them based on their severity of needs and length of homelessness.

The City of New Brunswick chose Unity Square as the site for Coming Home and someone will be onsite at Unity Square to meet face to face with those who are or at risk of being homeless.

Crystal Crawford

is an Access Navigator for the County’s System of Care and Ending Homelessness in the County. She will be able to enroll the person presenting with a housing crisis into the Homeless Management Information System and makes the initial referral for services when appropriate.

Crawford will be at Unity Square to assist those in need Monday through Thursday, from 9am-4pm. Those who are at risk of being homeless or are experiencing homelessness are urged to reach out. Unity Square Community Center is located at 81 Remsen Avenue in New Brunswick. They encourage you to call at 732-545-0329.

For more information visit cominghomemiddlesex.org or visit their Facebook @ComingHomeMC.

For more information about Catholic Charities Diocese of Metuchen or Unity Square please visit ccdom.org. Visit Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @ccdom1 to stay updated on upcoming events and ways to help clients get the services they need.

Workman is the Communications Specialist in the Office of Communications and Public Relations.

“Coming Home connects people to resources and opportunities and hope that people will find a place to live.”

Exterior of Unity Square Community Center —Frank Wojciechowski photo

Young people and the Synod: Insights from the Student Voices Project

By Dennis J. Wieboldt III Special Contributor

In 2021, Pope Francis announced the Synod on Synodality. Though the term “synod” is likely unfamiliar to many Catholics (as it once was to me), the Synod on Synodality is a multi-year process of dialogue within the Church that will culminate in formal meetings at the Vatican in October 2023 and 2024. Indeed, the term “synod” often refers to formal meetings of bishops in which important decisions are made about, for example, the meaning of Church doctrine.

The Synod on Synodality is steeped in the same tradition as other synods in the Church’s history – such as the Council of Nicea, which produced the Nicene Creed – but there are important differences between the Synod on Synodality and most other popularly known synods. First, the Synod is not tasked with formally adjudicating theological debates; rather, the Synod is consultative and therefore invites Catholics to engage in dialogue about how we can journey together as a Church in the 21st century. Second, synods have been principally – if not exclusively – composed of bishops for most of the Church’s history. Unlike these previous synods, however, more than one-quarter of the Synod on Synodality’s voting members are not bishops.

Pope Francis’s vision for a synod that encourages participation from men and women, the young and old, the laity and vowed religious is reflected in those whom he has included in the Synod’s voting membership. This vision notwithstanding, there have been challenges in facilitating widespread participation over the last two years, especially among young people. Considering that that the primary forum for lay participation in the Synod, for example, was “listening sessions” in local dioceses – where, studies have shown, young people are increasingly unlikely to be found – it should come as no surprise that young Catholics’ participation in the Synod has been less than comprehensive.

In light of the need for young people’s voices to be included in Synod, the Church in the 21st Century Center at Boston College began to survey students in Catholic high schools, colleges, and universities about their hopes for the Church through the Student Voices Project (SVP). To date, the SVP has surveyed more than 4,000 young people about their experiences in the Church –revealing hopeful insights into the future of faith formation.

Among the SVP’s 10 ‘key takeaways,’ four, I think, should be of particular interest to parents and those involved in the leadership of local parishes and Catholic schools.

First, the SVP found that, in terms of faith formation, Catholic high schools and colleges are the new parish for young

Catholics. As the director of the Church in the 21st Century Center recently remarked, “The SVP showed us that there are ways for Catholic high schools and universities to partner with parishes and share resources and programs. This can help bring young people into the life of the parish and in that way revitalize local faith communities.” From social programs to service opportunities and intellectual retreats, the SVP’s findings suggest that partnerships between parishes and local Catholic educational institutions can be fruitfl means of inviting young people back into parish life.

Second, the SVP found that young Catholics are curious about the mysteries of the Mass, but desire a greater understanding about what happens during the liturgy. Additionally, participants in the SVP consistently expressed a desire for greater opportunities to participate in Mass with their peers. As one participant asked, “Why not invite a local Catholic school’s choir to sing at next Sunday’s Mass?”

Third, the SVP found that a young person’s ability to intellectually engage with faith decisively shapes his or her ability to grow in faith. Students at Catholic high schools, in fact, consistently expressed that their religion courses had most helped them grow in faith in the past and had the most potential to do so in the future. Considering this finding, students often remarked that an opportunity to speak with professors or other Church leaders in their diocesan contexts would be a welcome addition to traditional programming.

Finally, the SVP found that young Catholics desire to be in community with other Catholics of a similar age. In light of this finding, Boston College and a local parish recently co-launched the “Mass & Mingle” program, though which Catholics in their twenties and thirties are invited to a monthly social reception after 5 p.m. Mass. As many Mass & Mingle attendees have expressed, this invitation to be in community with other young Catholics brought them back to Mass for the first time in months – and sometimes even years.

These four insights from the SVP are signs of hope about the future of young people in the Church. Only time will reveal the fruits of the Synod, but Pope Francis’ willingness to listen to the voices of young people should nevertheless serve as an invitation for those interested in the future of the Church to reflect on how the Church can best minister to the next generation. By asking young people about their experiences through initiatives like the SVP, the Church will be best enabled to undertake new efforts that help young people encounter God in their everyday lives. Remarkably, this process of renewal can begin with simply asking.

Dennis Wieboldt is a J.D./Ph.D. student in history at the University of Notre

Dame. In 2020, Dennis was appointed to a three-year term on the Boston College Church in the 21st Century Center’s Advisory Committee, where he continues to codirect the Center’s Student Voices Project. If your parish or school is interested in participating in the Student Voices Project, please contact church21@bc.edu.

A Mass & Mingle reception hosted in partnership between St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish and the Boston College Church in the 21st Century Center. Eileen Corkery photo

Annual Scout Mass celebrates youth faith, achievement

By Nora Burke Klippstein Special Contributor

Catholic Scouting is a ministry that combines fellowship, fun, and friends with faith exploration, learning and service through participation in religious activities that earn patches, as well as programs to earn religious emblems (medals).

Each year, the Diocese celebrates a Mass for all those involved in scouting and present awards to those who have earned religious emblems through various programs. On June 23, Father John Barbella, diocesan chaplain and moderator of the diocesan Catholic Scouting Apostolate, was the main celebrant and homilist for the annual Scout Mass and award ceremony, held in St. Bernard of Clairvaux Church, Bridgewater.

On the vigil feast day of St. John, the Baptist, Father Barbella encouraged the youth in attendance to follow in the footsteps of the prophets Jeremiah and John the Baptist to live out their individual vocation paths. He advised that they had good training available to them in the many medals offered by the national scouting programs as well as numerous other shorter Catholic Scout activities.

After Mass, Father Barbella recognized twenty-one Scouts in grades 4 to 12 from nine parishes across the Diocese who earned Religious Emblems (see side bar). In addition, nine new Eucharistic Revival religious activity patches were introduced, including a central patch for Mass attendance, surrounded by patches for reconciliation, rosary, family prayer, parish ministry, Eucharistic Adoration,

Eucharistic Miracles, Eucharistic Procession and Eucharistic Activity.

Special recognition was also given this year to Scouts who worked on the St. Kateri Tekakwitha Award which is a program activity in the American Saints series. St. Kateri, also called the Lily of the Mohawks, is recognized as an intercessor for the environment.

Eleven Girl Scouts earned this patch by learning about the life of St. Kateri, who was the first Native American woman declared a saint. She is a model for those who remain steadfast in their faith despite opposition. To honor her as a patron saint of environmental issues, butterfly plants were planted in two parishes in the Diocese. A third was planted at St. Bernard following the June 23 Mass and ceremony.

Receiving the St. Kateri patch were: Angelina Albanese, Kaylesh Bender, Sofia Colpas, Gabriella DeSaulniers, Malaika DeSaulniers, Sophia Elizondo, Leah Kahsai, Gabrielle Lombardo, Abigail Maillaro, Sophie Mamur and Guilianna Roccia.

Further information can be found at diometuchen.org/catholic scouting and the websites for the National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry or the National Catholic Committee on Scouting: nfcym.org/programs/nccgscf/religious-recognition-programs-patches/ or catholicscouting.com/religious-emblemsand-activities/

Individuals interested in the spiritual development of young people in scouting are urged to contact either Nora Burke Klippstein for Boy Scouts, klipclan@

att.net, or Doreen Sekora for Girl Scout, domgirlscouts@gmail.com. Please also contact Doreen for information on the GS Gathering Day to be held in the fall.

Nora Burke Klippstein is a member of Immaculate Conception Parish, Clinton, and serves with the diocesan Catholic Scouting Apostolate.

RELIGIOUS MEDAL RECIPIENTS

AD ALTARE DEI Boy Scouts Grades 7-12

Blessed Sacrament, Martinsville: Jonathan (JT) Klimuc

St. John Vianney, Colonia: Mehki Isaac

I LIVE MY FAITH Girl Scouts Grades 4-5

Immaculate Conception, Spotswood: Danielle Cugini

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Three Bridges: Sofia Colpas, Leah Kahsai, Gabrielle Lombardo Sophie Mamur, Guilianna Roccia

MARY THE 1ST DISCIPLE Girl Scouts Grades 6-8

Immaculate Conception, Spotswood: Emily Cugini

Our Lady of Victories, Sayreville: Kayleigh Allison Bender, Maricella Colon, Jacynda Trujillo

St. Ann, Hampton:

Gabriella DeSaulniers, Malaika DeSaulniers

St. Bernadette, Parlin: Sophie Rose Elizondo

St. Elizabeth Seton, Three Bridges: Angelina Albanese

St. Stanislaus, Sayreville: Angelica Biernacki

St. Theresa, Parlin: Abigail Rose Maillaro

SPIRIT ALIVE Girl Scouts Grades 9-12

Immaculate Conception, Spotswood: Grace Mandy, Madeline Rogala

BLUE ARMY OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA SHRINE

674 Mountain View Road E., Asbury, NJ 08802 908-689-7330 • retreat@bluearmy.com

Lift Up Your Soul at the tranquil 150-acre Fatima Shrine. Host Your Retreat for Youth, Couples, Parish or Vocational Group.

LOYOLA JESUIT CENTER

161 James Street • Morristown, NJ 07960 973-539-0740 • Fax: 973-898-9839 www.loyola.org • retreathouse@loyola.org

Retreats for lay men, women, priests, religious; days/evenings of prayer. Groups planning their own programs are welcome.

MOUNT ST. MARY HOUSE OF PRAYER

1651 U.S. Highway 22, Watchung, NJ 07069 908-753-2091 • www.msmhope.org

e-mail: msmhope@msmhope.org

Retreats, Spiritual Direction, Programs

SAN ALFONSO RETREAT HOUSE

755 Ocean Avenue, Long Branch NJ 07740

732-222-2731 • info@sanalfonsoretreats.org

www.sanalfonsoretreats.org

A Redemptorist Spiritual Center overlooking the Atlantic Ocean offering preached retreats, days of prayer and use of the facility for outside groups.

THE SHRINE OF ST. JOSEPH

1050 Long Hill Road, Stirling, NJ 07980 908-647-0208 • www.stshrine.org

Day & Overnight Retreats Gift & Book Shop - open daily

ST. FRANCIS CENTER FOR RENEWAL, INC.

395 Bridle Path Road, Bethlehem PA 18017 610.867.8890 • sfcr-info@stfrancisctr.org • stfrancisctr.org

55 acres of natural beauty await you! Programs for personal and spiritual enrichment, directed and solitude retreats. Air conditioned facilities for retreats, spiritual programs, meetings and staff days for church related and not-for-profit groups.

ST. FRANCIS RETREAT HOUSE

3918 Chipman Road, Easton, PA 18045

Phone: 610-258-3053, ext. 10 • Fax: 610-258-2412 Info@stfrancisretreathouse.org • stfrancisretreathouse.org

Franciscan retreat and confrence center. Retreats for men, women, youth, religious, preached, private, directed

ST. JOSEPH BY THE SEA

400 Route 35 North, S. Mantoloking, NJ 08738 732-892-8494 • sjbsea@comcast.net • sjbsea.org

VILLA PAULINE RETREAT AND SPIRITUAL CENTER

352 Bernardsville Road, Mendham, NJ 07945 973-738-4266 • smpdemek@scceast.org • www.scceast.org

Preached/Directed/Guided & Private Retreats, Spiritual Direction, day & weekend programs

This month’s featured retreat house:

email Ads@CatholicSpirit.com

Mount Saint Mary House of Prayer provides a sacred space, prayer experiences and spirituality programs that help adults of any faith to encounter the God of mercy and share that mercy with others.

10th Annual Major Speaker: Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ on October 18th

Professional Day for Spiritual Directors: Sr. Nancy Y. Sheridan, SASV and Fr. Thomas McMurray, SJ on October 10th

Contemplative Nonviolent Prayer & Practice: 1st Tuesday of the month

Men’s Group: 4th Tuesday of the month

Drumming Program: 2nd Wednesday of the month

Video Club: 2nd Friday of the month

Weekend silent directed retreats, weekly Eucharistic hour of prayer, & more!

1651 U.S. Highway 22, Watchung, NJ 07069-6587 908-753-2091 msmhope.org

A Retreat House Sponsored by the Religious Teachers Filippini overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and Barnegat Bay. Offering days of prayer, retreat weekends, spiritual programs, meetings and staff days.

Young scouts display their newly earned awards during the annual Scout Mass, June 23, in St. Bernard of Clairvaux Church, Bridgewater. Pictured back row, left to right, Jonathan Klimuc, Ad Altare Dei award; Madeline Rogala, Spirit Alive Award; Mehki Isaac, Ad Altare Dei award. Front row, left to right, Maricella Colon, Kayleigh Bender, Sophie Elizondo, Jacynda Trujillo and Angelina Albanese, all recipients of Mary, the First Disciple award. — Michelle Rogala photo

ACROSS

1 What one might do to the fatted calf, biblically speaking

4 ___ well

8 He is in Jesus’ genealogy in Luke

9 The Blessed ___

10 “Give us this day our ___…”

12 Merton’s The ___ of Jonas

13 Forty ___

14 Sunday in Advent

17 NT epistle

18 There is a particular one

22 The Archdiocese of Ottawa is here (abbr.)

24 Flower that symbolizes chastity

25 With 5D, the first metal worker in Genesis

26 Jeremiah asked if there was one in Gilead

28 Catholic comedian Costello

29 Catholic comedian who performed for the pope

30 Title for Catholic actor Guinness

32 A prison is named for this patron of locksmiths

33 They blew these outside the walls of Jericho

35 Convent dwellers

36 Covenant seal as described in Exodus

37 Homeland of the first Americanborn saint

38 Grandmother of Timothy

39 Kidron, for example

40 Hosea, formerly

DOWN

2 “Here am I; send me!” speaker

3 ___ Apostolate

4 Biblical heroine

5 See 25A

6 King in II Kings

7 “___ Irae”

11 “His mercy is from ___ to…” (Lk 1:50)

12 Birth month of Mary (abbr.)

13 Solemn Mass

15 “Whoever wishes to come after me must ___ himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mt 16:24)

16 Betrayer

19 Grandson of Abraham

20 Joseph of Arimathea donated his

21 It’s gold and white with a papal symbol on it

22 Patron saint of Norway

23 Catholic Academy Awardwinning actress Hayward

26 “___ is the King of Israel”

27 According to Corinthians 2, we are to greet each other with a holy one

28 Breaks the eighth commandment

30 The Lord’s Day

31 Catholic actor Brosnan

32 “___vadis?”

33 Our Lady, ___ of Christians

34 Church divider

35 Founder of Our Sunday Visitor newspaper

37 Certain Padre

Answers can be found on page 39

Jenna Marie Cooper, who holds a licentiate in canon law, is a consecrated virgin and a canonist whose column appears weekly at OSV News. Send your questions to CatholicQA@osv.com.

I know many Christians wear a cross necklace, but why do Catholics wear a crucifix?

Displaying Jesus hanging from a cross, as jewelry, seems both cruel and a bit dark, even bizarre.

(Brandenburg, Kentucky)

Who is condemned; why Catholics wear crucifixes

Since the church teaches that God is a forgiving God, how could He banish a person to Hell? It is very difficult for me to believe that God would make that an eternal habitat for anyone.

Q(Unspecified city, Indiana)

AMy thought is that our Catholic cultural emphasis on crucifixion imagery comes from Catholicism’s focus on the saving power of Christ’s passion. Catholics are keenly aware that Jesus was not merely a wise moral teacher, he was the lamb of God who offered his life and was slain for the redemption of the world. Crucifixion imagery helps keep this central facet of our faith readily before our eyes.

Crucifixion imagery also reminds that Christ freely took on our human nature and had a human body that was subject to suffering and death, just as we are. When we are in pain, a crucifix

QAAccording to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “Hell’s principal punishment consists of eternal separation from God in whom alone man can have the life and happiness for which he was created and for which he longs.” (CCC 1057) So hell isn’t so much of a place or “habitat” as it is a state of freely chosen estrangement from God.

As Catholics, we believe that God created us with free will, meaning that we decide for ourselves to love God and seek to follow his commandments; or we can choose to reject or ignore God. If we freely choose to distance ourselves from God through seriously sinful actions and a lack of repentance, God will respect our

can help us remember that God himself knows and understands what we are going through. It can also remind us of the possibility of uniting our sufferings to Christ’s, filling us with the hope that our suffering in this life might also bear fruit for the salvation of souls.

Yes, a crucifix can be a jarring image. If you look at the history of Christian art, it seems to have been a bit “too much” for the early Christians, which is why other kinds of imagery — such as Christ the Good Shepherd — were much more common in the Church’s first few centuries. Even in the early Middle Ages, when crucifixes were more widely used,

agency in making this choice and will not override our decision or force himself on us. If a person knowingly and willingly persists in a state of unrepentant grave sin right up until the time of their death, they are essentially sending themselves to hell.

But God does not actively want hell for any of his creatures. As the catechism also tells us: “God predestines no one to go to hell; for this, a willful turning away from God (a mortal sin) is necessary, and persistence in it until the end. In the Eucharistic liturgy and in the daily prayers of her faithful, the Church implores the mercy of God, who does not want ‘any to perish, but all to come to repentance.’”

(CCC 1037)

the crucified Christ was most often portrayed as a serene and victorious king rather than as a frankly suffering victim. More “graphic” crucifixes, where the intention of the artist is to show Jesus in agony, didn’t become typical until the Counter Reformation era in the 16th century. This period of the church’s history was focused on correcting abuses and other forms of corruption within the Church, in addition to deepening the personal spirituality of the faithful. So perhaps during this era the more intense crucifixion imagery was intended to serve as a kind of spiritual “wake up call” to a Church needing to rediscover its centuries-old foundation.

In 1965 Paul Harvey famously broadcasted “If I Were the Devil.” He began with, “If I were the devil, I would want to engulf the whole world in darkness … I wouldn’t be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree – Thee.” He went on to make numerous accurate predictions, though, at the time, many were considered outlandish. One of the most accurate statements Harvey made, in my opinion, was this: “If I were the devil, I would encourage schools to refine young intellects, but neglect to discipline emotions – just let those run wild.”

Pope St. John Paul II said “the heart as the center of man is thought of as a source of will, emotion, thoughts, and affections. The ‘heart’ is the dimension of humanity with which the sense of the meaning of the human body, and the order of this sense, is directly linked” (General Audience, April 23, 1980).

For many years it seems we have focused on forming minds while neglecting to form hearts. I often wonder why modern society so blithely accepted “Enlightenment” philosophy as resolute truth, especially Rene Descartes’ postulate, “I think, therefore, I am.”

It is hard to fathom how such patently unreasonable claims were born

during the so-called “Age of Reason,” for it would seem evident that one must be before one can think. But if the devil is in the doing, as Harvey conveyed, his motive becomes clear. Describing our essence exactly backward is precisely what the devil would order.

If I were the devil, I would elevate thinking over being. I would convince God’s children that his creation is not good, that matter does not matter, and that reality is not real. I would keep them in their heads and out of their hearts. Thankfully, Pope St. John Paul II left us the means to navigate through this confused world in which we find ourselves today in his timeless work, “Theology of the Body,” the first major teaching of his pontificate. In response to our need to “rediscover the lost fullness of [our] humanity,” John Paul II delivered 129 biblically based catechetical addresses, which may be described as a divinely inspired vision of the human person, who was created in love purposefully and intentionally.

According to John Paul II, Descartes’ principle “gave the modern concept of man its distinctive dualistic character.” The Pope said: “It is typical of rationalism to make a radical contrast in man between spirit and body, between

body and spirit. But man is a person in the unity of his body and his spirit. The body can never be reduced to mere matter: it is a spiritualized body, just as man’s spirit is so closely united to the body that he can be described as an embodied spirit” (Letter to Families, 1994).

Over time it seems our increasingly secular society influenced many of us to subliminally adopt, in varying degrees, a dualist mentality. A dualistic type of detachment can create a disconnect between our intellect (mind) and our will (heart), which may explain, in part, why many today struggle with their identity and why gender confusion seems to have intensified.

Dualism says our body and soul are separate and can be in conflict with each other. However, our Catholic teaching says our body and soul are one. John Paul II clarifies: “The body, in fact, and only the body, is capable of making visible what is invisible: the spiritual and the divine. It has been created to transfer into the visible reality of the world the mystery hidden from eternity in God, and thus to be a sign of it” (General Audience, February 20, 1980).

In other words, our spirit is not trapped inside our body. Personhood is

the divine and inseparable fusion of spirit and body. Any ideology that supports the lie that our body and spirit is not one is promoting dualism, a recurring heresy that dates back to the ancient Persians.

We must uphold the truth that we are “single, unique and unrepeatable” children of God, “someone thought of and chosen from eternity, someone called and identified by name” (John Paul II, Urbi et Orbi, Christmas Day 1978).

Catholics and all Christians are called to respond with love to this world crisis of identity, which “Theology of the Body” amply provides. Let us utilize the timely gift God gave us through the writings of St. John Paul II – a gift we Catholics are called to give to our children.

Anna M. Githens is a freelance writer with a career background in finance, teaching and journalism. She holds an MA in Theology, a BA in Economics and a Certification in Theology of the Body.

We are ‘single, unique and unrepeatable’ children of God

Book of the Month

exquisite blending of Creator, creation, and creativity’

A catechism is a way of teaching the Faith that strength ens the bonds of unity in our Church and, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “enlivens the faith of the People of God.”

In the same spirit, Master Gardener and certified green house grower Margaret Realy’s A Garden Catechism: 100 Plants in Christian Tradition and How to Grow Them will help you create a garden that is more than just a landscape. Filled with an array of plants for all seasons and climates, this beautiful book shows you how to create a faith-based garden that symbolically expresses the teachings of our faith and leads you into prayer.

Presenting accurate plant culture that is easy to understand, aesthetically pleasing, and grounded in Catholic history and tradition, A Garden Catechism is perfect for beginning and experienced gardeners alike. Entries for each plant include:

• Vintage-style color botanical drawing

• Symbolism from Christian literature, art, and folklore

• Horticultural information including each plant’s unique characteristics, habitat needs, and attributes (such as fragrance, seasonal color, and butterfly/pollinator attractant)

• Expert tips for successful growth and care

Marge Steinhage Fenelon, award-winning author and internationally known speaker, call this, “A remarkable, one in a million book! Never before have I seen such an exquisite blending of Creator, creation, and creativity in a single volume. A Garden Catechism is a stroke of genius that gives glory to God while educating, inspiring, and entertaining the reader. Even non-gardeners will find this book interesting and spiritually fortifying and I’m betting they will be drawn into the wonders of gardening themselves.”

Plus, you’ll find a wealth of useful information about gardening basics, how to craft a prayer garden, and selecting the right plants for your vision and space.

This unique, comprehensive resource combines the heritage of our Faith and the joy of gardening in a way that is accessible to anyone.

Let’s get growing!

FURTHER READING

Gathered from the writings and discourses of Pope Francis on the environment, Our Mother Earth sets forth a Christian vision of ecology.

Responding to our global ecological crisis, Pope Francis says, will require a global approach in which “the whole human family in the search for a sustainable and integral development” unites to protect our common home.

Pollution, climate change, loss of biodiversity, and exploitation of resources will grow exponentially if we do not change our direction in the short term. We need an “environmental conversion,” Pope Francis says. For this to be possible, we need a truly ecological education to create a renewed awareness and a renewed conscience.

In an exclusive new essay that concludes Our Mother Earth, Pope Francis develops a “theology of ecology” in a profoundly spiritual discourse. This final chapter offers thoughts on how a Christian vision of care for the earth goes well beyond a secular vision of ecology.

“This means that it is for humanity’s capacity for communion to condition the state of creation. … It is therefore humanity’s destiny to determine the destiny of the universe.

‘An

By John Mulderig, OSV News

NEW YORK (OSV News) – A pilgrimage to Lourdes provides the framework for the tender drama “The Miracle Club” (Sony Classics). By turns humorous and touching, director Thaddeus O’Sullivan’s delicate film will appeal to grown-ups and perhaps mature teens. But it’s neither aimed at nor suitable for kids.

In a hardscrabble neighborhood of 1967 Dublin, best friends Lily (Maggie Smith) and Eileen (Kathy Bates) excitedly prepare to journey to the sacred destination in the company of a third pal, Dolly (Agnes O’Casey). Dolly is hoping that the trip will cure the mysterious muteness of her young son, Daniel (Eric D. Smith), while Eileen is secretly worried about a lump on her breast.

The dynamics of their expedition are suddenly transformed, however, by the unexpected — and initially unwelcome — return of Chrissie (Laura Linney), a former member of the main duo’s social circle who’s been absent in America for 40 years. Chrissie’s reappearance has been prompted by the death of her estranged mother, with whom both Lily and Eileen were close.

The reasons for Chrissie’s exile are not immediately made clear, though a connection to the long-ago drowning death of Lily’s son, Declan, is apparent. Despite the fact that Lily and Eileen continue to shun her, Chrissie decides to join the tour to France which is to be presided over by Father Dermot (Mark O’Halloran), the wise and sympathetic, if not very forceful, local cleric.

The Miracle Club Oppenheimer

What follows is a sensitive exploration of tragedy and spiritual healing as long-festering emotional wounds are laid bare and the possibilities of reconciliation and renewed relationships examined. Although the confessions of wrongdoing required to restore harmony and peace of mind are interpersonal, rather than sacramental, they are positive examples of moral honesty.

Questions are briefly raised in the

dialogue about the authenticity of the apparitions to St. Bernadette Soubirous and the miracles attributed to Our Lady of Lourdes, and such skepticism may grate on believers’ nerves. They may also wince at the repetition of an all-toocommon Irish expletive that at least approximates misuse of the Lord’s name.

As for viewers focused on the effectiveness of the tale, as penned by Jimmy Smallhorne, Timothy Prager and Joshua D. Maurer, they may feel it takes too easy a shortcut to forgiveness. Yet, in the age of the three-hour comic book adaptation, there’s something to

be said for a modest, character-driven movie that comes full circle in a mere 90 minutes.

The film contains mature themes, including abortion, one direct and several oblique profanities, a rough term and occasional crude and crass language. The OSV News classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG-13 – parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

John Mulderig is media reviewer for OSV News. Follow him on Twitter @JohnMulderig1.

By John Mulderig, OSV News

Impressive but uneven portrait of the famed theoretical physicist of the title (Cillian Murphy in a complex portrayal) who died in 1967, aged 62. Writer-director Christopher Nolan compellingly depicts both the scientist’s collaboration with a harddriving Army general (Matt Damon) in the race to develop the atomic bomb during World War II and his far more complicated relationship with a former patron-turned-critic (Robert Downey Jr.) whose eventual opposition contributed to the travails the left-leaning theorist faced once anti-Communist sentiment became prevalent during the early stages of the Cold War. Chapters of the three hour-long film devoted to his early career and murky personal life (Emily Blunt plays his feisty biologist

wife, Florence Pugh his troubled psychiatrist girlfriend) are less intriguing. Offsetting its potential educational value as an absorbing retrospective, and the subtlety of its approach to the morality of war, is the inclusion of needlessly frank scenes of the protagonist’s womanizing that even mature viewers may wish to avoid. Strong sexual content, including graphic activity and recurring upper female nudity, an adultery theme, brief gruesome sights, about a half-dozen profanities, a couple of milder oaths, several rough terms, occasional crude and crass language. The OSV News classification is A-III – adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

Laura Linney and Mark O’Halloran star in a scene from the movie “The Miracle Club.” The OSV News classification is A-III – adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 – parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. —OSV News photo/Jonathan Hession, Sony Classics

Cillian Murphy stars in the movie “Oppenheimer.” OSV News photo/Melinda Sue Gordon, Universal

DIOCESAN EVENTS

Heroic Men Summit – The Office of Evangelization recommends The Catholic Men’s Leadership Alliance (CMLA) next virtual summit, themed “The Gospel of Work,” brings three, practical talks to help men get through the grind, build a better future, and discover how to minister to men. The CMLA is an organization focused on strengthening men and their relationship with Jesus Christ. The free event happens live online on Sat., Sept. 9, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. CDT. Register at hopin.com/events/ gospel-of-work-heroic-men-summit

Hispanic Heritage Mass in Spanish with Bishop James F. Checchio. Please join Bishop Checchio in celebrating the Mass at 7 p.m. in the Cathedral of Saint Francis of Assisi, Metuchen (32 Elm Ave, Metuchen NJ 08840). Come share with the Hispanic community and together we will thank God for our Diocese and for the opportunity to live our faith through our traditions. At 6:15 pm Hispanic youth will pray the Rosary. For information email Lescobar@diometuchen.org or call (732) 243 4573.

Life Chain. Please consider joining the prayerful, peaceful, public witness for the sanctity of all human life. The Life Chain will be held rain or shine. Locations to be announced.

Feminine Genius Brunch – Come join us for a beautiful morning set aside to marvel at the mystery of God and his plan for each of us. This event includes a presentation and book signing by Shannon Whitmore, author of the new book, “See Yourself as God Does: Understanding Holy Body Image through Catholic Scripture” (Ascension). The morning will include prayer and reflection, brunch and a review of some service ideas for women to get more involved in ministry. This event is for women of all ages and will be held at the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center, 146 Metlars Lane in Piscataway from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. To register visit: www.diometuchen.org/events/feminine-genius-brunch

Youth Minister Meet Up & Formation Day, 9:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. in the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center. Sponsored by the diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, this is Training Day #1 intended to encourage, connect, and renew participants in their roles in ministry to youth. The day will include fellowship, training from vice president of Ablaze Minis-tries, Chris Bartlett, as well as the celebration of Mass. Lunch is included. Cost is $15. For more information or to register visit diometuchen.org/ymtraining

Silver and Gold Anniversary Celebration. Couples celebrating their 25th or 50th wed-ding anniversaries in 2023 are invited to attend the Silver and Gold Anniversary Prayer Service with Bishop James F. Checchio on Sunday, Oct. 22, at 3 p.m. in the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, 548 Main St., Metuchen. Registration is required. For more information or to register visit diometuchen.org/ silver-and-gold-anniversary-celebration.

“You’re Amazing” Hard as Nails Ministry Breakthrough Event with Justin Fatica and the Hard as Nails Missionary Team. This event will be held in the Immaculata High School Gymnasium, Somerville, from 6:30-9 p.m., and is open to all 7th through 12th graders and families. Cost is $10 for students; $25 for families. It is a first come first served event. Please register as soon as possible. Last day for registration is Nov. 1. Register at www.diometuchen.org/youthministry

DIOCESAN PROGRAMS

Eucharistic Adorers Wanted

Now that the pandemic is over, Bishop Checchio would like to offer Eucharistic adoration at the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center, Monday through Friday, from 9:00-11:45 a.m. As St. Pope John Paul II noted. “The Church and the world have a great need of Eucharistic adoration.” Anyone who is interested in signing up should contact Angela Marshall at amarshall@ diometuchen.org

Catechism in a Year for Women This virtual Women’s Group will meet each week on Sundays at 2:30 p.m. on Zoom for discussion of Fr. Mike Schmitz’s “Catechism in a Year” podcast which began on January 8. For details, contact Cristina at cdaverso@diometuchen.org

“The Chosen” Study Series

All young adult engaged and married couples are invited to join in a virtual study series based on the hit series, “The Chosen.” A different episode will be discussed each meeting and virtual watch parties will be planned sporadically. Meetings take place every

other Monday evening at 7 p.m. on Zoom. For details or to join, please contact Cristina D’Averso-Collins at cdaverso@diometuchen.org.

Blue Rosary Guild

The Office of Family Life is pleased to announce the creation of the Blue Rosary Guild. The purpose of the Guild is for community members of all ages to make pocket Rosaries for law enforcement officers, providing them with support and spiritual strength and promoting devotion to the Rosary among all the faithful. All materials and instructions will be provided and a Zoom virtual tutorial will also be scheduled. Anyone interested should contact Cristina D’Averso-Collins, Director of the Office of Family Life at cdaverso@ diometuchen.org.

Abortion Healing for Men This Base camp is an virtual, open-forum, weekly discussion group for men who have been impacted by abortion. It meets Tuesdays at 12 noon EST. The group is led by Greg Mayo, Men’s Abortion Healing Strategist for Support After Abortion. No registration is needed. For more information contact: jruggiero@diometuchen.org or amarshall@diometuchen.org

SELLING YOUR HOME?

Willing to buy your home or townhouse in as-is condition. Quick 30 day cash closing. I’m a Licensed realtor in the State of NJ.

Eugene “George” Pantozzi 908-392-2677 (call or text) georgepantozzi@hotmail.com

WINDOW & DOOR SCREEN REPAIRS

Installation of Fiberglass screens for your doors and windows. Pick-up and drop off services available. George & Sons: (908) 392-2677

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY - BUSINESS MANAGER

The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, seeks a Business Manager to develop, implement, and oversee business strategies for the award-winning paper. The ideal candidate will be expected to establish production and quality control standards, develop budget and cost controls, and obtain data regarding the circulation, production and delivery specifications of the paper. Interested candidates should forward their resume to hr@diometuchen.org.

ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVE

The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, seeks an Advertising Sales Representative to assist with the sale of advertising space. The ideal candidate will be responsible for initiating, developing, and closing sales of print media advertising in The Catholic Spirit by creating and building effective client relationships with area businesses and organizations. Interested candidates should forward their resume to hr@diometuchen.org.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY - GRAPHIC DESIGNER

The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, seeks a Graphic Designer to assist with the layout and design of its publication. The ideal candidate will have Adobe InDesign and Photoshop experience in a PC environment, be familiar with all aspects of electronic publishing, be well-organized and reliable, and have a proven track record of meeting deadlines. Interested candidates should forward their resume to hr@diometuchen.org.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY - FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER

The Diocese of Metuchen is seeking a freelance photographer to cover important events throughout the diocese, including the Bishop’s pastoral visits. The ideal candidate will assist the Office of Communications and Public Relations, as well as The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the diocese, in telling the story of the diocese and its partners. Interested candidates should contact Jerry Wutkowski at communications@diometuchen.org.

GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE

One of our Diocesan parishioners is in urgent need of a kidney transplant. If you, (or anyone you know) have “O” blood type you may be able to save a life! The procedure would be performed at St. Barnabas in Livingston with no cost to the donor. All general questions can be answered by the “Living Donor Institute” at rwjbh.org/ldi. If you think you can be an angel on earth, please email KidneydonorNL@gmail.com God bless you!

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen is Looking for Summer Volunteers!

To meet the increased needs of the community, Catholic Charities Food Pantry and Thrift Store, located in Phillipsburg, needs volunteers for the following:

Food Pantry Open M-F, 10am-3:30pm

- Unpack donated and purchased food

- Soft & stack food on our pantry shelves

- Prepare grocery bags for our clients

- Break down empty boxes & carry to trash bins

- Provide basic case management services and have an awareness of local resources or be willing to learn

Thrift Store Open M-TH, 11am-4pm

- Sort & put donated items on the shelves

- Price items donated to the store

- Help customers with any questions about items purchased.

If interested, please call Maria Hunter at 732-7381315 or email mhunter@ccdom.org; Contact: Tiffany Workman at tworkman@diometuchen.org or call 732-243-4581

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