Fearless
THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF METUCHEN AUGUST 25, 2022 • VOL. 27 NO. 7 • $2.00 atholic SpiritCTHE Deacons in diocese celebrate signi cant anniversaries, 15-25 Marian Movement Pilgrims from diocese return to shrine in Pennsylvania after two-year hiatus. . .3 ClassiDiocesanOurPerspectivesFaithEventseds 32-3343939 This issue was mailed on Aug. 23 Your next issue will be September 22
Father Timothy A. Christy, rector, Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen, second from left, poses with the youth and chaperones from the cathedral and St. Magdalen de Pazzi Parish, Flemington, before they board a bus for the Steubenville East Youth Conference, Springfield, Mass, July 29-31. More than 2,000 youth attended the conference,which had a theme of “Fearless,” from John 16:33. Reflecting on the weekend, one attendee from the Diocese of Metuchen said they learned how to live out their Catholic faith and beliefs fearlessly. — Monika Szmul photo
An alliance between the elderly and young people “will save the human family,” he said. “There is a future where children, where young people speak with the elderly. If this dialogue does not take place between the elderly and the young, the future cannot be clearly seen.”
sus and Mary, Little Servant Sisters of the Immaculate Conception and our own Sisters of Jesus our Hope, as well as so many other religious. They have influenced and shaped my priesthood and now life as a bishop. I am truly grateful for the witness they give to Christ through their ministries and their vows to chastity, poverty and obedience.What a blessing religious are for our Church. Gratefully, each year, some young women join communities in our diocese, including the Sisters of Jesus our Hope and our Carmel in Flemington. Our Cathedral parish is blessed with both Sisters of Christian Charity in our school and Felicians in our parish. Sister of Christian Charity Anna Nguyen serves as our delegate for Consecrated life and Religious and certainly has a heart for that work!
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Humanity, even with all its progress, still seems “to be an adolescent born yesterday” which needs “to retrieve the grace of an old age that holds firmly to the horizon of our destination.”
They religious][womenhavein uenced and shaped my priesthood and now life as a bishop. I am truly grateful for the witness they give to Christ through their ministries and their vows to chastity, poverty and obedience.
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis dedicated his general audience talk to the urgent need for young and old to come together so older people can share their faith and wisdom about the world.
you.
Pope: elderly can unite all
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In fact, “the image of a God, who is watching over everything with snowwhite hair, is not a silly symbol, it is a biblical image, it is a noble image, even a tender image,” the pope said. To depict God the Father as venerable in age and authority “expresses God’s transcendence, his eternity and his constant care for this world and its history,” the pope said. The vocation for every older man and woman, the pope said, is to bear witness to the faith and to the wisdom acquired over the years. “The witness of the elderly is credible to children. Young people and adults are not capable of bearing witness in such an authentic, tender, poignant way, as elderly people can,” the popeHesaid.said it is also very compelling when the elderly bless life as it comes their way and show no resentment or bitterness as time marches on and death nears.“The witness of the elderly unites the generations of life, the same with the dimensions of time: past, present and future, for they are not only the memory, they are the present as well as the promise,” the pope said.
Death is a very difficult passage in life, the pope said, but it “concludes the time of uncertainty and throws away the clock,” ushering in “the beautiful part of life, which has no more deadlines.”
It was an appeal one small boy in the Vatican’s Paul VI audience hall seemed to take to heart, walking past the guards and straight up to the pope to stand transfixed by his side during the final greetings at the audience’s end. The pope affectionately rubbed the boy’s close-cropped hair and reassured him he was welcome to stay.
THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF CatholicMETUCHENSpiritTHE Subscription and advertising deadlines: The Catholic Spirit P.O. Box 191 • Metuchen, NJ 08840 PHONE: (732) 562-2424 • FAX: (732) 562-0969 MANAGING EDITOR Father Glenn J. Comandini, STD (732) 562-2461 ASSOCIATE EDITOR Chris (732)Donahue529-7935 PUBLISHER Bishop James F. Checchio EDITOR Father Timothy A. Christy, V.G. BUSINESS MANAGER Ann Pilato • (732) 529-7934 GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jill Gray • (732) 529-7956 ADVISOR Joanne Ward BishopChecchioJames My dear
“Let’s think about dialogue, about the alliance between old and young,” he said, as well as make sure this bond is not broken. “May the elderly have the joy of speaking, of expressing themselves with young people and may young people seek out the elderly to receive the wisdom of life from them.”
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During the last part of the general audience, when the pope offers special greetings to those attending from different parts of the world, the pope reaffirmed his prayers for Ukraine, asking that people not forget this martyred people.”
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POSTMASTER: Send change of address notice to The Catholic Spirit, 146 Metlars Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854. brothers the slower pace had two beautiful experiences earlier this month that I want to share with The first was a Mass and barbecue with our permanent deacons and their wives. It was a wonderful gathering and nice to be with them as a group after not being able to meet these past couple of years because of the coronavirus pandemic. Deacon Steve Kern, who oversees our Office of the Permanent Diaconate, organized the event and we were all grateful to him and to the St. Bernard’s Men’s Group and Youth Group who prepared and served the meal! It was especially joyful to see so many of our newly ordained deacons of Hispanic descent and their wives present. On my regular weekend parish visits and at confirmations, I get to see our deacons and minister with them at the altar, but it was a joy to gather together as a group and ask the Lord’s blessing on them and theirVaticanministry.IIrestored the permanent diaconate, which flourished in the early Church. We read in Sacred Scripture about the first seven deacons picked to serve at table, to free up the presbyters for their ministries. It is a beautiful aspect of our Church, as deacons have a foot in the world of family life and the Church, and so offer a unique and blessed perspective and service. For most of the deacons, their primary vocation is to marriage, so to their wives and families, but then on top of that call, they have this call to Holy Orders that orients them to the service of the Word, the Altar and to Charity, too. The word service should be synonymous with diaconate, and gratefully our deacons exemplify this. I often speak about the need for vocations to the priesthood, so we have enough shepherds for our parishes. However, vocations to the diaconate are also needed to assist our good priests, so please pray for more men to answer God’s call to that ministry, too! After this gathering, I flew to St. Louis for the annual gathering of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR). I serve our national Bishops’ Conference as chair of our Committee for Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations and on the Commission for Religious Life and Ministry, so I was invited by the LCWR to join them. They had not met in person the past two years because of the pandemic, so the gathering was extra joyful this year. More than 900 sisters from throughout our country gathered for this event; it was quite a blessed scene! I have such fond memories and a grateful heart for the Sisters of Mercy who taught me in elementary school and the Religious Teachers Filippini Sisters who taught me in high school. Since ordination, I have been blessed to minister with them along with Sisters of St. Joseph, Augustinians, Benedictines, Christian Charity, Dominicans, Felicians, Franciscans, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Vocationists, Missionary Catechist of the Hearts of Je-
and extra rest the summer provides, I
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Now, another important prayer request. Please remember to pray for vocations to the Consecrated Life. We need their witness in building up the Church in our day.Itis a wonderful encouragement for me knowing that we labor together in this holy adventure of building God’s Kingdom throughout our four beautiful counties. I thank God for all of them, and pray for our deacons and their wives, as well as our brothers and sisters in Consecrated Life. May our Lord hear our plea for more laborers for this wonderful vineyard of Metuchen we are blessed to call home and serve! Know of my love and prayers for all of you, too, for a blessed end to summer! God bless you. Most Reverend James F. Checchio, JCD, BishopMBAofMetuchen
Prayers needed for vocations to clergy, consecrated life
“During the audience we talked about dialogue between old and young, right? And this one, he has been brave and he’s at ease,” the pope said about his small guest to applause. The pope continued his series of talks on old age and reflected on how reaching a ripe old age is a reassurance of eternal life in heaven.
“It is painful and harmful to see that the ages of life are conceived of as separate worlds, in competition among themselves, each one seeking to live at the expense of the other. This is not right,” he said.
and sisters in Christ, Amidst
Before the final blessing, Bishop Checchio again pointed out that the day was the Feast Day of St. John Vianney, the patron saint of priests. Emphasizing the need for an increase in the number of vocations to the priesthood, the bishop led the congregation in praying a “Hail Mary” to the Blessed Mother, who is the mother and model of all priests. He asked the congregation for their continued prayers for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life.
Above, in a screenshot from a video produced by the Little Servant Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, pilgrims worship at Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Doylestown, Pa. The shrine was established in 1955. Right, a priest listens during the sacrament of reconiliation.
Top, Bishop James F. Checchio poses with pilgrims and volunteers of the event at campgrounds at Voorhees State Park, Glen Gardner, before he presided at Mass. Above, in a screenshot, pilgrims walk `towards their destination in Pennsylvania.
Deacon Cline exercises his ministry at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish, Bridgewater
Margaret Batkowski, a member at St Bernard of Clairvaux Parish, Bridgewater, has participated in the pilgrimage eight times. The reason she continues to participate in the journeys is, “they allow me to experience prayer and reflection along the way, surrounded by God’s love and united in sisterhood and brotherhood with his people and creation.”
— John Batkowski photos
In his homily Bishop Checchio said that the reason Peter was able to answer the Lord correctly is because “he and the disciples had traveled with Jesus for years and had listened to his teachings, watched his interactions with people and thus had gotten to know Jesus very well.”
Hundreds walk to Marian shrine in Pennsylvania
In his opening remarks, the bishop introduced himself and noted that the park was in the boundaries of the diocese. He thanked the organizers for inviting him to preside at the Mass. Given the nature and composition of the pilgrimage, the Gospel readings and hymns were spoken and sung in Polish and English. The music was provided by The Gospel of that day, the Feast Day of St. John Vianney, was from Matthew where the Lord asks St. Peter, “Who do you say I am?” and the apostle replies,
Having had the opportunity to receive the sacrament of reconciliation and participate in First Friday Adoration, the pilgrims worshiped at Mass celebrated by Bishop James F. Checchio. Concelebrating were 13 priests, all making the pilgrimage and representing the various parishes, dioceses and states from which the pilgrims came.
“And if we know who Jesus is that changes everything in our lives,” he said. “If we know the answer to the question then everything we do must relate to the Lord. The more we know Jesus the more we are able to draw close to him, through the Eucharist.”
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By Deacon Patrick Cline Correspondent GLEN GARDNER — After a hiatus of two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual Four Day Walking Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown, Pa., returned. The pilgrims’ journey began Aug. 4, at Saints Peter and Paul Parish, Great Meadows, and ended at the shrine on Aug. 7. The shrine contains a reproduction of the Black Madonna of Jasna Góra, who has a special place in the lives of Catholics of Polish descent and is Poland’s most revered icon. After journeying 17.5 miles, walking most of the time, the pilgrims’ first day ended on the campgrounds of Voorhees State Park, where they set up their tents, campsites and campers. The sight of a veritable tent city consisting of so many families and individuals stretched out over the fields was very inspiring to many. In the evening, everyone enjoyed a meal, then gathered on blankets, chairs and park benches around the altar set up at the base of a small hill.
The bishop said that our life as Catholics is also a journey with Jesus in which we, too, learn about him. He compared the lives of the faithful to pilgrimages, where they must struggle with sacrifices, difficulties and ups and downs until finally each is called to answer Jesus’ question. Specifically, Bishop Checchio said that the people on this pilgrimage also know the answer to the Lord’s question from the Gospel.
...the music selected by survivors for th funrals of their loved ones and Jesus’ promise that whenever we pray in community, he is in our midst all point to a basic doctrine...the Communion of Saints...
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 O cer at (908) 930-4558 (24 hours/7 days a week). No matter how many times I prepare for a funeral, the surviving family has much more interest in requesting a favorite song or hymn than they do in choosing the Scripture which will be read. Perhaps the first reading from the Book of Wisdom gives us some insight into this phenomenon when we hear how the “just sang the hymns of theirWhileancestors.”theBook of Wisdom was written in the second century BC, today’s passage obviously relates back to the period of the Exile, from 587 to 539 BC when Jews of prominence were forced to leave their beloved land and live far away in Babylon. There, they were deprived of the sights, smells and sounds of their Temple where, in their estimation, God dwelled in their midst. Now, hundreds of miles away, for forty years, all these exiles could do was reflect on the words of their Torah and recall the songs which their ancestors sang in Jerusalem. Most of the Psalms were hymns composed during the Exile. What these Jewish exiles did not realize but what Jesus later reveals to us is that whenever two or three gather in his name in prayer, he is with us. Yes, even when we sing—which St. Augustine insists is the equivalent of praying twice, we are united to our God and to each other who are the Church.Maybe people, preparing for the funeral of a loved one, choose “On Eagles’ Wings” or “Be Not Afraid” because these songs speak to their hearts about the power of Christ to raise the dead to new life. Maybe survivors select “Ave Maria” because sometimes, in the face of death, our own words and maybe those of people around us, make no sense and so we resort to the simple prayer of the Hail Mary, set to the
Death a powerful reminder to live and love fully
Talking to the dead through prayer and music
music of Shubert or Gounod. Sometimes, families request songs that their deceased loved ones enjoyed, be this “How Great Thou Art” or “Amazing Grace”— because recalling their favorite hymns from the universal library of music is perhaps the best way we can pay homage to theirThememory.music of their ancestors, sung by the exiled Jews, the music selected by survivors for the funerals of their loved ones and Jesus’ promise that whenever we pray in community, he is in our midst all point to a basic doctrine of the Church called the Communion of Saints within the Mystical Body of Christ. Basically, this teaching holds that there is a spiritual network which exists between the blessed in Heaven, the faithful on Earth and the souls in Purgatory. Since we are not just bodies but incarnate spirits, we have the ability to transcend the matter of our being and communicate with our deceased loved ones by prayer. If we do not know what to pray, we should just converse with our departed. We will not hear voices in response, but they will respond through the warmth on the sunlight as it caresses our cheek, through the song of birds in the early morning, the beauty of flowers as we gaze at our gardens, through the smell of the coffee brewing before breakfast. Every time we raise our voices in sacred music, which is the universal language of prayer, we tap into that spiritual network. For a brief time in the context of eternity, we are actually linked to our ancestors, our deceased loved ones and even those dear family members or friends who are still among the living but are separated from us by miles, by oceans or by bad blood. Regardless, the Mystical Body of Christ and this assembly’s use of music as an “E-Z Pass” into this spiritual network has a twofold positive affect: it brings healing to our troubled hearts and it reminds us that, thanks to Jesus and his ever-flowing grace, we live in a Kingdom without borders! Father Glenn Comandini is managing editor of The Catholic Spirit.
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Recently, as I made plans to attend yet another wake for a beloved family member, I did what most of us do in times like this. I remembered what was. I remembered times spent together, celebrations, hardships and simple quiet moments shared. I remembered her unique smile, her indomitable spirit and her joy in life and in Afterothers.any death, the meeting of friends and family at the funeral parlor, the familiar routine of the wake service, the meaningful rituals of the Mass, and the images and symbols of the cemetery are certain to evoke memories of loved ones lost and grief experienced. For me, at that moment, the newest loss brought to mind the burial of my very dear uncle many years ago, someone much loved and cherished, and still missed. That morning, as we stood silently by the grave side, waiting for the priest to begin the last prayers, I noticed a small child toying with the baskets of flowers that led to the canvas tent. The bright pink and purples of her dainty clothes were in stark contrast to the somber hues of the adults nearby. In a world of her own, as if unaware of the soft drizzle of fall rain or what was taking place around her, she hummed a quiet tune and touched the silken pedals of fresh cut roses.Though my heart ached at the painful thought of my uncle being laid to rest, I had to smile at the little girl who reminded me that life goes on. Then I was the grieving niece and the anguished daughter, having recently lost both parents. At some tomorrow I will be the deceased, as will we Whileall. death, for most of us, is a thought we try to push aside and a fate we try to avoid as long as possible, it is not a bad thing to live life with an awareness that our days are numbered. It is a powerful reminder to live and love Itfully.is a reminder I feel most powerfully during the funeral liturgy, a time to be nourished by the beauty and hope found in the Mass. There is, in this gathering of grieving souls, a shared experience, not only of sorrow for the one who has died, but of both past losses and future promises of new life. The richness of the Mass seems a fitting memorial for the life of God’s own and gives those who are left behind the chance to commend their loved one to God in an act of love and dignity.As the prayers concluded the morning of my uncle’s funeral so many years ago, I followed the young child’s lead and pulled several sweetsmelling flowers from the baskets, walking timidly around neighboring graves, trying to undo the familiar tightening in my throat as I came upon the graves of myNeverparents.did I imagine that just a few weeks ago I would be back, graveside, as my dear cousin, a sister to me growing up, was laid to rest next to my parents. Still, as we once again pulled flowers from the baskets and placed them on the headstones of the many, many family members buried there we talked about our loved ones, we cried and we laughed. We joked that since we “owned” such a large part of the cemetery, we could plan a family picnic when the weather got warmer. Remembering our losses is so often painful, especially when we are alone, but shared with people who knew our loved ones or who love us in our pain, it can be powerfully healing.
While death, for most of us, is a thought we try to push aside and a fate we try to avoid as long as possible, it is not a bad thing to live life with an awareness that our days are numbered. It is a reminderpowerfultoliveandlovefully.
By Father Glenn J. Comandini, STD Body How to report abuse
NATION&WORLD5THECATHOLICSPIRITAUGUST25,2022Compiled from the Catholic News ServiceWORLD & NATION
David Dean, superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Tulsa, Okla., speaks July 13 during the 10th annual national conference of the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education held July 1114 at The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. CNS photo/Bob Roller CNS photo/Baz Ratner, Reuters
Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller of San Antonio comforts people outside the SSGT Willie de Leon Civic Center, where students had been transported from Robb Elementary School after a shooting, in Uvalde, Texas, May 24.
San Antonio Archbishop Gustavo GarcíaSiller was still tending to the pain of the community of Uvalde, Texas, reeling from a mass school shooting that in late May left 19 children, many of them fourth graders, and their two teachers dead, when another tragedy landed on the doorstep of his Texas diocese. “The office had already closed, but I heard about it and went straight to a hospital,” the archbishop said July 8, recall ing the evening in late June he heard about a group of migrants found dead and dying inside a sweltering trailer near San Antonio. They were being smuggled into the U.S. At first, it was hard to know whether anyone had survived the more than 100-degree tem peratures inside the trailer carrying them, but if they did, the prelate figured he’d find them at one of the area hospitals and he went looking for them. The death toll in that incident would eventually reach 53. A little more than a dozen people, including several children, survived. During a recent visit with a survivor who remains in the hospital, the prelate found out about the man’s approach ing birthday. Because he had no one to cel ebrate with, the archbishop gathered a group of migrants that Catholic Charities in San Antonio was helping to mark the occasion and they observed the man’s birthday, a sec ond chance at life, with a party and a cake. He admitted that it has been tiring.
CNS photo/Marco Bello, Reuters Jim Cavnar, president of Cross Catholic Outreach in Boca Raton, Fla., is seen in this undated photo. CNS photo/courtesy CrossOutreachCatholic
NAIROBI, Kenya — Eastern Africa Cath olic bishops set aside a week to discuss the consequences of ecological damage in the region as it becomes evident that climate change is exacting a crushing toll on the development of people in both rural and urban parishes. Meeting in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, July 10-18 under the shadow of some of the worst recorded ecological disasters in the region, the bishops from the Association of Member Episcopal Con ferences in Eastern Africa are examining ways to help communities that are strug gling to adapt to the effects of a changing climate. Some bishops, priests and women religious have responded by moving emer gency aid communities affected by ongo ing drought that has caused crop failure for three consecutive growing seasons. Church leaders also acknowledge that disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine have further hurt the region. Bishop Charles Kasonde of Sol wezi, Zambia, AMECEA’s chairman, said July 11 that the plenary meeting will also review how the Church in the region has implemented Pope Francis’ encyclical on care of the earth, “Laudato Si’, on Care for Our Common Home” in response to the climate crisis.
Charity helping feed displaced Ukrainians
WASHINGTON — “We call ourselves the first suppliers of first responders,” said Jim Cavnar, president, Cross Catholic Outreach. Based in Boca Raton, Fla., the international Catholic charity has assisted the world’s most vulnerable people with $3.3 billion in total aid in more than 85 countries since its founding in 2001 by Cavnar and a small group of his colleagues. Its disaster relief responses have in cluded building safe homes follow ing devastating earthquakes in Haiti in 2010 and 2021, hurricane relief in places such as Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Repub lic, and emergency food and medi cal supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic. And since Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, the charity has been helping Ukrainian refugees, namely across the border in Poland, and those internally displaced in Ukraine. Most recently, Cross Catho lic Outreach provided a cash grant, which funded 816,480 meals destined for these Ukrainians. According to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, since the war began Feb. 24, more than 5.2 million refugees from Ukraine have been recorded across Europe, as of July 4; nearly 1.2 million are in Poland. The agency estimates that 7.7 million people are internally displaced as a result of the conflict, which is equivalent to 17.5 perecnt of the entire population.
Prelates explore impact of ecological disastersMeeting puts emphasis on values of education
WASHINGTON — Can an emphasis on values and what’s called a tradi tional “liberal” — meaning liberal arts — Catholic education rebuild the long-dwindling parochial education system? Elisabeth Sullivan, execu tive director of the Institute for Cath olic Liberal Education, believes that it can, and that the effort begins with acknowledging that America’s politi cal and social culture is broken. “It is. It absolutely is,” she said. “Renewal is about ordering our conscience, because truth is one in him.” Not ing that Catholic instruction used to be “the gold standard of education,” she added, “this is the culmination of what education should be. And it’s for unity, not division. We are living in a post-Christian culture.” Nationally, enrollment in Catholic schools saw an uptick in the past year. According to statistics compiled by the National Catholic Educational Association, enrollment increased by 3.8 percent or a total of nearly 1.7 million en rolled in both grade and high schools. It was the largest increase NCEA had recorded in two decades and marked a significant improvement from the 6.4 percent decline 2019-2021 at tributed in part to the COVID-19 pandemic. The enrollment peak in the early 1960s was more than 5 million.
At the finish line, runners of the Daniel Anderl “Love is Light” 5K run were greeted with the music of “Epic Souls.” A New Jersey band, Epic Souls plays all the great clas sic soul songs from soul-stirring Motown medleys, to today’s R&B, pop, rock and contemporary hits. — photo courtesy of Father Robert G. Lynam A permanent marker in North Brunswick Park’s But terfly Garden. After Daniel’s death, his mother, Esther, kept experiencing an abun dance of butterflies. The quote on the marker reads, “When butterflies appear, angels are near.” Prior to the start of the Daniel Anderl “Love is Light” 5K run, two butterfly benches were dedicated in the garden in honor of Daniel. photo courtesy of Father Robert G. Lynam
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Judge Esther Salas
From June 26 to July 9, June Gill, a ju nior at Mount Saint Mary Academy, Watchung, attended High School Field School, a summer program run by the Center for American Ar chaeology in Illinois. She received a Women in Archaeology scholarship to attend the program. During the program, Gill worked with profes sional archaeologists and learned excavation techniques at a dig site, including shoveling, troweling, mapping, and soil description. Lab work included artifact washing and identification. “It was a valuable experience because I worked with an all-female staff of archaeology grad students who were very eager to answer my questions about the field and share their perspectives,” Gill said. At Mount Saint Mary Acad emy, she is a member of the Mock Trial team and the Latin Club. She is also a peer facilitator and a staff writer for “Peeks,” the online news paper. Outside of school, she is an ice-skating instructor and tutors a refugee child from Afghanistan. photo courtesy of Mount Saint Mary Academy Hands-on Experience
When talking about Daniel, Father Bob said “I have known [him] throughout his entire life. It was a true blessing to be his pastor, his priest.” Salas also thanked Lou Anne Ben son, Carol Dominguez, Ana Montero, and the rest of the “butterfly battalion,” who organized the 5K.
By Kyra Stevko Correspondent NORTH BRUNSWICK —
The purpose of the 5K, as described by its creators, is to honor Daniel’s legacy, raise money for a scholarship named in his honor, and advocate for the creation of national legislation to protect members of the judiciary. The 5K raised more than $265,000, which surpassed the goal of $100,000, according to Father Rob ert G. Lynam, pastor, St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish. The scholarship at the parochial school, called the Daniel Anderl Class of 2014 Scholarship Fund, is fully endowed for at least four schol arships in perpetuity.
“The love in this enchanted park right now is proof positive that good will always triumph over evil, light will always shine over darkness, and love will conqueralwayshate.”
As for the legislation, New Jersey Bill A1649, the Daniel Anderl Judicial Se curity and Privacy Act of 2020 (“Daniel’s Law”), was passed in November 2020. All of its provisions went into effect July 12. It provides law enforcement officers, judges, prosecutors, and other persons covered by the law the ability to apply online to have their residential addresses redacted from certain public records. The Anderl family now seeks similar protec tions enacted on a national level. The day of the 5K began early with a ceremony at the Butterfly Garden where Daniel’s parents unveiled the addition of two butterfly benches donated to the park in Daniel’s honor next to a tree memorial dedicated to his life in 2021. The finish line featured the band “Epic Souls,” child-friendly activities such as face painting and tattoos, and free food including Playa bowl, hot dogs, and bagels. The 5K also featured a raffle to win a guitar signed by musician Jon Bon Jovi, which was won by United States Magistrate Judge Tonianne Bongiovan ni, as well as prizes for the first-place man, John Flynn, who finished in a time of 19 minutes, 36.1 seconds; and woman, Katie Butler, 24:19.8; a flat screen TV and new bike. Father Lynam, de scribed as a “beacon of light” in the Anderl fam ily’s darkest times, was a major supporter of the 5K. Judge Salas thanked “Fa ther Bob” for “his efforts to bring us back from the depths of despair, to help us keep the faith, and to support today’s race in more ways than I can pos sibly acknowledge.”
On July 16, two years after 20-year-old Daniel Anderl died protecting his mother and father from a gunman, 1,100 runners gathered at the North Brunswick Com munity Park to celebrate his life and create a legacy in his name at the second and final Daniel Anderl “Love is Light” 5K run.Anderl, described by family and friends as a smart, funny, compassion ate, competitive, caring, and loyal man, was a student at Catholic University, Washington, D.C. He was a graduate of St. Augustine of Canterbury School, Kendall Park, and Saint Joseph High School, Metuchen. In 2020, Anderl was shot by Roy Den Hollander, an attorney in Manhat tan, N.Y., when he opened the front door of his family’s home in North Bruns wick. Daniel’s father, Mark, was shot several times by Den Hollander, but un like Daniel, survived. Authorities said Den Hollander came to the home to kill Daniel’s moth er, Judge Esther Salas, after finding her personal information online. Den Hol lander was later founded dead of an ap parent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Through the shock and grief of los ing their only child, Salas and Anderl found their faith to be a lifeline and in celebration of their son, they chose to be lieve that “Hate is Heavy. Love is Light.” In speaking about this outlook on life at the 5K, Salas said, “Since our horrific nightmare, so many walking angels on earth have set out to turn this nightmare of ours into a fairy tale, with butterflies, heroes, heroines, knights in shining armor, and so much more.
“The love in this en chanted park right now, is proof positive that good will always triumph over evil. Light will always shine over darkness, and love will always conquer hate.”
Race raises more than $265,000 in memory of judge’s slain son
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BASILICA of the NATIONAL SHRINE of theCONCEPTIONIMMACULATE
Diocesan Pilgrimage to the with ARCHBISHOP CHRISTOPHE PIERRE Apostolic Nuncio to the United States and BISHOP JAMES F. CHECCHIO Bishop of Metuchen
“Missionaries are always moving from one place to another,” said Father Fasuga. “Sometimes it’s diffi cult to start over again, but I think of it as being reborn in a way.” Over the years, and in the many, many places he has served, Father Fasuga has seen the importance of the Church in community after community. “In some of my parishes, I’d only do confessions. It shows how much the people need the sacraments and to be listened to. Their lives are very stressful. Some people have no one to talk to.
SCHEDULE OF THE DAY 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon Arrival of12:00PilgrimsNoon Angelus, Welcome, Opening Prayer 12:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Confessions in Basilica Chapels and Free time to visit LiturgicalMusical1:45Basilicap.m.Prelude2:15p.m.ProcessionPilgrimageLiturgy4:30p.m.BusDepartures
More information and list of bus transportation is available at www.diometuchen.org/40
Kaylynn Chiarello Ebner
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An ALL DAY EVENT on SEPTEMBER 24, 2022 Join Archbishop Christophe Pierre and Bishop Checchio for the Closing Event and Liturgy to Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Diocese of Metuchen at America’s Catholic Church.
“I learned so much from the people in Brazil. We evangelized the poor people, and the poor people evangelized us. Very often, the people I met had absolutely nothing, but were so incredibly joyful. It really made an impression on me,” he said. In 2006, he returned to Poland for a few months before serving the Lord in a new place: Ireland. At that time, many young Polish workers were living in Ireland, and Father Fasuga was needed to work with them in several different dioceses. Then in 2009, he was sent to the United States to become chaplain at what was then Somerset Medical Center. It was not long before Father Fasuga was needed to serve the Portuguese community at St. John Paul II Parish, Perth Amboy, and its worship site, Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima; and Corpus Christi Parish, South River. In 2011, Father Fasuga left to do much-needed work in Portugal, where the priests needed help serving the Polish-speaking faithful making pilgrimages there. He is now parochial vicar for the Portuguese Apostolate.
“As a priest, we have the sacrament of reconciliation to share. The people need this compassion in their lives. They need to know there’s more to life than what’s here on earth.”
When Redemptorist Father Eugeniusz Fasuga was a boy growing up in Poland, he could never have imagined that he would travel across the globe to serve the Lord as a Portuguesespeaking priest. This, however, was the Lord’s special plan for Father Fasuga, and he has never looked back. Father Fasuga was born in Bochnia, Poland, and grew up in the village of Krolowka. His parents raised him and his nine siblings with a strong devotion to the faith, attending evening prayer hours and Sunday Mass despite how busy life was. His father worked in construction all day and came home to work more hours on the family’s farm, while his mother tended to the home and the needs of her 10 children. In his teens, Father Fasuga first felt the Lord’s calling to the priesthood. While making a pilgrimage on foot to the national sanctuary in Poland, he met a member of the Society of African Missions (SMA) and learned about the good work they did. It inspired him, and the idea of becoming a missionary was never far from his heart. Soon after, he learned that his parish had three Redemptorist priests — two working in Argentina — who did the Lord’s work all over the world as missionaries. Father Fasuga knew that this was how he, too, should spend his life. In 1990, at the age of 19, Father Fasuga entered the seminary and did his formation with the Redemptorists. He professed his final vows in 1996 and was ordained May 25, 1997. His first assignment after ordination was as associate vicar of pastor in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Krakow. Father Fasuga worked for three years in the school, teaching religion, and working with teenagers.“During the week, I taught 24 classes. On the weekends, I sometimes took the youth for retreats. I liked the school and working with the youth very much,” he stated. In 2000, Father Fasuga answered the call to preach the word of God in Brazil. He spent three months learning the language and customs, and then went to work as a formator in the seminary, preaching on retreats, and serving many different parishes. He also lived among the neediest in the favelas of the city of Salvador.
Priest celebrating 25 years of service as missionary, educator
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peaceful place for religious to profess vows
— Bishop Andriy Rabiy
Father Turyk thanked Bishop Rabiy for officiating at the liturgy and praised the choir. Along with prayer, Sister Veronica and Sister Maria are engaged in evan gelization ministries at the church. They assist Lissette Shumny, princi pal, Ukrainian Assumption Catholic School, and serve as catechists, pre paring children for the sacraments. Sister Veronica thanked the Major Superiors of Women’s Ukrainian Re ligious Congregations in the United States for their attendance and sup port. They included Sister Eliane Ilnitski, provincial, Sisters Servants of the Immaculate Conception, and Mother Maria Kelly, superior, Mis sionary Sisters of the Mother of God. as
Sanctuary serves
The bishop then cited the quote, “Seek the kingdom of God first and everything else will be given unto you.”“Sister Veronica wants to serve the Lord above all things,” the bishop said. “She has exchanged all that the world has to offer for something bet ter. She chose to renounce the riches of the world to be rich in Christ.
“The Lord as our heavenly Father will always take care of his children -he always has what is best in mind for us. Sister Veronica gave up her home and took a leap of faith. She is still learning English, but should not worry because God will continue to provide for her. He has wonderful things in store for Sister Veronica.”
Above, the Major Superiors of Women’s Ukrainian Religious Congregations in the United States, pose with Bishop Andriy Rabiy, Father Alberto Baraterra, provincial superior, Institute of the Incar nate Word and Father Ivan Turyk, pastor Ukrainian Assumption, Catholic Church, after the Divine Liturgy. Right, a crown of flowers is placed on Sister Veronica’s head during her profession of perpetual vows. She also received a lighted candle and the Constitution of the Servant Sis ters of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara.
The bishop advised her to always discern the will of God and to be full of love and joy be cause it is essential that lay people see happy religious. They serve as an inspiration to others to follow God in vocations as priests and sisters who dedicate themselves selflessly to God and to the service of his people, he asserted.
By Mariann Zanko Komek Correspondent PERTH AMBOY — Sister Maria Veronica of Jesus arrived with Sister Maria of the Cross at the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary from their na tive Ukraine last year. Sister Veronica had planned to profess her final vows in Ukraine, but she changed her plans when Russia invaded her homeland. Instead, she made her profession before Bishop Andriy Rabiy, shep herd of the Ukrainian Archeparchy of Philadelphia, June 26, during a Divine Liturgy at the Ukrainian Assumption CatholicAttendeesChurch.at the bilingual liturgy, celebrated in English and Ukrainian, included Father Alberto Baraterra, provincial superior, Institute of the In carnate Word; Father Ivan Turyk, pastor, Ukrainian Assumption Catholic Church; reli gious sisters and the faithful.After the Gospel, Sister Veronica pro fessed vows of pover ty, chastity, obedience and the Marian conse cration before Bishop Rabiy and Mother Mary of the Im maculate Conception Ambrogio, provincial superior, Sisters Ser vants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara. During the cele bration, symbols of the ring of espousal with Jesus, a crown of flow ers, lighted candle, and the Constitution of the Servants Sisters of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara were presented to the newly professed. The rite of perpetual profession also included Sister Marfdia pros trating herself during the Litany, the pronouncement of handwritten vows into the hands of the provincial mother superior, the signing and witnessing of the document of the vows, and the greeting by other perpetually pro fessed members of the religious com munity. The final profession of Sister Veronica was like a wedding because she consecrated her life entirely to God as a bride of Christ. In his homily, Bishop Rabiy noted that the Gospel from Matthew taught that the faithful must have complete surrender to God just as Sister Veroni ca vowed to make a total commitment to the Lord as a religious as indicated in the lines, “You cannot serve two masters.”
“The Lord as our heavenly Father will always take care of his children — he always has what is best in mind for us. Sister Veronica gave up her home and took a leap of faith. She is still learning English, but should not worry because God will continue to provide for her. He has wonderful things in store for Sister Veronica.”
“On behalf of Father Ivan, Father Alberto, and all of us, please know of our prayers for you, Sister. May God grant you many happy years,” the bishop concluded. Father Turyk said that Sister Maria’s accepting Jesus’ ring came about because her parents were first bound to Christ in holy matrimony.
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“We’re grateful that you agreed to take your vows before your new family at the Ukrainian Catholic Assumption Parish,” he added.
Marianne and John Baginsky photos
Above, Bishop Andriy Rabiy, shep herd of the Ukrainian Archeparchy of Philadelphia, places a symbol of the ring of espousal with Jesus, on the hand of Sister Maria Veronica of Jesus during her perpetual pro fession of vows during a Divine Liturgy at the Ukrainian Assump tion Catholic Church, Perth Am boy, June 26. At left, Sister Maria of the Cross, prostrates herself as the Bishop Rabiy prays the Litany of Saints. Both Sisters left their homeland when Russia invaded the Ukraine. Now they are catechists at the Ukrainian Church.
By Monika Szmul SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Twenty-three youth from St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi Parish, Flemington, and the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Metuchen, at tended the Steubenville East youth confer ence July 29 to 31. The conference, sponsored by the Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, guided more than 2,000 youth through a weekend filled with worship and praise music, the sacrament of recon ciliation, and talks led by Sister Miriam Heidland, Mark Hart, Nik Frank and Katie Hartfiel.
Liam is the son of Kim and Knight Sean Rogan, who are members of St. Joseph Parish, High Bridge. Several generations of the Rogan family were on hand to see Liam receive his recognition.
The opening Mass was celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel, a few minutes’ walk from the MassMutual Center, where the conference was held. Bishop William D. Byrne, shepherd of the Diocese of Springfield, presided at the liturgy.In his homily, Bishop Byrne said he hoped that the youth did not just get washed by the Holy Spirit, but were filled with it. He used the image of a jar with a lid on it to be washed and the same jar without a lid to be filled up. The theme of the conference was “Fearless,” from John 16:33. Through out the weekend, the speakers wove this theme into their talks and the attendees reflected on the word’s meaning during the bus ride home. One participant wrote: “Fearless was when you allow the Holy Spirit to lead you, you become emboldened and feel strength ened to witness for the Lord.”
Knight Kevin Speckin, the Coun cil’s Activity Leader who organized the local competition, noted that the High Bridge event had “produced several state champions in the last 14 years, and some second- and third-places, but Liam is the first of its competitors named an International Champion.”
Murphy noted that the Knight’s International Champions often are from Europe or South America.
Another youth wrote, “The Steuben ville conference reminded me how much God loves me and wants me to live my life to the fullest. To live out my Catholic Faith and beliefs fearlessly, know that God and Jesus are walking with me.”
Young Catholics from diocese deepen faith at major spiritual event
Liam, who is a student at Clinton Public School, competed in the 10-yearold boys division beginning with the High Bridge event sponsored by Coun cil 10627 and co-sponsored by the High Bridge Youth Soccer organization.
Other attendees said that before the retreat, their faith was not all that strong or that they did not truly believe Jesus was present in the Eucharist. They added that now they know in their hearts that God is there, that the Holy Spirit wanted them there, that they need to work on their re lationship with God, and to be courageous and fearless.Ayoung woman shared that her faith was pretty strong, however, Steubenville gave her clarity and reassurance, and she felt like she was part of a community. During the conference many of the youth had profound experiences during a holy hour of adoration of the Blessed Sac rament. Father Rufino Corona carried a monstrance holding the host through the stadium. Every 10 to 15 feet, he turned the monstrance towards the attendees to let them gaze at Jesus. To begin the bus trip to the event, attendees and chaperones met at the Ca thedral. St. Francis’ youth were able to see Sister Maria Lan Nguyen, who had served as a teacher and youth minister at the Ca thedral and parochial school for 17 years before she was transferred to St. Magda len’s in Sister2021.Maria said she was amazed at how much the youth have grown since she last saw them. St. Magdalen’s youth and chaperones were delighted that Father Timothy Christy, Cathedral rector and vicar for Evangeliza tion, joined the pilgrimage. He served as pastor of St. Magdalen’s for 17 years, until 2017.Sarah Hollcraft, St. Francis’ coordina tor of Youth Ministry since June, helped the youth and chaperones stay on schedule at the event. Szmul was a chaperone from St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi Parish
Bishop Willman D. Byrne, shepherd of the Diocese of Springfield, Mass, poses with members of the Diocese of Metuchen. Bishop Byrne presided at the opening Mass for the Steubenville East youth conference July 29. — Monika Szmul photo High Bridge has its first International Soccer Champion -- Liam James Rogan. Liam’s championship comes by way of the Knights of Columbus Soccer Challenge, an event designed for boys and girls ages 9 to 14. Competitors kick the ball into a soccer net as they would for a penalty kick. The net is divided into zones using ropes, and point values are assigned to the zones based on dif ficulty. The more difficult it is to kick a ball into a zone, the higher the point value. Competitors are scored on where their balls enter the net. The competi tion is conducted annually, with win ners progressing through local, district, regional, and other jurisdiction-level competitions.The2021-22 international cham pions were recently announced from the Knights of Columbus international headquarters in New Haven, Conn., on scores from those jurisdiction-level competitions.Theaward was recently presented to Liam by Daniel Murphy, the Knights’ District Deputy, at a recent barbecue hosted by the High Bridge Knights Council 10627 for members of St. Jo seph Parish. Each year, the Knights of Columbus dedicates a “Family Week,” and local Councils plan a special week for their parishes to celebrate family life.
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10-year-old parishioner nets prestigious award for kicking accuracy
Above, Daniel Murphy (left), Knights of Columbus District Deputy, pres ents the International Soccer Chal lenge Champion award to Liam Rogan, a member of St. Joseph Par ish, High Bridge, assisted by Kevin Speckin, St. Joseph Council Activity Leader. Left, Liam poses with (from left) his grandparents, John and Pa tricia Rogan; siblings Maeve Colleen, Clare Danielle behind twin sisters Grace Kathleen and Mary Faith, with mother, Kimberly. Back row, center, Murphy, Liam’s father, Sean; Speckin and Shannon McKay, High Bridge Youth Soccer Board of Directors. Deacon Thomas McGovern photos
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Ed Koskey Jr. photos Marking a Milestone
On May 15, Bishop James F. Checchio presided at a Mass to help St. Magdalen de Pazzi Parish, Fleming ton., celebrate its 175th Anniversary. After the Mass, a reception was held in the Parish Center to celebrate the milestone and say goodbye to Father Kenneth D. Brighenti, pastor, who left to serve as vice rector at the Pontifical College Josephinum, Columbus, Ohio. Father James De Fillipps, parochial vicar, St. Bartholomew Parish, East Brunswick, was appointed administrator of St. Magdalen’s. He will remain as the bishop’s delegate for the diocesan Office of Evange lization.
Later, he served terms as part-time Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor (1968-1970), then Prosecutor (1978-1983), followed by his appointment as a Supreme Court justice (1983-2000). He was recalled to the bench on a per diem basis for two years at age 78, and is now retired from active practice.
Bishop James F. Checchio
By Christina Leslie Correspondent After decades of service as chair of the Di ocesan Review Board, Richard S. Rebeck stepped down from the position because of ill health.Ina June 21 letter to Bishop James F. Checchio, Rebeck, a former Middlesex County Prosecutor and Superior Court judge, wrote, “It has been a privilege and honor to serve many years, first as a member and more recently as Chair of the Board… During these years, the Diocese addressed the sexual abuse scandal forthrightly with the interest and care of the victims in the forefront.”Bishop Chec chio accepted the resignation in his July 1 response, writing, “I am forever grateful for your dedicated and honorable service to the diocese… I most appreciate the fact that you understood the importance and pur pose of the Diocesan Review Board, and that you were able to impart that wisdom on the rest of the Board. I relied on your good counsel and had great confidence in you.”
Distinguished judge, 89, resigns
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broughtRebeck,89,alifelonglove of the law and his Catholic faith to the role as board chair, always striving in his words to “examine why did the abuse go on for so long, what caused it, and what could be done.”
In 2003, the diocese became the first in the nation to appoint a member of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) to a review board. Rebeck explained, “They were aiming to attack the Church. We tried to get them a seat on the board so they could see what we were doing, and that we weren’t sweeping things under a rug.”Rebeck also expressed gratitude at the Board’s relationship with its current shep herd.“Bishop Checchio often came to us as a sounding board,” he said. “He would consult with us, not on a case but to review issues and get our opinions on issues he faced.”Rebeck and his wife, Arlene, married in 1969. The couple has four daughters and seven grandchildren. Members of Our Lady of Peace Parish, North Brunswick, they live part-time in New York City and worship vir tually at the city’s St. Ignatius Loyola Parish. When asked to explain why he served so long on the Diocesan Review Board, Re beck replied: “I wanted to see the Church as it was when I grew up. I wanted everything out in the open.”
“I am forever grateful for your dedicated and honorable service to the diocese… I most appreciate the fact that you understood the impor tance and purpose of the Diocesan Review Board, and that you were able to impart that wisdom on the rest of the Board. I relied on your good counsel and had great confidence in you.”
At the behest of Bishop Emeritus Paul G. Bootkoski, Msgr. William Benwell, then diocesan vicar general, approached Rebeck with an invitation to serve on the Diocesan Review Board to address the sexual abuse issue. The judge, an altar server since the third grade, recognized the importance of such a group and as sented.“The scandal was not consistent with what the Church should be,” Rebeck said. “On the board, we could deal with problems, discover how [the situation] got there, how to address and correct the years of silence, the silence of the victim, the si lence of the priest and the embarrassment of the families.” Recall ing some highlights from his tenure as first a member, then chair of the Diocesan Review Board, he valued the diligence of the board members in their work for the people of the diocese, utilizing investigators, documenting incident reports and conduct ing hearings.“Itwas important to see the incident addressed in the proper way,” he said.
As defined on the diocesan website, the U.S. Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, and its accom panying Essential Norms, provide for the establishment in every diocese of a diocesan review board. Among the board’s primary responsibilities are assisting the bishop in assessing allegations of sexual abuse and de termining a cleric’s suitability for ministry. While growing up, Rebeck was a member of Holy Trinity Parish, Perth Am boy, and attended its parochial school. After graduating from high school, he served four years in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. Stationed in Delaware, Rebeck began his legal studies there, then transferred to Seton Hall Uni versity, South Orange, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in social studies in 1959. Rebeck received a full scholarship to attend Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., where he earned a law degree in 1962 and served as editor-in-chief of its law jour nal. Rebeck served a judicial clerkship for an associate justice of the N.J. Supreme Court, then went into private practice with the law firm of Venezia, Nolan and Rebeck, Woodbridge.
Where are you going? is the translation for the Latin Quo Vadis. In the diocese, it is the name of the annual retreat for boys between the ages of 14 and 17 who are discerning a call to the priesthood. This year, the retreat was held at the Salesian National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians, Stony Point, N.Y., July 19 to 22. It provided the attendees an opportunity to hear from and interact with priests, seminarians and faith-filled teens their own age. The retreat included morning prayer, Mass, dynamic talks, team building and other activities. On the last day, Bishop James F. Checchio celebrated Mass, spoke to the group and met with the attendees. Father Roy Quesea photos Quo Vadis?
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John Batkowski photos Together Again
After a two-year hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic, more than 125 dea cons and their wives from the diocese gathered with Bishop James F. Checchio at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Church, Bridgewater, Aug. 6. In the past, the deacons met annually for a dinner but this year welcomed an opportunity to get together for a barbecue. Pictured at the event were: clockwise from the left at top: the bishop smiles as he fills his plate from an array of dishes prepared by the St. Bernard’s Men’s Club. After the Mass which preceded the barbecue, all posed for a photo. Deacon Patrick Cline, who ministers at St. Bernard proclaims the Gospel from the ambo. Rosemary Kern, wife of Deacon Stephen Kern, director of the diocesan Office of the Diaconate, reads a scripture passage. With the temperature soaring into the 90s, it was decided to have the barbecue in the cafeteria of St. Bernard Parish School. Attendees at the Mass fill St. Bernard Church. Carrying up the offer tory gifts are Deacon Bob Gerling, who ministers at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Milltown, and his wife, JoAnn. Father Roy Quesea, secretary to the bishop and vice chancellor prays during the consecration.
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La Oficina de Evangelización Hispana y Ministerio Pastoral felicita al por el 5to Aniversario de su ordenación al diaconado. Nos sentimos bendecidos por su liderazgo y cuidado espiritual al pueblo de Dios y especialmente por su servicio a la comunidad hispana en la Diócesis de Metuchen'
St. Philip and St. James Phillipsburg
As for what advice he would give to someone considering a vocation as a permanent deacon, Deacon Flynn shared insights of his own and those of St. John Paul II.
Deacon
Born to the late Blanche Cantrel and Francis T. Flynn Sr., Deacon Flynn at tended St. Philip and St. James grammar and high schools, then continued his studies at Rutgers University Labor Relation Institute, New Brunswick, and Leads and Northrup Pyrometer Technical School, North Wales, Pa. From 1960 to 1983, he worked as a pyrometer technician for Inger soll Rand Company, and then a loan officer at IRCO Community Federal Credit Union until 2002. Heeding the call to serve the Church, Deacon Flynn received his diaconal training for the Diocese of Trenton and was or dained by Bishop George W. Ahr May 14, 1977. While assigned to St. Philip and St. James, he served as presi dent of the Phillipsburg area Council of Churches, as well as the Warren County jail chaplaincy council. Dea con Flynn served as coordinator of the parish’s Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults ministry, assisted with annul ment petitions and ministered to the elderly.“Ithink, quite simply, I took the advice of St. Paul and rejoiced with those who were rejoicing and wept with those who were weeping,” said Flynn. “Baptisms were my greatest joy, and presiding at committal ser vices was dear to my heart since that is when God’s people are most in Externalneed.”ser vice to others led to its own internal rewards, the deacon admitted.“My own faith was strengthened through the grace given to me from my service at the altar,” he said, “and my personal spiritual life became more structured.”Deacon Flynn, 85, and his wife, Florence, celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary earlier this year. They are parents to sons Ed ward, Thomas and Brian, and have seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
“‘Do not be afraid,’ pray hard, stay humble and always give good ex ample to those around you,” Deacon Flynn said. “Be sure that what you are asking is truly a calling and not your own desire!”
For Deacon John T. Flynn, pursuing the diaconate was a natural extension of his strong Catholic upbringing.
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Christina Leslie “Baptisms were my greatest joy, and presiding at commit tal services was dear to my heart since that is when God’s people are most in need.... My own faith was strengthened through the grace given to me from my service at the altar, and my personal spiritual life became more structured.”
“At the time the permanent dia conate was restored, I was already ac tive helping my coworkers improve their lives wherever there was a need,” remembered Flynn, who this year marked his 45th anniversary of ser vice to St. Philip and St. James Parish, Phillipsburg.“Itwas some thing my parents taught me was the right thing to do. I felt that I could enhance my efforts a great deal with the help of God’s grace through the sacrament of Holy Orders.”
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“A very good friend of mine began studying for the diaconate, and he and his wife used to go to classes togeth er.... I was actually persuaded by them. They thought it might be something good for me.”
With gratitude for your loving, compassionate service, We praise God for the gift of your vocation And your many years of ministry among us.
In 1977, Deacon McGuire was among the first few classes of men to be ordained to the permanent diaconate by the late Arch bishop Peter Gerety of the Archdiocese of Newark at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Newark.
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Teresa Murphy
was restored by the second Vatican council in 1967. For hundreds of years prior to this, men were ordained to the transitional diacon ate — a stepping stone toward ordination as a priest. After Vatican II, dioceses worldwide began preparing men for ministry in the per manent diaconate. Shortly thereafter, in the 1970s when permanent deacons were still rare in the United States, Deacon McGuire first felt called to the vocation thanks to the promptings of a friend. “A very good friend of mine began studying for the diaconate, and he and his wife used to go to classes together,” he re called. “I was actually persuaded by them. They thought it might be something good for me.”His wife, Catherine, agreed to his en tering formation, but had some misgivings at first. Their three daughters, Cathy, Patri cia, and Christine, were all young children under the age of 10 at the time, and pre paring for the diaconate meant that he was required to attend classes twice a week. But, he noted, “Once we got started, she was very happy with it.”
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Distributing Communion has been Deacon McGuire’s favorite ministry “After a while, you begin to sense people’s hunger for Christ – for the Eucha rist, and that’s what I enjoyed about it,” he nated into the Diocese of Trenton in 1980, and from that time until he retired from parish min istry about three years ago, Deacon McGuire ministered at Immacu late Conception Parish, Spotswood.Heworked for Advantage Sales for 22 years, retiring in 2012. Deacon McGuire said he was glad the emphasis in his ministry was on “caritas” – charity: “going out to the nursing homes, going out to the prisons.” He has no regrets about his vocation as a deacon, and in fact, said that while other deacons he’s known have struggled at times, he has not had to overcome any obstacles as a deacon. “I have been blessed to have really great pastors who welcomed me and en couraged me,” he said. “People have been very good to me, very accepting of me and of my wife, and she’s shared the whole thing with me, so I’m very blessed.” He and Catherine have been married 52 years. They enjoy spending time with their daughters and six grandchildren.
SPIRITCATHOLICTHE202225,AUGUST18MILESTONESDEACON St. John Paul II, Perth Amboy 19 9 2 - 2 0 22 Deacon Milestones
MILESTONESDEACON19THECATHOLICSPIRITAUGUST25,2022Nativity of Our Lord Parish, Monroe Township Diocese of Metuchen Sacred Heart Parish, South Plainfield St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Port Reading Diocese of Metuchen Deacon Milestones 20 0 7 - 2 0 22
MILESTONESDEACON20AUGUST25,2022THECATHOLICSPIRIT St. Andrew Church, Avenel St. Stanislaus Kostka, Sayreville Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen St. Stanislaus Kostka, Sayreville St. Lawrence Church, Laurence Harbor Our Lady of Peace, North Brunswick Our Lady of Lourdes Whitehouse Station Deacon M 20 0 7 -
202225,AUGUSTSPIRITCATHOLICTHEMILESTONESDEACON21St. Patrick Church, Belvidere St. Catherine of Siena, Pittstown Our Lady of Victories, Baptistown St. Bartholomew, East Brunswick St. Joseph, Washington St. Joseph, Washington St.Cecelia, Iselin Milestones 2 0 22
SPIRITCATHOLICTHE202225,AUGUST22MILESTONESDEACON Deacon Milestones St. Lawrence Parish, Laurence Harbor St. Philip & St. James Parish, Phillipsburg St. Joseph Parish, High Bridge St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Port Reading Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Whitehouse Station St. Thomas the Apo stle Parish extends warmest congratulations and heartfelt gratitude to Deacon Joseph Tobin on the occasion of the Tenth Anniversary of his Ordination to the Diaconate. “Those wh o serve well as deacons gain a worthy place for themselves a nd much assurance in their faith” 1 Timothy 3:13
MILESTONESDEACON23THECATHOLICSPIRITAUGUST25,2022Church of Holy Trinity, Bridgewater Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Whitehouse Station St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Old Bridge St. Helena Parish, Edison St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Three Bridges 20 1 2 - 2 0 22
SPIRITCATHOLICTHE202225,AUGUST24MILESTONESDEACON Queenship of Mary Parish, Plainsboro St. Matthew the Apostle Parish, Edison St. Philip & St. James Parish, Phillipsburg Assumption of Mary Parish, Hackettstown Immaculate Conception Parish, Somerville Our Lady of Mount Virgin Parish, Middlesex Deacon Milestones
MILESTONESDEACON25THECATHOLICSPIRITAUGUST25,2022St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish, Kendall Park St. Ann Parish, Raritan Borough St. John the Evangelist Parish, Dunellen St. Magdalen de Pazzi Parish, Flemington St. Ann Parish, Raritan Borough Immaculate Conception Parish, Annandale St. James, Basking Ridge 20 1 7 - 2 0 22
SPIRITCATHOLICTHE202225,AUGUST26DIOCESEOUR LOYOLA JESUIT CENTER 161 James St. • Morristown, NJ 07960 973-539-0740 • Fax: 973-898-9839 Retreats for lay men, women, priests, religious; days/evenings of prayer. Groups planning their own programs are welcome. www.loyola.org • retreathouse@loyola.org MALVERN RETREAT HOUSE 315 S. Warren Ave., Malvern, PA 19355 610-644-0400 • Fax: 610-644-4363 An oasis of peace set on 125-acres of wooded countryside Retreats for men, women, families, youth, religious and clergy. malvernretreat.com · mail@malvernretreat.com THE UPPER ROOM SPIRITUAL CENTER 3455 W. Bangs Ave., Building 2, Neptune, NJ 07753 Phone: 732-922-0550 • Fax: 732-922-3904 www.theupper-room.org o ce@theupper-room.org THE SHRINE OF ST. JOSEPH 1050 Long Hill Road, Stirling, NJ 07980 Day & Overnight Retreats Gift & Book Shop - open daily 908-647-0208 · www.stshrine.org BLUE ARMY OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA SHRINE 674 Mountain View Rd. 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. ST. FRANCIS RETREAT HOUSE 3918 Chipman Road, Easton, PA 18045 Franciscan retreat and confrence center RETREATS FOR MEN, WOMEN, YOUTH, RELIGIOUS, PREACHED, PRIVATE, DIRECTED Phone: 610-258-3053, ext. 10 • Fax: 610-258-2412 E-mail: stfranrh@rcn.com • stfrancisretreathouse.org ST. FRANCIS CENTER FOR RENEWAL, INC. 395 Bridle Path Road, Bethlehem PA 18017 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 sta days for church related and not-for-pro t groups. 610.867.8890 • www.stfrancisctr.orgsfcr-info@stfrancisctr.org SAN ALFONSO RETREAT HOUSE 755 Ocean Ave., Long Branch NJ 07740 A Redemptorist Spiritual Center overlooking the Atlantic Ocean o ering preached retreats, days of prayer and use of the facility for outside groups. 732-222-2731 • www.sanalfonsoretreats.orginfo@sanalfonsoretreats.org
MOUNT ST. MARY HOUSE OF
By Paul J. Peyton Correspondent MATAWAN — Deacon Frank d’Auguste was remembered as a man of hope and deep faith at a memorial Mass celebrated Aug. 6 at Most Holy Redeemer Church, where he served as a deacon for the past 20 years. Deacon d’Auguste died Jan. 19, a month shy of his 68th birthday. Father Chester H. Carina, pastor, Most Holy Redeemer Parish, presided at the Mass and gave the homily. Some of Deacon d’Auguste’s classmates attended the Mass, includ ing Deacon Keith Berg and Deacon Bob McGovern, who served with Deacon d’Auguste at Most Holy Redeemer. In his homily, Father Carina said the presence of so many parishioners “speaks to the fact that Deacon Frank’s ministry touched you personally.” “Frank d’Auguste was a man of deep faith,” he continued. “His jour ney in life began as a walk with God, according to the Jewish faith, and then he found his Christ as Lord and com panion along the way. That encounter with Christ in the Catholic Church so impressed itself on Frank’s spirit that he had to give of himself in special service to the Lord and to the Body of Christ, and so Frank found his way into the ministry of the deacon.”
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Deacon d’Auguste was prede ceased by his wife, Suzanne Gatti d’Auguste.Inaddition to Allison Brickman, he is survived by daughter Janine Macre; his mother, Anita d’Auguste; his siblings, John, Jeffrey, Bret, Adam, Myra, Laura, James, and Drew; and grandchildren, James, Thomas, An thony, Madelyn, and Gabrielle.
by the
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“Frank d’Auguste was a man of deep faith. His journey in life began as a walk with God, according to the Jewish faith, and then he found his Christ as Lord and companion along the way .”
— Father Chester Carina
ST. JOSEPH BY THE SEA 400 NJ 08738 House Sponsored Religious
Deacon d’Auguste was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Vincent De Paul Breen at the Cathedral of St. Francis of As sisi, Metuchen, June 13, 1998. He served at St. Thomas the Apos tle Parish, Old Bridge, before transfer ring to Most Holy Redeemer. Deacon d’Auguste had been em ployed as a senior information technol ogy manager with GT Nexus. He held certifications from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, in project manage ment and information technology and information technology security, ac cording to his LinkedIn profile.
Route 35 North, S. Mantoloking,
A Retreat
was lived out in the home, the parish community, and in his encounters with friends and business colleagues.”
Father Carina said Deacon d’Auguste enjoyed preparing couples for marriage as well as running Most Holy Redeemer’s baptismal preparation. In the latter, Father Carina said, he helped young parents learn how “to better appre ciate the meaning of their child’s“Itbaptism.”wasalways a joy to serve with him at the altar, but you know Frank did not only preach the Gospel in word, he also preached it in his actions,” Father Carina continued. As an example, he cited Deacon d’Auguste’s commitment to the par ish’s Society of St. Vincent de Paul chapter, which ministers to the needy. In her eulogy, one of the deacon’s two daugh ters, Allison Brickman, said for her father, “family came first no matter what and growing up my sister and I knew no matter the time, the place or the situation, all we had to do was call him and he would be there.”
Deacon whose ministry touched faithful, needy mourned at liturgy
Father Carina said he felt the Gos pel of the two thieves (Matthew 27:38) was appropriate in remembering Deacon d’Auguste, because “we are presented with two distinct paths, two distinct at titudes, which a person can take for his life.”“One path is a path of despair,” he continued. “That’s the attitude of the thief who begs Jesus to save him from the horror of the cruci fixion… He is looking to Jesus for a quick fix from this painful ordeal, which he knows will lead only to his death,” Father Carina said the first thief sees Je sus “not as the Savior, but as some sort of a magician who could make all this agony go away. He has no sense of However,hope.” the other thief “presents a com pletely different atti tude.”“For him, Jesus is a sign of hope. He doesn’t take the position that this life is all there is. He has been gifted with faith,” Father Carina said. “Frank d’Auguste was very much a man of hope. Like the good thief, Frank met Jesus not in childhood, but later in his life journey…
“Our brother, Frank, responded to Jesus’ call and the Lord gave him the graces necessary to live out his Christian faith through the vocations of husband, father, and deacon. His service to Christ
Deacon DeFrange
Father Michael G. Krull, pastor, said, “I always found him to be person able and helpful. When I was appointed pastor here, I was happy to be working with him and saw firsthand the great dedication he had to the parish… Even after his retirement, I knew I could al ways call him to run things by him and get his opinion and his support.”David Pinto, for mer Grand Knight of the parish’s Knights Council, added that the deacon “always provided fabulous, faith-filled lessons to his fellow Knights at every meeting… His greatest contribution to the parish may have been his wonderful homilies. His ability to intertwine captivat ing stories with the readings of the day were second to conservedBridgetParishionernone.”KennedyalongsideDeaDeFrangeonthe parish council, recalling the longtime businessman “ran those meetings like a top executive, so everything was in order and done properly.”
captivatinghismeeting…hiseverygreatestcontributiontotheparishmayhavebeenwonderfulhomilies.Hisabilitytointertwinestorieswiththereadingsofthedayweresecondtonone.” David Pinto, past Grand Knight
“He did what he could for the Lord, and gave what he could for his family,” said Bishop Bootkoski, who presided at a funeral Mass of Deacon David A. DeFrange at Our Lady of Peace Church July 20. Deacon DeFrange died July 12 at Saint Peter’s University Hospital, New Brunswick. He was 80. More than two dozen priests and fellow deacons of the diocese gathered in tribute to the native of Krebs, Okla., who had exercised his ministry at the parish for 23 years and the diocese as director of the Office of the Dia conate for five years. In his hom ily, Bishop Bootkoski shared his reflections on the life and faith of the late deacon, who he had appointed direc tor of the Office of the Diaconate in 2004 with the goal of reforming the program. “He had the fire,” the bishop said. “The diaconate program is essential to our Catho lic ministry, [and] he put the diaconate pro gram of Metuchen on the map.”Bishop Bootkoski noted that in his dia conate responsibilities, his work at the parish and his career at the nursery he and his son founded, Deacon DeFrange was “truly a deacon in the best sense of the term… He gave of himself. He is not sitting still — he is preparing a place for us in heaven.” Growing up in Oklahoma, Dea con DeFrange attended local Catholic grammar and high schools; earned an associate degree at Oklahoma A&M College in 1961, then graduated two years later from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. Following graduation, he served as a captain in the U.S. Air Force for four years before moving to NorthDeaconBrunswick.DeFrange worked in qual ity assurance for Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, for more than 30 years before retiring in 2008. Along with his son, David, he created and worked at Copper Creek Landscape and Nursery, Frenchtown.BishopVincent de Paul Breen or dained him to the diaconate June 13, 1998, at the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen. At Our Lady of Peace Parish, he served as catechetical instructor, lector, youth minister and vice president of the parish council. Deacon DeFrange was a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus Council 11378, North TestimonialsBrunswick.bythose who knew him best reflected the importance of Deacon DeFrange’s contributions to the life of the parish.
By Christina Leslie Correspondent NORTH BRUNSWICK –— Bishop Emeritus Paul G. Bootkoski needed just one sentence to summarize the many virtues and faith-filled life of the deacon in the casket before him.
Above, Bishop Bootkoski offers prayers of final commendation. It was Bishop Bootkoski who appoint ed Deacon DeFrange director of the diocesan Office of the Diaconate in 2004. Praying at left is Deacon Antho ny Gostkowski. Right, the casket with the remains of Deacon DeFrange is escorted by his brother deacons from the church to the hearse. Final com mittal was at Holy Cross Burial Park, South Brunswick.
Mike Ehrmann photos
Deacon DeFrange is survived by two daughters — Dr. Rita DeFrangeSiraguse (Salvatore), and Alicia M. De Frange — and his son David (Krista); a brother, sister and two grandchildren. Burial was at Holy Cross Burial Park, South ArrangementsBrunswick.were handled by Sel over Funeral Home, North Brunswick. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Our Lady of Peace Church, 1730 U.S. Highway 130, North Brunswick, NJ 08902 director of deacons, father of three
“always provided fabulous, faith-filled lessons to his fellow Knights at
Above, four deacons, together with Deacon Stephen Kern, direc tor, diocesan Office of the Diacon ate (front right), and behind him Bishop Emeritus Paul G. Bootkos ki, pray over the casket holding the remains of Deacon David A. DeFrange during a Funeral Mass at Our Lady of Peace Church, North Brunswick, July 20. Deacon DeFrange, pictured at left, served in the parish for 23 years and the diocese as director of the Office of the Diaconate for five years. In his homily Bishop Bootkoski said, “He put the diaconate program of Metuchen on the map.”
Funeral Mass celebrated for former
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Despite the death of his wife of 53 years in 2017, Frances, around the time of the parish’s 50th anniversary, the deacon took the reins and organized the celebration. “His executive and organi zational skills kicked into high gear,” Kennedy said. “Deacon Dave was the guiding force and we all knew it and appreciated his efforts.”
Future Leader
DISTRICT/CHARTER SCHOOL Perth Amboy Catholic School, Perth Amboy St. Ambrose School, Old Bridge
and
On Aug. 19, Bishop James F. Checchio, center, recently met with members of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) at the St.John Neumann Pastoral Center, Piscataway. CMI is an indigenous religious congregation founded by St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara in Kerala, India, in 1831. Today, they actively engage in evangelization in the four dioceses of Central India; Bhopal, Nagpur, Jabalpur, and Saga. They also serve in Arunachal Pradesh in the northeast part of India, on the border near China, Brazil, and many African nations. Bishop Checchio invites the faithful to pray for the mission entrusted to Carmelites of Mary Immaculate, especially for the faithful who depend on their missionary work here and around the globe. Posing with the bishop, from left: Father Pauly Thekkan, chaplain, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Somerset; Father Sebastian Kaithackal, chaplain, JFK University Medical Center, Edison; Father Justin Akkara, provincial, St. Paul Province, Bhopal, India; and Father David Chalackal, chaplain, Saint Peter’s University Hospital, New Brunswick. Gerald Wutkowski Jr. photo
Jordyn Collie, right, a senior at Mount Saint Mary Academy, Watchung, was a New Jersey Regional Leadership Council O cer at the Operation Smile International Student Leadership Conference July 18-24 at the University of Miami. Collie is posing with Brigitte Cli ord, the daughter Operation Smile cofounders Dr. Bill Magee and his wife, Kathy. At Mount Saint Mary, Collie is the president of the Future Medical Leaders Club and vice president of the Society of Women Engineers Club. She was among 200 participants from 18 countries at the conference. “As a senior going into college next year, I plan to continue my love in the health and science/medical elds, while maintaining my a liation with Operation Smile and bringing awareness to the great things that the organization does for so many people in need of their services worldwide,” she said. photo courtesy of Mount Saint Mary Academy
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations 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.
The announced today that ow cost, nutr t ous school unches and/or break asts and/or milk are availab e to a children enrolled n the schoo Mea s snacks and/or milk will be provided ree or at a educed price to children living in househo ds whose gross ncomes are at or be ow those shown for the r household s ze on the ncome sca e be ow Applicat ons or Free and Reduced P ice School Meals are available to the househo ds of all children en olled n the school EFFECTIVE FROM JULY 1 2022 TO JUNE 30, 2023 (As announced by he Un ted S a es Department of Agr cu ture) Applicat on orms a e available on the school’s webs te and at your child s school. Applicat ons can be subm tted at any me dur ng the school year If a househo d member becomes unemp oyed or the househo d s ze or ncome changes dur ng the school year pa ents a e encouraged to contac the school so that a l child en receive the proper bene ts For the school off c a s to determine elig bili y the househo d must provide the follow ng nformat on listed on the application: names of a househo d members; househo d ncome received by each househo d member; ype of ncome; frequency of ncome such as week y, every wo weeks w ce a month or month y and the s gnature and as our d g ts of the soc al secur ty number of an adu househo d member cer fy ng that the in ormat on provided s correct. The n o mat on provided by parents on the application wil be kept con idential and wil be used on y for determ n ng elig bili y Foster children, Head Start enrollees, homeless, migrant and runaway children, as defined in 7 CFR 245.2, a e categorically elig b e for free meals or free milk Househo ds receiving ass stance under NJ SNAP or Temporary Ass stance for Needy Families (TANF) for the r children will be notif ed of the r eligibility for ree benef ts un ess the househo d not f es the school that t chooses to decline benef ts Househo ds receiving ass stance under NJ SNAP or TANF shou d only subm an application i they are not noti ed of thei elig bility by a spec f ed date determined 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 ma y also be eligible for ree and educed price meals. Parents/guardians should contact their child’s school for more information. The school will advise parents of the r child s elig bility w th n 10 working days of rece pt of the applicat on. Any pa ent d ssat sf ed with the elig bility determ nat on may contac the school to reques an nformal conference or may appeal the dec s on by reques ing 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 In addition, pursuant to a waiver authority granted at Section 12(l) of the NSLA, schools that operated under SSO in SY2021 2022 may use the most recent free and reduced price determination since SY2019 2020 during the 30 day carryover period. 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 nat ons are comp eted, school officia s a e required to ver y three percent of the approved free and reduced pr ce applicat ons on ile. For additional information, contact your child’s school.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD 3027) found online at: How to File a Complaint and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632 9992. Submit your completed form or letter 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 (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
SPIRITCATHOLICTHE202225,AUGUST28DIOCESEOUR Form #276 June 2022 SCHOOL YEAR 2022 2023 PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
HOUSEHOLDSIZE FREE MEALS OR M LK HOUSEHOLDSIZE REDUCED PR CE MEALS Annual Month y Twice per Mon h WEveryTwoeeks Week y Annua Mon hly Tw ce per Mon h WEveryTwoeeks Week y 87654321 H ho d M b 17,667 1,473 737 680 340 54321678 Each Add Househo d Member 25,142 2,096 1,048 967 484 23,803 1,984 992 916 458 33,874 2,823 1,412 1,303 652 29,939 2,495 1,248 1,152 576 42,606 3,551 1,776 1,639 820 36,075 3,007 1,504 1,388 694 51,338 4,279 2,140 1,975 988 42,211 3,518 1,759 1,624 812 60,070 5,006 2,503 2,311 1,156 48,347 4,029 2,015 1,860 930 68,802 5,734 2,867 2,647 1,324 54,483 4,541 2,271 2,096 1,048 77,534 6,462 3,231 2,983 1,492 60,6196,136 5,052512 2,526256 2,332236 1,166118 86,2668,732 7,189728 3,595364 3,318336 1,659168 Diocese of Metuchen Form #276 June 2022
The following school d stricts and charter schoo s par c pate n these programs
Honored Guests please pray for vocations
Name of school district(s) participating in one or more of the School Nutrition Programs, such as the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, After School Snack Program or Special Milk Program.
DIOCESEOUR29THECATHOLICSPIRITAUGUST25,2022Mount Saint Mary Open House 1645 US-22 W, Watchung, NJ (908) 757-0108, EXT. 4506 • www.mountsaintmary.org SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2022 2 to 4:30 pm ACADEMY Student/Faculty Ratio - 8:1 The Class of 2022 received over $24 million in grants/scholarships Students can choose from 13 SPORTS and over 50 extra-curricular Activities 20 AP Courses and 29 Honors Courses Offered Mounties reside in 8 counties and 80 different New Jersey communities Grade Level Spiritual Retreats 2 Kairos Retreats and Our Annual Service Day To pre-register for Open House or to learn about our TOURING TUESDAYS and ZOOM EVENTS, contact Donna Toryak, Director of Enrollment Management, at dtoryak@mountsaintmary.org.
To S. Lisa Gambacorto, RSM,
pre-register, e-mail Specialenrollment@mountsaintmary.orgPresentationby
Ed.S., Directress Successful Journeys Begin Here!
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The Knights of Columbus Council 15540, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Three Bridges, recently awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Bridget McLaughlin, who was the winner of its essay contest. McLaughlin, center, plans to attend Baruch College, New York, this fall. The presentation was made at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church by, from left: Knights Gerry Enzmann, Joe Mania, Nick Panjwani, Frank Lieto, Tom Monroe, Frank Renda, Thomas Zobele and recently installed Grand Knight Rick Dool. photo courtesy of Knights of Columbus Council 15540 Mary Claire Schleck, right, a senior at Mount Saint Mary Academy, Watchung, poses with an unidenti ed participant of the Summer Leaders Experience (SLE) at the United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. SLE, held June 4 to June 10, is a highly selective program for students interested in attending the academy. “I am so grateful for this immersive experience of life at West Point and in the military,” Schleck said. “Each day, lled with early wakeups, physical training, military training, academic classes, and squad activities, ew by. While there were challenging moments, I loved everything about SLE. I will forever cherish the friendships I made, the knowledge I gained, and the leadership skills I developed during my week at West Point.” At Mount Saint Mary, Schleck is vice president of the Student Council Executive Board, a member of the Peer Facilitators Team, host of the Mount Pack Podcast, soccer team captain and basketball team captain. Outside of school, she is a Girl Scout. photo courtesy of Mount Saint Mary Academy
Patients who come to Saint Pe ter’s experiencing a stroke can expect to receive an interdisciplinary plan of care that not only includes the doctors and nurses, but physical therapy spe cialists, nutritionists and pharmacists who help decide on the best medica tions for patients. To prevent the risk of having a second stroke, patients are evaluated for secondary risk factors while they are in the hospital. Once the patient goes home, Saint Peter’s staff follows up with them to see how they are “It’srecovering.important to get treatment as quickly as possible if you think you or a loved one is having a stroke. The acronym ‘BE FAST’ can help people re member what signs to look out for,” said registered nurse Maria Bartman, stroke coordinator at Saint Peter’s and chair of Saint Peter’s Stroke Committee.
“Well-known as a leader in pediat ric care in New Jersey, The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital is a state-designated acute care children’s hospital offering a fullrange of pediatric specialized healthcare services for children from newborns through adolescence,” said Dr. Bipin Patel, chairman of Pediatrics and physi cian-in-chief at The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital.
• Dedicated pediatric emergen cy department•Pediatric intensive care unit (PICU)• A high rating (4 or 5 on a 5-point scale) for their Emergency De partment staffing
The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s has met the highest standards for pediatric emergency care.
NEW BRUNSWICK — The Dorothy B. Hersh Pediatric Emergency Depart ment at The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital has received a Best Pediatric Emergency Care award by the Women’s Choice Award®, America’s trusted referral source for the best in healthcare.
“We found in our studies that 75 percent of women associate children’s hospitals with care for seriously ill children and nearly 50 percent of wom en are unfamiliar with the full offerings of a children’s hospital,” said Delia Passi, founder and chief executive officer, Women’s Choice Award, and former publisher of “Working Woman and Working Mother” magazines. “Our goal at the Women’s Choice Award is to help moms — and parents — make educated, confident decisions about where to take their children for a wide range of healthcare services.”
E – Eyes: Is the person experienc ing blurred or double vision or a loss of vision?F–
“It’s an honor for Saint Peter’s to be consistently recognized for the care we deliver to patients experienc ing a stroke,” said Dr. Roger Behar, neurologist and medical director of the Stroke Program at Saint Peter’s, which is sponsored by the diocese.
A – Arm Weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Does one arm drift downward if the person raises their arms?
“Children are not little adults. They have specialized needs that require specially trained physicians — something that is even more crucial when emergency care is required. It’s an honor to have been recognized for Best Pediatric Emer gency Care by the Women’s Choice Award®, reinforcing our commitment to our community’s children.”
Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States. On average, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds, and nearly 795,000 people suffer a new or recur rent stroke each year. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing dis ability and speeding recovery times.
Emergency Department receives prestigious pediatric care award
Hospital recognized with award for quality of care for stroke patients
SPIRITCATHOLICTHE202225,AUGUST30DIOCESEOUR
NEW BRUNSWICK — Saint Peter’s University Hospital, a member of Saint Peter’s Healthcare System, has received the American Heart Asso ciation/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally rec ognized, research-based guidelines.
“When your child has a medical emergency, you want him or her to be treated by experts who understand their unique medical needs. Pediatric emergency rooms are staffed with spe cialists, services and technologies for the unique needs of children in a kidfriendly environment to reduce stress and anxiety,” said Passi. In addition to the Women’s Choice Award, the Dorothy B. Hersh Pediatric Emergency Department at The Chil dren’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s Univer sity Hospital has earned the prestigious Lantern Award from the national Emer gency Nurses Association. Saint Pe ter’s also received its sixth consecutive Magnet® designation, nursing’s high est honor, from the American Nurses Credentialing Center in 2020 and its Pediatric Intensive Care Unit recently earned a Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. Saint Peter’s University Hospital, a member of Saint Peter’s Healthcare System, is a 478-bed acute-care teach ing hospital. Saint Peter’s, which received its sixth consecutive des ignation as a Magnet® hospital for nursing excellence by the American Nurses Credentialing Center in 2020, is a state-designated children’s hospital and a regional perinatal center, and is a regional specialist in diabetes, gas troenterology, head and neck surgery, oncology, orthopedics, and women’s services.Saint Peter’s is the recipient of the Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses for the adult intensive care unit, neonatal intensive care unit, cardiac progressive care unit and the pediatric intensive care unit. The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital provides families with access to a full range of pediatric specialties, including a na tionally recognized Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, pediatric surgery and orthopedic surgery featuring inno vative anterior scoliosis correction. The hospital offers a midwifery service and the brand-new state-of-the-art Mary V. O’Shea Birth Center. Saint Peter’s is a sponsor of residency programs in obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics and internal medicine, and is a major clinical affili ate of Rutgers Biomedical and Health SciencesTolearn more about the Dorothy B. Hersh Pediatric Emergency Depart ment at The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s, visit saintpetershcs.com/ PedsED
T – Time to call 911: If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms subside, call 911 and get them to the hospital immediately. Saint Peter’s University Hospital is designated a primary stroke center by the New Jersey State Department of Health and Senior Services and is certi fied as a primary stroke center by The Joint Commission, demonstrating that the hospital has consistently met qual ity metrics and provided some of the best evidence-based care for its stroke patients.Aprimary stroke center is the first line of defense in diagnosing and treating stroke and preventing or minimizing permanent brain damage to the patient. Saint Peter’s was also the first hospital in New Jersey to be recognized as an Age-Friendly Health System, implementing evidencebased interventions specifically designed to improve care for older adults across emergency departments, intensive care units, medical-surgical units, and primary and specialty care settings.Get With The Guidelines® is the American Heart Association/Ameri can Stroke Association’s hospitalbased quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and has tening recovery, Get With The Guide lines has touched the lives of more than 12 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart. org
Children’s hospitals are specifically designed to take care of the child through a family-centered approach to medicine and serve kids at each stage of growth and development, requiring differently sized equipment and a range of expertise.
S – Speech Difficulty: Is the per son’s speech slurred, are they unable to speak, or are they hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sen tence like, “The grass is green.”
The Best Pediatric Emergency Care designation is based on self-re ported data from children’s hospitals in the nation. A children’s hospital earns the Best Pediatric Emergency Care if it has all three of the following:
“Time is of the essence when someone is having a stroke and this recognition signifies our dedication to providing high-quality stroke care as quickly as possible.”GetWith The Guidelines-Stroke was developed to assist healthcare pro fessionals provide the most up-to-date, research-based guidelines for treating stroke patients. Each year, program participants apply for this recognition by demonstrating how their organiza tion has committed to providing qual ity care for stroke patients. In addition to following treatment guidelines, participants also provide education to patients to help them manage their health and rehabilitation upon return ing home from the hospital.
“We are incredibly pleased to rec ognize Saint Peter’s University Hos pital for its commitment to caring for patients with stroke,” said Dr. Steven Messe, chairman of the Stroke System of Care Advisory Group. “Participa tion in Get With The Guidelines is associated with improved patient out comes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a win for healthcare systems, families and communities.”
B – Balance: Is the person having trouble with balance or coordination?
Face Drooping: Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile.
DIOCESEOUR31THECATHOLICSPIRITAUGUST25,2022Catholic Radio domesticchurchmedia.org A Benefit Concert for With the Summer Swing Orchestra Visit our website for ticket information: domesticchurchmedia. org/2022-benefit-concert Jim SingsManfredoniatheMusicof Frank Sinatra AngelaFeaturingManfredoniasingingsongsmadefamous by Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli and others Saturday, Sept. 24, 7 pm Notre Dame High School Theater • 601 Lawrence Rd • Lawrenceville, NJ Special appearance by Cheryl Manfredonia
Fourth, they agreed to cooperate and share information on unexpected, largescale border crossings. These commitments are a positive sign of cooperation, which will take time to implement. But the declaration offers hope that cooperation among countries and U.S. efforts to engage other countries on the causes and management of migration can prove beneficial to all.
By Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio Catholic News Service
On road people's safety should come first
A smuggling attempt in June resulted in the death of 53 individuals in a truck near San Antonio,PopeTexas.Francis has stressed the need for all of us to “walk with migrants.” This means not to solve everyone’s problems, but rather to accompany migrants in their journeys in life. Some people can meet and serve individual migrants. All of us, however, view many of the journeys in today’s world from afar. Some of us badly misunderstand this reality. The tragic death of 53 people is, unfortunately, only the tip of the iceberg. Migrants come to this country for many reasons. I cannot help but remember the story of my paternal grandfather, Francisco DiMarzio, who came to this country in 1912 as an unaccompanied minor. He was about 15-years-old when he left his village in Italy and traveled to the city of Newark, New Jersey, where some people from his home village had settled. In those years, there were few limitations on immigration, but in the 1920s, severe restrictions were placed on many countries, including southern and eastern European countries.Iwould not be here today if my grandfather had not taken that risk. When I asked him, “Why did you come to this country,” he would answer with only one word, “miseria” (misery), which means that they were facing a lack of food, no work and no future.Misery causes many migrants to come today — some flee gang violence, others environmental disasters, and others untenable conditions caused by political corruption. Most legal immigrants and many immigrants who enter the country illegally come to rejoin their relatives or find a future not available to them in their own country.
First, the countries agreed to stabilize migration movements through investments to address the root causes of migration so that people can remain in their own countries. Second, they agreed to expand legal avenues for migration with the goal of diminishing the need for unregulated migration. Third, they agreed to better manage their borders, making a special effort to address smuggling networks and human trafficking.
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio is the retired bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn, N.Y. He writes the column “Walking With Migrants” for Catholic News Service and “The Tablet”
You may have read recently that a permanent deacon of this diocese, John Monahan, died as a result of motorvehicle collisions. The initial report was that the driver of a car carrier had run a red light along is incalculable.
The National Highway Tra c Safety Administration reported that more than 9,500 people had died in motor-vehicle collisions in this country in the rst quarter of this year. That was seven percent more deaths than in the same period last year and the most motor-vehicle deaths in the rst quarter of a year since 2002.
SPIRITCATHOLICTHE202225,AUGUST32FAITHOUR FrancisPope AUDIENCE July 17, 2022 Prayer in Honor of the Queenship of Mary O Mary Immaculate Queen, look down upon this distressed and suffering world. You know our misery and our weakness. O thou who art our Mother, saving us in the hour of peril, have compassion on us in these days of great and heavy trial. Jesus has confided to you the treasure of His grace, and through you He wills to grant us pardon and mercy. In these hours of anguish, therefore, your children come to you as their hope. We recognize your Queenship and ardently desire your triumph. We need a Mother and a Mother's Heart. You are for us the luminous dawn which dissipates our darkness and points out the way to life. In your clemency obtain for us the courage and the confidence of which we have such need. Most Holy and Adorable Trinity, You Who did crown with glory in Heaven the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Savior, grant that all her children on earth may acknowledge her as their Sovereign Queen, that all hearts, homes, and nations may recognize her rights as Mother and as Queen.Mary Immaculate Queen, triumph and reign! Amen Brothers and sisters, let us take advantage of this summer vacation time to stop and listen to Jesus. Nowadays it is increasingly difficult to find free time to meditate. For many people the rhythm of life is frenetic and wearisome. Summertime can be valuable also for opening the Gospel and reading it slowly, without haste, a passage each day, a short passage from the Gospel. And this lets us enter into this dynamic of Jesus. Let us allow ourselves to be challenged by those pages, asking ourselves how our life, my life, is going, if it is in line with what Jesus says, or not so much. In particular, let us ask ourselves: When I start my day, do I throw myself headlong into the things to be done, or do I first seek inspiration in the Word of God? At times we begin the day automatically, we start doing things … like hens. No, We must start the day by first of all looking to the Lord, taking his Word, briefly, but let this be the inspiration for the day. If we leave the house in the morning keeping a word of Jesus in mind, the day will surely acquire a tone marked by that word, which has the power to orient our actions according to the wishes of the Lord. 20 countries meet, address migration issues
A June Supreme Court decision allowed the Biden administration to change the Trump-era policy that required U.S. asylum-seekers to remain in Mexico while asylum claims were pending in U.S. immigration courts. The change in policy offers some protection to migrants from the well-documented dangers of Mexican borderStill,cities.more resources need to be deployed to ensure timely hearings, legal representation and basic services for these asylum-seekers. Many of those driven to come to the U.S. will be real assets to our country. But, at present, they are forced into the hands of smugglers or to use other means of illegal border crossing. However, perhaps there is some light at the end of the migration tunnel. A few weeks ago in Los Angeles, a historic meeting of Western Hemisphere countries was held where 20 countries issued a Declaration on Migration and Protection. Regional cooperation is needed to humanely manage migration in the hemisphere. The participating nations made four significant commitments.
On three occasions since that happened, I have seen drivers run red lights; in one case, the driver in front of me narrowly missed being “t-boned” by a driver who ignored the signal. Not long after those incidents, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that more than 9,500 people had died in motor-vehicle collisions in this country in the first quarter of this year. That was seven percent more deaths than in the same period last year and the most motor-vehicle deaths in the first quarter of a year since 2002. I am not surprised by those statistics.
Despite my advanced age, I still drive to work four days a week along Route 22 between Whitehouse Station and Plainfield. And every day, I see drivers speeding, weaving in and out of lanes, aggressively entering a highway despite “yield” signs and common sense, following too closely, rushing through amber and red signals, and cutting off other vehicles, including semi-tractors that weigh tens of thousands of pounds. In one episode, I was driving at or slightly over the speed limit and could tell when I glanced in my rear-view mirror that the woman driving close behind me was impatient. ` I presume that most of these drivers are at least nominally Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Hindus all of whose religions teach that the common good supersedes individual desires. But even if they believe that in the abstract, they apparently don’t think it applies to their driving. However, the state imposes and enforces traffic laws precisely in order to protect the common good. In our case, as Christians, this is a disconnect that affects not only driving but every aspect of life. We presumably believe that we should love our neighbors as ourselves. But a driver I often see from my kitchen window who routinely drives past a stop sign as though it weren’t there is not concerned about a neighbor who might be backing out of his driveway or walking her dog or riding a bike in that vicinity. When I was a newspaper editor, there was an incident in which a police officer gave a county prosecutor a summons for speeding. The prosecutor publicly objected that he was on his way to a murder scene. I calculated that if he had been driving at the speed limit, he would have arrived at his destination — where, not incidentally, the victim was already dead — about four minutes later than if that officer had not stopped him from speeding. That is usually the case when drivers speed or run red lights or otherwise behave as though their time, even three or four minutes, is more important than other people’s safety. We’re not on the road alone. Let us love one another. Charles Paolino is a retired permanent deacon of the Diocese of Metuchen.
FAITHOUR33THECATHOLICSPIRITAUGUST25,2022
Gospel reading for
all directions in the puzzle. PARABLE INVITED SOMEONE A WEDDING BANQUET FEAST PLACE HONOR HOST LOWEST FRIEND HIGHER TABLE HUMBLED EXALTED DINNER NEIGHBOR LAME BLIND BLESSED RESURRECTION YOUR PLACE E D P A R A B L E N A N N X H U M B L E D A L O O J A T S A E F X F O I E P W L H O S T R A W T M L K T T J S I E W E C O A R E D E E N H E S E S C E U T N D V H D T R I E H Q D C H I O D A R L M G N J O O T N I B U Y A I A A L L E O N L S C L H B G X Q D R G E E B G N H N E I G H B O R © 2022 TRI C A Publications; tri c a publications.com Be merciful, like the Father
By Msgr. John N. Fell
SCRIPTURE SEARCH® Gospel
SCRIPTURE STUDY
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle
Ben Sira, the author of the Book of Sir ach (sometimes known as the Book of Eccle siasticus) advises, “My child, conduct your affairs with humility . . . humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God” ( Sir 3:17-18 ).
A wedding banquet is often used in Biblical writings to represent the Kingdom of God — the long-suffering people who had remained faithful to God would ultimately gather in such a celebration of joy, peace, and plenty forever.
The humility that Jesus seeks is thus not simply self-abasement or passivity in the eyes of God. It involves a grateful recognition that everything we have and are is the result of God’s gift. The moral point, then, is that we should share everything we have as liberally as God shares with us, that is, that we should be “Merciful like the Father.” This is the basis of Jesus’ command to invite those who cannot re pay us to our banquets first. Inviting those who cannot repay us is a genuine offer of praise to God; we imitate him and seek to do his will without any selfish motive. Jesus’ advice to invite “beggars and the crippled, the lame and the blind” ( Lk 14:13 ) also serves to remind us that everyone is invited to approach God’s kingdom; the mention of these formerly “un clean” groups is Jesus’ way of assuring us that the kingdom is open to all who accept it with humble, grateful hearts. Jesus insists that such loving outreach to the lowliest of his people will not go unrewarded, “for you will be repaid in the resurrection of the just” ( Lk 14:14 ), a resurrection which will lead us to “the city of the living God . . . to God the judge of all . . . [and] to Jesus, the mediator of the new cov enant” ( Heb 12:22-24 ).
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)
Jesus advises the group that when invited to such a feast, they should humbly take the lowest seats available, not as a way of demean ing themselves, but rather in recognition of their status as guests — they were graciously being allotted a portion of something that they had not earned — their participation was a grace, not a right. Then, if more exalted places remained open, their host might come and promote them further, greatly adding to their esteem in the eyes of others. On the other hand, if they have inappropriately assumed a more exalted position than their status allowed, the host would be forced to demote them in the eyes of the crowd. Jesus’ intention here is not to give a lesson on social etiquette, but rather to encourage people to act always with a deep sense of dependence and gratitude in the pres ence of TheGod.wedding Banquet, like the Kingdom of God, is by invitation only. No one has or had a right to attend. Jesus was direct ing this parable to the Pharisees who were convinced that their exacting religious observance earned them a right to a place in God’s kingdom, forgetting that entry into the feast is only through God’s merciful gracious ness. Jesus is encouraging his hearers to remember that their salvation is always God’s gift and to act accord-ingly. Thus, his advice to take the lowliest seat at the banquet is an instruction to act as though one had no right to be there — one is there solely as an act of God’s unsurpassable good ness. Jesus promises that God will richly reward this stance of humble gratitude with a glorious welcome into his heavenly reign.
Google, public domain
Joseph Calasanz 1556 - 1648 feast - August 25 for August 28, 2022 Luke 14: 1, 7 14 is a word search based on the the C: What could be an situation. The be found in
The great Irish author and theologian, C.S. Lewis, once wrote that “humility is not think ing less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less.” This insight serves as an apt introduction to our readings this Sunday. Our call is to remember that it is all about God — and God’s goodness — and our privilege to be instru ments of that goodness.
Ben Sira’s advice, taught around the year 180 BC to the young nobles of Jerusalem, speaks to more than proper social behavior. The reason that a greater person should act more humbly is that he has been given more by God. The point of this lesson is that we should all ac cept the circumstances of our lives as God’s gifts, expressing gratitude and not self-flattery for our status and talents.TheEnglish word “humil ity” comes from the Latin word “humus” which means “earth” or “ground;” in that sense, to be humble is to be grounded, that is, to be real in our assessment of our gifts and talents, valuing our own efforts and contributions to be sure, but always especially remembering the blessings of God and others that are so much the source of all that we have and are. The Dutch Renaissance scholar, Erasmus, wrote that “humility is truth,” and to be sure that is what genuine humility is all about — not selfdeprecation, but about an hon-est appraisal of our own strengths and weaknesses, as well as the honest recognition of all that has been done for us. Such humility should raise up within us (1) a profound sense of gratitude to God, (2) a realistic appreciation of our own abilities and limitations, and (3) a kindly awareness of the abilities and limitations of others. St. Luke uses the setting of a meal to hand on Jesus’ teaching about humility. Gathered at table with a group of Pharisees, a religious sect which greatly prided themselves on their observance of the Mosaic Law, Jesus began to speak of a wedding banquet (the greatest op portunity for feasting and merriment that most of his ancient hearers would ever experience).
orself-abasementsimplypassivityintheeyesofGod.Itinvolvesagrate-fulrecognitionthateverythingwehaveandareistheresultofGod’sgift.
Following
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
Msgr. Fell is a Scripture scholar and director, diocesan Office for Priest Personnel
words can
The humility that Jesus seeks is thus not
awkward
“If anyone is worthy of being named as Mackie Award recipients, it is the Cotes,” said Rich Rau (class of 1989), director of advancement for Im maculate Conception School and Im maculata High School and oversees the Immaculata Golf Classic. “This year, the Immaculata Golf Classic is being held during our Spar tans Come Home weekend and, for the first time ever, we are inviting all Spartans to come home, not only our alumni, but their parents, families and friends, too,” he said.
Rau believes it is fitting that the Cotes would be honored during this weekend-long celebration, saying, “As evidenced by Brian and Maureen, the parents of our students are as much a part of our Spartan family as our stu dents and alumni. The Cotes have been participating in the Golf Classic since its inception, so it will be strange to see them on the other end of things.’
SPIRITCATHOLICTHE202225,AUGUST34DIOCESEOUR Our Lady of Tenderness 1 Cole Court, #307 Chester, NJ 07930 www.ourladyoftenderness.com Your prayer requests are welcomed and encouraged. They shall be placed before the Blessed Sacrament and lifted daily in prayer. The ministry of this Hermitage is God’s gift, a life of prayer, freely given to our diocese for you. Please accept this free gift. It is a privilege to be united with you in prayer. Be still and know that I am God. - Psalm 46:10 Prayer Request: SOMERVILLE — As the parents of two adult children, both alumni of Immaculata High School, Brian and Maureen Cote understand that a strong foundation in high school can set the course for the rest of a student’s life. The couple first-handedly witnessed the strong foundation laid by Immaculata High School, first when their children attended the institution as teenagers and now, with their daughter, Patrice, serving as a girls’ lacrosse coach and their son, Neil, assisting as a percus sion instructor for the marching band and indoor drumline.
Couple to be honored for decades of service to alma mater
The Catholic Media Association rec ognized and honored the Diocese of Metuchen’s Office of Communications & Public Relations and “The Catholic Spirit,” the official publication of the Diocese of Metuchen at the 2022 Catho lic Press Awards Banquet & Presenta tion. The awards program concluded the Catholic Media Conference held in Portland, Oregon, July 4-7. The Office of Communications re ceived a second-place award in the cat egory, “Best Use of Social Media.” The CMA commented on this entry saying, “In addition to great artwork and relevant information, the Diocese of Metuchen does a great job reinforcing its brand throughout its social media presence.” The office also earned a secondplace award for its press release “Pris oners ‘worthy of inherent dignity,’ says Bishop of Metuchen. In commenting on the release, written by Tara Smith former Director of Communications, the CMA stated, “The press release was timely, and did well to set out the facts of the situa tion. In addition, the photo was a good illustration of the Bishop’s connection to the facility. Three stories in “The Catholic Spir it” were awarded Honorable Mention by the CMA. One, in best news writing one shot — national event, went to Smith for “Twenty years later, director of diacon ate, 9/11 survivor, recalls day.” The other two Honorable Mentions were in the best news writing on a local or regional event. They included: ‘Peter Tran,’ seminarian for diocese mourned at funeral Mass, by Christina Leslie, and Mother of son shot to death delivers emotional Good Friday talk, by Joanne Ward.
Diocese receives awards at CMA conference
“My husband, Brian, and I began volunteering for Immaculata when our daughter, our oldest child, started school there,” said Maureen, whose service to Immaculata spans more than 20 years, a collective of her volunteer work and employment at the Catholic parochial school. “When we saw all the school offered and all it did for the stu dents and their families, we knew we wanted to contribute in an even greater way.”
“When I first told Brian and Mau reen that they had been chosen as our honorees this year, their first question to me was, ‘Can we still volunteer for the Immaculata Golf Classic?’” recalled Rau. “That question alone is indicative of the type of people they are and is exactly the reason they will be great Mackie Award recipients.”
Maureen and Brian, Immaculata High School's 2022 Mackie Award recipients, pose for a recent photo. photo courtesy of Immaculata High School
Between Maureen’s tenure at the school, from where she recently retired as the director of campus ministry, and Brian’s expansive volunteer portfolio, which includes “doing whatever she needs,” he said jokingly, together the couple totals nearly 50 years of service to theInschool.honor of their dedication and commitment, they will be presented with the prestigious Mackie Award dur ing the annual Immaculata Golf Clas sic, which is scheduled to be held Sept. 26 at Royce Brook Golf Club, Hillsbor ough. To learn more, to register or to sponsor the event, visit: afterhighschool.org/golfclassic.immaculataFirstpresentedin2008andnamedJ.Brandon“Mackie”Maxwell Jr., the first recipient of the award, the Mackie Award honors individuals who have demonstrated a longstanding commitment to advancing the mission of the school through service to the school community.
“Immaculata High School means so much more to us than just the place where our children received a great education and a solid formation, it is the place where our children were welcomed in as family, where we were welcomed in as family,” said Maureen, who now lives with her husband blocks from the school, which she calls her “home away from home.”
With Immaculate Conception Parish-owned properties nearby, the Cote’s home on either side — the high school at one end of Mountain Avenue with Immaculate Conception Church and Immaculate Conception School, which serves students in pre-K through 8th grade, at the other — the couple is deeply-ingrained in the entire life of the parish community. When their children were young, they could be seen volunteering at the Catholic grade school, and now they can be regularly seen volunteering as ushers at Mass, faithfully serving on the John Paul II Cultural Arts Committee, and working each year to help with the Immaculate Conception Church Memorial Christ mas Tree program.
“is the supreme witness given to the truth of the faith” (ccc 2473). The Church has scrupulously recorded many testimonies of martyrdom, especially in the early Church, of those who died as witnesses to the faith. One such testimony includes that of St. Ignatius of Antioch, quoted in the Catechism: “Let me become the food of the beasts, through whom it will be given me to reach God” (ccc 2473). The final part of this section of the Catechism outlines “Offenses Against the Truth” including: ■ “When it is made publicly, a statement contrary to the truth takes on a particular gravity. In court it becomes false witness. When it is under oath, it is perjury” (ccc 2476).
■ “…the purpose of speech is to communicate known truth to others. The deliberate intention of leading a neighbor into error by saying things contrary to the truth constitutes a failure in justice and charity” (ccc 2485).
■ “‘A lie consists in speaking a falsehood with the intention of deceiving.’ The Lord denounces lying as the work of the devil: ‘You are of your father the devi…there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies’” (ccc 2482).
“Respect for the reputation of persons forbids every attitude and word likely to cause them unjust injury” (ccc 2477).
JourneyofFaith Faithful are bound by Commandments to ‘live’ truth
By Father John Gerard Hillier
Many in our society choose to consider perspective or opinion more important than truth. Stated another way, our moral compass is broken and we have lost our way.
ALIVEFAITH35THECATHOLICSPIRITAUGUST25,2022
Senior Care at Home Article 165 - Catechism of the Catholic Church Series Paragraphs 2464-2487
■
■ “Honor is the social witness given to human dignity, and everyone enjoys a natural right to the honor of his name and reputation and to respect” (ccc 2479).
When was the last time you spoke ill of another? Perhaps in frustration? Perhaps in anger? Perhaps due to jealousy? Maybe even envy? Those of us who have experienced a moment like that have broken the Eighth Commandment. How about testifying under oath? Have you ever had to testify, perhaps on your own behalf or as a witness for someone else? Depending on the circumstances, this can be a grueling experience, not only because we are compelled to speak the truth, but because we, as Catholics, are bound by this Commandment to live the truth. As disciples of Jesus Christ, our motivation is different from that of nonChristians. The Catechism says it this way: “The disciple of Christ consents to ‘live in the truth,’ that is, in the simplicity of a life in conformity with the Lord’s example, abiding in his truth” (ccc 2470). There is no “wiggle” room. As members of the Body of Christ we are bound to follow the example of Christ who is truth-personified!
Father Hillier is Director, diocesan Office of Pontifical Mission Societies, the Office for Persons with Disabilities, and Censor Luborum
The Eighth Commandment, “you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Ex 20:16; Dt 5:20), challenges us in a most particular way because it encompasses all our interaction with others. The great St. Thomas Aquinas once said: “We could not live with one another if there were not mutual confidence that we were being truthful to one another” (Summa Theologiea II-II 109, 3). In our present culture, we have lost this “mutual confidence.” However, God’s Commandment still “forbids [us from] misrepresenting the truth in our relations with others” (ccc. 2464) because our vocation as God’s holy people is “to bear witness to…God who is the truth and wills the truth” (ccc 2464). The Old Testament affirms: “God is the source of all truth. His Word is truth” (ccc 2465). In the New Testament, we learn that in Jesus Christ, the whole of God’s Truth has been made manifest. “‘Full of grace and truth,’ he came as the ‘light of the world,’ he is the Truth” (ccc 2466). Those who follow Jesus Christ agree “to live in the truth, that is, in the simplicity of a life in conformity with the Lord’s example, abiding in his truth” (ccc 2470).IntheFirst Letter of St. John, we are told: “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not live according to the truth” (1 Jn 1:6). In the Gospel of St. John, Jesus stands before Pilate and proclaims that he “has come into the world, to bear witness to the truth” (Jn 18:37). It always fascinated me that Pontius Pilate then looked into the eyes of Jesus (who IS truth personified) and asked: “What is truth?” (Jn 18:38Martyrdom).
■ “Lying is destructive of society; it undermines trust among men and tears apart the fabric of social relationships” (ccc 2486).
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■ “When it is impossible publicly to make reparation for a wrong, it must be made secretly” (ccc 2487).
All of the above seem futile when living in a society that seems to exist and promote a style of living that is contrary to the truth. Whether we consider institutions like the “traditional” news media, schools, universities and other places of learning, or people such as local or national politicians, teachers, and television personalities, almost every aspect of society seems to have turned its back on the truth.Equally troubling is that many in our society choose to consider perspective or opinion more important than truth. Stated another way, our moral compass is broken and we have lost our way. We need only consider the many news stories we have heard and accepted as true only to be told weeks or months later, that the “true” news story previously reported is in fact not Whethertrue.the themes are such as climate change, news about food or gas prices, or even COVID-19, chances are we have been told outright lies by some of the very people we depend on to tell us the truth. In this regard, all involved would have broken the Eighth Commandment: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”
■ “If a lie in itself only constitutes a venial sin, it becomes mortal when it does grave injury to the virtues of justice and charity” (ccc 2484).
SPIRITCATHOLICTHE202225,AUGUST36DIOCESEOUR 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 wwwwordgamesforcatholicscom Crossword Puzzle ACROSS 7 Humanae ___ 8 First step in being a nun 10 “…male and ___ he created them.” (Gen 1:27) 12 Catholic Green Bay Packers coach Lombardi 13 The Immaculate Conception 16 First century pope 18 Leader of the Church 20 Certain Padre 21 Patron saint of orphans 22 The Gospel is read from here 25 It comes after Jon 26 It’s gold and white with a papal symbol on it 27 Daughter of Jacob 28 Faith is like a mustard ___ 29 Catholic actor in sit-com Taxi 31 An epistle 34 Paul’s occupation 35 Man of the ___ DOWN 1 The Lord appeared to Moses in this 2 Biblical site of the temple of Dagon 3 Sister spot 4 Biblical mount 5 Chapter in Matthew where you nd the Sermon on the Mount 6 Patron saint of Bible scholars 9 Jesuit who took part in the discovery of the Peking Man 11 Mary, Stella ___ 14 The feast of St. Bernadette Soubirous is in this month 15 Jeremiah’s description of himself 17 She shared the fate of her husband Ananias 18 They are burned to make ashes 19 The Pearl of Great ___ 23 Someone tried to destroy this in 1972 24 Eastern Rite Churches in union with Rome 26 Commandment that requires us to honor our parents 29 Easter requirement 30 Shem’s father 32 “…there is neither slave no free person, there is not ___” (Gal 3:28) 33 James was mending these when Jesus called him Answers can be found on page 39 Bob Stilo “Specializing in Asphalt Paving” STILO GENERALEXCAVATING,INC.CONTRACTING 2907 So. Clinton Ave., South Plainfield, NJ 07080 908-754-0776 • Fax: 908-754-0425 HEALTH CARE CONTRACTORS ETERNAL ADORATION EVANGELIZATION Glad Premier Home Care LLC, is a non-medical home care agency providing reasonable, cost-effective services delivered by our caring, compassionate, trustworthy and highly trained Filipino caregivers that will take care ofyour loved ones as their own. For personalized services, you can contact the details below: Gladys at 973-326-7910 /908 265 7450 gladpremierhc@gmail.com
1. What did Jeremiah tell the people? 2. Who was upset with what Jeremiah said? Unscramble the words and arrange them to make a quotation from the children’s story ni woper eh yuro si
Judah ignores Jeremiah’s warnings
“Jeremiah ought to be put to death; he is demoralizing the soldiers who are left in this city, and all the people, by speaking such things to them; he is not interested in the welfare of our people, but in their ruin,” they said to King Zedekiah. “He is in your power,” said the king, who could do nothing with the princes. The princes threw Jeremiah into a mud-filled cistern, and Jeremiah began to sink into the mud. Ebed-melech the Cushite, who was a court official, saw what was hap pening and approached the king. “These men have been at fault in all they have done to the prophet Jeremiah, casting him into the cistern. He will die of fam ine on the spot, for there is no more food in the city,” he said. The king listened to Ebed-melech and told him to take three men to rescue Jeremiah from the cistern before he died.
By Jennifer Ficcaglia Catholic News Service God told the prophet Jeremiah to relay warning messages to the people of Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel whose capital was Jerusalem. God saw that the people of Judah were not following him and his commandments, and he wanted them to change their evil ways. If they did not repent and turn back to him, God was going to allow Judah to be conquered by its enemies. For many years, Jeremiah told the people what God said to him. Unfortunately, the people did not listen to Jeremiah and his warnings. This upset Jeremiah, because he knew the terrible fate that would befall Judah for ignoring God. Although it was frustrating not be ing listened to, Jeremiah never gave up relaying God’s messages to the people, even at the risk of being imprisoned or killed. “Thus says the Lord: Those who remain in this city shall die by means of the sword, starvation and disease; but those who go out to the Chaldeans shall live,” Jeremiah told the people one day.
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Jeremiah 38
“Thus says the Lord: This city shall cer tainly be handed over to the army of the king of Babylon; he shall capture it.” Jer emiah’s words upset the princes of Judah.
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OBITUARY Mercy Sister Margaret Mary San Antonio, age 100, died Aug. 12 at McAuley Hall Health Care Center, Watchung. Sister Margaret Mary was one of 11 children born to August and Eleanor San Antonio. As Dorothy San Antonio, she attended public schools in Lakewood, then pursued a career in nursing. She graduated from St. Catherine of Siena Hospital School of Nursing, Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1944. She was then asked to be a private duty nurse for the ailing Mother Margaret Mary at Mount Saint Mary. She entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1945. By the time of her reception, Mother Margaret Mary had died and she was given her name. As a registered nurse, Sister Margaret Mary served as a staff nurse and health instructor at Mount Saint Mary Academy. In 1953, she was assigned to Georgian Court College, now University, Lakewood. She later spent two years nursing at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, New York City. In 1968, Sister Margaret Mary began her service on the nursing staff at McAuley Hall Health Care Center and later served as director of Volunteers there. Between 1970 and 1990, she volunteered with the Red Cross New York/New Jersey. In addition, Sister Margaret Mary served as director of Associates for the Sisters of Mercy of New Jersey Regional Community from 1983 to 1994. During those years, she lived at McAuley Hall and continued to live there in her retirement. Famous for her smile, warm hospitality and friendliness, Sister was a faithful and reliable nurse whose genuine concern for each patient was evident and appreciated. Her love of God in every person she met inspired in her a lifetime of dedicated service characterized by her joy and spontaneity. Sister Margaret Mary is survived by her brother, Gerald, and his wife, Arlene; her sister, Rose Marie Nelson, and many nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews, as well as the Sisters of Mercy. A funeral Mass was celebrated Aug. 18 at Immaculate Conception Chapel, Mount Saint Mary. Burial was at Holy Redeemer Cemetery, South Plainfield.Donations in memory of Sister Margaret Mary may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, 1645 US Highway 22, Watchung, NJ Arrangements07069were handled by Higgins Home for Funerals, Watchung.
Festive Occasion
Laurie Genovese poses in a food truck where she served Polish food at the 54th Annual Summer Festival at Christ the Redeemer Parish, Manville, July 2730. More than 100 volunteers worked daily so that thousands could enjoy a variety of Polish delicacies such as pierogis, stu ed cabbage (golabki), potato pancakes, and traditional American fare such as hot dogs and hamburgers. The event also featured carnival games, a bouncy house and photo courtesy of Christ the RedeemerParish
Classes will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on each consecutive Wednesday. The program is designed for those who wish to become facilitators for existing parish bereavement support groups or for those who wish to begin a bereavement support ministry at their parish or online. For more information contact the Archdiocese of Newark’s O ce for Family Life Ministry at familylife@ rcan.org or call 973-497-4327. Pre-approval of the pastor and registration are required. Cost is $85. To register click the link: https://www.rcan.org/leadership-training 9/20 Eucharistic Revival Lecture Series: The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church. 7 p.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Old Bridge. Msgr. John Fell will present the lecture which will explore the USCCB document on the Eucharist. The Lord accompanies us in many ways, but none as profound as when we encounter Him in the Eucharist. All are welcome to attend. 9/24 Diocesan pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. It will conclude the diocese’s year-long 40th Anniversary celebration. It is hoped that as many Catholics as possible from the diocese will be in attendance at this joyous celebration of theconclusion of the diocesan anniversary. Please save the date. More information and materials will be forthcoming.
DIOCESEOUR39THECATHOLICSPIRITAUGUST25,2022please pray for vocations DIOCESAN EVENTS DIOCESEOUR27202214,APRILSPIRITCATHOLICTHERATES PER LINE CHARGES: $ 3.75 per line - 1 insertion $ 3.50 per line - 2 insertions $ 3.25 per line - 3 insertions $ 3.00 per line - 4 or more insertions • 24 characters/line (approx) • 5 line minimum • All ads must be pre-paid • Credit cards accepted • Display classi eds quote upon request 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 SCREEN REPAIR WINDOW & DOOR SCREEN REPAIRSInstallation of Fiberglass screens for your doors and windows. Pick-up and drop off services available. George & Sons: (908) 392-2677 Is God calling you to serve as a priest, religious sister or brother? If you think maybe . . . Contact the Office of Vocations: (732) 562-2453 or e-mail: vocations@diometuchen.org “Come, Follow me.” (Mark 10:21) CLASSIFIED REAL ESTATE Phone: 732-529-7934 FOR RENT FOR RENT E-mail: ads@diometuchen.org ST. BERNADETTE CHURCH, PARLIN Building and Grounds: In need of a part time property caretaker (8am-12noon, Mon.-Fri.). This is a great opportunity for a truly committed person wanting some extra income. Duties include cleaning building on premises, bathrooms, seasonal maintenance, basic repair work. Must be able to lift 50lbs. Contact Jeff at 732-707-4477 or stbernmaint@optimum.net
LECTIO DIVINA Mondays at 11 a.m. join faithful from around the diocese in a prayerful, virtual gathering of Lectio Divina, a method for praying with the Scriptures. As one reads and invites the Word to become a transforming lens that brings the events of daily living into focus, one can come to live more deeply and find the presence of God more readily in the events of each day. Start your week with prayer, community, and hope. To get the most out of these sessions, please remember to have your bible readily available. For the Zoom meeting information, please email: ssharlow@diometuchen.org
Oct. 1, 2 to 9 p.m. – South Amboy’s second annual Irish Festival. Craft and food vendors; Kids Zone with face painting, amusements, puppeteer shows; music by “The Willie Lynch Band” and “Andy Cooney;” and performances by D.B. Kelly Pipes and Drums and students from local schools. Fireworks display at close of event (rain date is Oct.2). For information visit the website www. southamboyparade.com. Crafters and vendors please contact Elliotj@southamboynj.gov
https://diometuchen.org/pilgrimage-in-honor-of-the-40thanniversary 10/8 Pre-Cana Training Workshop – sponsored by the diocesan O ce of Family Life, this training /refresher workshop is for current Pre-Cana team members and potential leaders. It will be held at the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center at 10 a.m. The training will be a unique opportunity to hear from experts in the eld of marriage preparation and marriage ministry. Parishes which do not currently have a Pre-Cana ministry, but are interested in forming one, are invited to s end couples.
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.
F G C Z F J V I T A E N O V I T I A T E R Z T N O V R F E M A L E V I N C E O A I E M M A R Y L I N U S P O P E P I O H T A A R U R S U L A P U L P I T I N R U P M I C F L A G D I N A H S E E D O I I T U D A N Z A R O M A N S R U O T A A E T E N T M A K E R C L O T H H Y H S E S wwwwordgamesforcatholicscom Crossword Puzzle Answers:
Tricky Tray Oct. 7, 7 p.m. – St. Mary Parish, South Amboy, will host a Tricky Tray Auction. Theme baskets, designer purses, and 50/50 will be available. Tickets are $20, which includes one sheet of tickets, door prize ticket, desserts, coffee, tea and a goodie bag. Stuffed cabbage, kielbasi and sauerkraut, pierogi, eggplant, meatball sandwiches, hot dogs, hamburgers, soda and water will be sold. Tickets can be bought by contacting the rectory at (908) 725-0615 or Marge at (908) 722-5894. No alcohol or outside food is permitted. Must be 18 to attend. Ticket limit: 250.
9/14 Virtual Bereavement Training hosted by the Archdiocese of Newark and the Diocese of Metuchen.
AROUND THE DIOCESE Family Fun
DIOCESAN PROGRAMS Adoration and Mass at Pastoral Center Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and the Celebration of the Mass now takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11:45 a.m. at the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center. Adoration is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adorers are needed!
BLUE ROSARY GUILD
Diocesan priests earn degrees from Pontifical University of the Holy Cross
“My hope is to use my training to help lead those who participate in our celebrationsliturgicalinto a fuller understanding of God’s presence in these celebrations, and so ideally grow in greater sanctity of life by their encounter with God.”
Among the 49 people who marched for life in in the annual Fourth of July Parade in Milltown were Deacon Bob Yunker, who serves at St. Helena Par ish, Edison, and his wife, Elaine; Deacon Robert J. Gerling, who serves at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Milltown, and his wife, JoAnn, representing Life Choices Resource Center, Metuchen. photo courtesy of Elaine Yunker
Theology) or terminal (their final degree.)
The JCL, Latin for Juris Can onici Licentiatus, focuses on Canon, or Church law. Earning either of these advanced degrees prepares graduates to teach in pontifical universities and major seminaries. Priests may also find it beneficial in their work in di ocesan administration, ministries or ordainedresearch. to the priest hood in 2016, learned of his new spiritual di rectives in an overseas phone call from Bishop James F. Checchio. “I was in the Philippines to visit my family and celebrate two family weddings,” he said. “I was in the middle of the reception when the bishop called and told me he wanted me to study Canon Law.” Father Quesea entered the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome, in 2018, to begin his studies. Though fluent in Ta galog, English and Spanish, he said, “I learned Italian in six weeks, for the instruction was in Italian. The first year was a struggle.”
Father Eck, who also serves as paro chial vicar at St. Bartholomew Parish, East Brunswick, explained, “Our ritu als themselves are both the expression of our theology, that is, our faith, and also express the objective reality of God’s saving mysteries. “We say quite often that the Eu charist is the source and summit of our faith, one of the most important truths in which we believe,” he con tinued. “However, often when we are at Mass, we can sense a disconnect between what we experience and what we say that we believe. My studies are focused on, in part, helping to bridge that gap.”Both priests have prayerfully pon dered what they have learned while pursuing their advanced degrees, and have concluded it has strengthened and deepened their own faith. They expressed their plans to utilize that knowledge and faith to better minister to the people of the diocese.
Signs of Life
Father Timothy M. Eck Father Roy Quesea, left, secretary to Bishop James F. Checchio and vice-chancellor who has earned a Licentiate in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.) and Father Timothy M. Eck, who has re ceived his JCL, Latin for Juris Canonici Licentiatus, which focuses on Canon or Church Law.
Now priest secretary to Bishop Checchio and — as nvice-chancellor — a member of the diocesan Tribunal, Father Quesea explained how his stud ies readied him for his current duties, which include recognizing, defending and supporting the validity of mar riage.“Church law is not merely dis ciplinary in nature,” he said. “Per definition, Canon Law is ‘ordinance of reason given by the legislator for the good of the people for the common good.’“Each priest had to study Canon Law during his formation period in the seminary. Out of the 1,752 canons in the Code of Canon Law, we have to remember the most important is canon 1752: ‘Salus animarum suprema lex: the salvation of souls is the supreme law.’”Father Eck completed the first two years of his three-year S.T.L. pro gram as a seminarian at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross (Santa Croce), Pontifical North American College in Rome. He returned to com plete his final year of studies after he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Checchio in June 2021. His intensive studies led him to a better understanding of how God manifests himself in the Church’s liturgical rites, known as mystagogy.
“Pope Francis said, ‘In the house of the Father both truth and mercy must co-exist.’ This is a challenge that a priest-canon lawyer should always carry on. I have so much to learn in this new chapter of my life … I hope I can be that instrument of truth and mercy in our local Church and be yond.”
“My hope is to use my training to help lead those who participate in our liturgical celebrations into a fuller understanding of God’s presence in these celebrations, and so ideally grow in greater sanctity of life by their en counter with God,” said Father Eck.
“My studies have given me a more profound understanding of what I am doing when I preside at a liturgy. I’ve grown to see the liturgy as the encoun ter with God and his salvation, and not simply a well-performed ceremony or performance.”FatherQuesea stated “I am a priest, first and foremost. While most of the time a canon lawyer sits and painstakingly examines all the legal documents and evidence in front of him, as my mentor would always tell me, ‘A canon lawyer must recognize that each paper or case represents the souls, their past and their future.’
By Christina Leslie Correspondent Enabling them to better serve the faithful in the diocese, Father Timothy M. Eck, who serves as director, dioc esan Office of Divine Worship, and Father Roy Quesea, diocesan vice-chan cellor, have earned advanced degrees in Liturgical Theol ogy and Canon Law
theplanning(fortherdegreedegrees.of(STB)ofyondyearsstudentscaladvancedCatholicogyinrespectively.TheLicentiateSacredTheol(S.T.L.)isadegreeintheologistudy,givingtwofullofstudybetheBachelorSacredTheologyandMasterDivinity(MDiv)TheS.T.L.canbeeitransitionalthoseprieststoearnDoctorateinSacred
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