March 2021

Education section highlights excellence in academics, spiritual elements to forming students, 15-28

Spirit atholic C THE

MARCH 25, 2021 • VOL. 26 NO. 2 • $2.00

THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF METUCHEN

Bishop James F. Checchio, center, and Deacon Edgar Chavez, sixth from right, pose with the 15 members of the diocese’s first allSpanish speaking diaconate class at the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen. During a Liturgy of the Word, the bishop instituted the men in the ministry of lectors.

— Frank Wojciechowski photo

Spanish-speaking diaconate class takes major step in formation

By Christina Leslie Correspondent METUCHEN — “God chooses you for this task and that’s something to celebrate,” said Bishop James F. Checchio to the 15 prospective deacons seated before him at the Cathedral of St. Francis

of Assisi Feb. 20.

“Meditate on the Word constantly… show forth to people Jesus Christ, always Jesus, and what he wants to give to that person in front of you,” he told the members of the diocese’s first all-Spanish-speaking diaconate class gathered for the Rite for Institution of Lectors.

Deacon Stephen F. Kern, director, diocesan Office of the Diaconate, explained the creation of this first Spanish-speaking deacon class was made at the behest of Bishop Checchio because of the growth of Catholics of Hispanic descent in the diocese.

“At the current moment, the diocese

has only a handful of Spanish-speaking deacons,” said Deacon Kern. “Should God will that all 15 of these men make it through formation to ordination next year, it will be a tremendous boon, not only to our Spanish-speaking Catholics, but to the entire diocese.”

Continued on page 7

INSIDE Perspectives Our Faith

Year of St. Joseph

4 30-31

Diocesan Events

39

Classifieds

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Parish consecrates itself to stepfather of Jesus. . .3 This issue was mailed on March 23 Your next issue will be April 15

2 UP FRONT

Easter explains our destiny, gives lives purpose, meaning Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

easy to let despair have the last word tiny and gives our lives purpose and in our lives. meaning, even in the midst of any So, as we gather to celebrate struggles we face. So many in our Easter, we are so grateful to Jesus for world need to know this now. Esaccompanying us throughout this past pecially in this time when faith and challenging year providing us a strong religious practice are so often being base in our lives, a reason for hope. As pushed aside by so many in our sociso many of you have said or written to ety for so many varied reasons, when I always enjoy having the oppor- me during the pandemic, “What would laws are passed which violate our relitunity to share some thoughts with you we do without faith!” As grateful as gious freedom or tenets of our faith, or in “The Catholic Spirit.” Sometimes, we are to Jesus for this great gift of when we even fall into the unfortunate the newspaper asks for my column faith, we dare to ask habit of prioritizing a bit early, because of holidays and for more this Easter, and practicing our As we bring the deadlines, so on Sunday afternoon, knowing that Jesus faith only when it penitential season of is convenient in our March 7, I began this column high- always wants to prolighting Easter since the paper would vide for us. We ask busy and sometimes Lent to conclusion be published on March 25, right be- Jesus to renew us complicated lives. fore Holy Week. and our world. and celebrate the This Easter, we In my recent prayer, even though The resurrecto ask Jesus to Resurrection, I encour- need it is Lent, I kept coming back to how tion of Jesus from help us make Him much we need Easter, the great cel- the dead is the be-all the center of our age all of us to allow ebration of Hope! Indeed, given what and end-all of the lives, always. It will we have gone through during last year, Christian faith. If this revolutionary truth change our lives and in some ways, it seems like Lent con- Jesus was not raised all of those around to penetrate more tinued from 2020 into 2021 creating a from the dead, us, too! yearlong Lent! None of us could ever Christianity does deeply into our heart, Our celebration have imagined what we would be fac- not offer us ultimate of Easter this year mind and soul by ing as this whole situation began more Hope. But if He did once again affirms than a year ago. rise from the dead, that Christ is indeed allowing us “to be Much has changed in our daily then Christianity is who He said He caught up in the lives, family life and celebrations, the fullness of God’s was: the Savior of worship, educational institutions, and revelation, and Jesus the world, the God mystery.” work. The list goes on and on. We Christ must be the made man who sufhave strived to protect ourselves and center of our lives. fered, died, and rose particularly our elderly and those with Indeed, each one of us some day will for us. This is something we certainly underlying conditions from getting die and be restored to eternal life. Our need to celebrate this year as Easter the virus. We have grieved the loss of eternal life with Him is Jesus’ greatest comes anew to us! loved ones in our diocesan family, and desire. He came to reconcile us to the March 8, the day after I finished many have been hurt economically or Father, to bring all of us back home to writing about Easter, my thoughts even emotionally through the isolation the Father. Jesus’ suffering and death turned to a milestone in my life. Startthey have endured this year as we have were the necessary evils He faced, so ing early in the morning and throughout not been able to interact with family that we might be free, now and for all the day, I received many, many texts and friends as we normally do. It was eternity. and e-mails assuring me of prayers a year in which it would have been It is Easter that explains our des- recognizing that it was five years ago on this day that Pope Francis appointed me to lead the Metuchen Diocese.

Wow, those five years flew by!

I was grateful for the kind notes, In a story about Mercy Sister Alice Swartz on page 22 of the Feb. 25 edition of “The Catholic Spirit,” it should but even more grateful for the warm have reported that her ministry at Saint Elizabeth University, Morristown, includes department chair and welcome you extended to me when I assistant professor of Religious Studies and Theology. came to my new home, and for your patience in supporting me as a new bishop in our Church. Being a bishop THE is not something any sane priest would aspire to, and I count myself in that THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF METUCHEN number of the sane. But in addition to Serving the Catholic community in Middlesex, Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Counties all of you, our beloved faithful, I have to say that our priests have been wone-Mail: news@catholicspirit.com The Catholic Spirit derful to work with and so supportive, Subscription and advertising deadlines: Tuesday, 1 p.m.

P.O. Box 191 • Metuchen, NJ 08840 PHONE: (732) 562-2424 • FAX: (732) 562-0969 too. Our diocesan staff is dedicated The acceptance of advertising by The Catholic Spirit for print or online publication, does not constitute an PUBLISHER and committed. Our religious and deaBishop James F. Checchio endorsement of any product or service. The Catholic Spirit reserves the right to reject any advertising it cons have been a joy to get to know EDITOR considers objectionable. and minister with. Our seminarians Father Timothy A. Christy, V.G. The Catholic Spirit is a member of the here are a blessing, too, and give me Catholic Press Association and the MANAGING EDITOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR New Jersey Catholic Advertising Network so much hope for the future of our loFather Glenn J. Comandini, STD Chris Donahue (732) 562-2461 (732) 529-7935 The Catholic Spirit (U.S.P.S.#14-804) is cal Church. I am grateful and thank published every other week, by the Roman ADVISOR God for all of you, great gifts in my Catholic Church, Diocese of Metuchen, 146 Metlars Joanne Ward

Bishop James Checchio

MARCH 25, 2021

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life.

When I left Rome and the Pontifical North American College, I thought that the period of my life at NAC would be the highlight of my priestly ministry. I was inspired by the men who came to Rome for their priestly and ongoing formation, their dedication to prayerfully discern their call and their perseverance in responding to what God was asking of them even in the midst of challenging times. But the Lord had something beautiful in mind for me, a new people to love and serve in His name, and it has been another blessing for me to be sent here to our Diocese of Metuchen.

Thank you for your dedication and patience as we have striven to light a fire in the heart of our Church here in our beautiful four counties. As we bring the penitential season of Lent to conclusion and celebrate the Resurrection I encourage all of us to allow this revolutionary truth to penetrate more deeply into our heart, mind and soul by allowing us “to be caught up in the mystery.”

You have heard me speak on this before, but we must prioritize our friendship with the Risen Christ; meaning we must be people of prayer.

During these upcoming days of Easter -- let us commit to spend time in prayer each day drinking in the powerful truth that Christ who rose from the dead is walking -- very personally — with each one us now. One way to do this is to pray the rosary each day.

Countless saints, popes and mystics throughout the ages have taught us that the secret to knowing Christ is by way of His Holy Mother. Praying the Glorious mysteries will inspire us to look at life from the glory God has in store for us — and help us to face “this valley of tears” with confidence, trust and even joy!

Please know of my ongoing love and prayers for all of you. I am reminded of God’s love and consolation that comes to me as I Shepherd this beautiful Church of Metuchen. May we, together, bring great glory and honor to God by how live His promise of new life each day.

With renewed best wishes, I remain Yours in Christ,

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

www.catholicspirit.com

of the

Program teaches faithful to see saint in ‘new, deeper light’

By Deacon Patrick Cline Correspondent

On Dec. 8, 2020, the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of St. Joseph as the Patron of the Universal Church, Pope Francis issued an Apostolic letter entitled Patris corde (With a Father's Heart). The Holy Father said that the intention of the letter was “to increase our love for this great Saint.”

He also announced that “the Year of St. Joseph.” would b e celebrated from

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MARCH 25, 2021

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A statue of St. Joseph is shown at Mary, Mother of God Church. Mary, Mother of God Parish began a consecration to him March 19 — the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Dec. 8, 2020, to Dec. 8, 2021.

Father John M. Rozembajgier, pastor, Many dioceses, parishes and other Mary, Mother of God Parish, gives a catholic organizations began develop- homily from the ambo of Mary, Mother ing and implementing programs and of God Church during a Holy Hour.

— John Batkowski photos other ways to honor the foster father of Jesus Christ and husband of our He added that he was influenced Blessed Mother. For one parish in the diocese — Mary, Mother of God, Hill- especially by the series of Wednesday sborough — the year provided an op- General Audiences that the pope deportunity to implement a program that livered over a period of years. These instructions eventually became known had already been discussed.

Building on the consecration to as his “Theology of the Body.” This Mary that they had completed the particular program was selected beprevious year, the parish council intro- cause, “The book and its devotions are completely in keeping duced a consecration to with the teachings of St. Joseph program that The 44 days of St. Pope John Paul the celebrated St. Joseph in Great,” stated Father preparation for preparation for his feast Rozembajgier. day on March 19 — the the consecration The 44 days of prepSolemnity of St. Joseph, aration for the consecraSpouse of the Blessed began with a tion began with a Holy Virgin Mary.

Holy Hour on Hour on Feb. 4. More Once the decision than 100 parishioners was made to have the Feb. 4. More than attended and another consecration, Father 40-plus people partici100 parishioners John M. Rozembajgier, pated virtually. All of the pastor, Mary, Mother of attended and sessions throughout the God Parish, reviewed period were livestreamed a number of resources another 40-plus on the parish website. that were available and people participated The program ended selected “Consecration and the Consecration to Jesus through St Jovirtually. to St. Joseph occurred seph” by Dr. Gregory March 19.

Bottaro and Jennifer For each of the six weeks of the Settle, published by CatholicPsych Inprogram there was a specific theme stitute.

Explaining his choice, Father along with reflections and prayers for Rozembajgier said, “I was studying in each day. The stated goals of the proRome during the pontificate of St. Pope gram were: to increase love for St. John Paul II and he has been a great in- Joseph; Continued on page 5 spiration in my life and my priesthood.”

OUR DIOCESE

Where in the diocese can it be found?

3

Image Week

4 PERSPECTIVES

At center of paschal mystery stands Cross of Christ Body & Soul

By Father Glenn J. Comandini, STD Many of us bear crosses which are hidden from the world. They come in many shapes and sizes — but, like the Cross of Christ, they weigh us down; they bring us pain; they crush our spirit; they may even lead us to ask — as did Jesus: “my God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

For some, the cross is the fear of death; for others, it is the weakening of our physical strength and our memory that comes with the passage of years.

For still others, the cross is a chronic condition, like arthritis, for others, a lifethreatening illness like COVID, cancer, diabetes, lupus or HIV. Sometimes the cross manifests itself in the form of men-

tal torture — horrible fears, paranoia, bi-polar mood swings, anxiety disorders, obsessions and compulsions. For one, the cross may be the pain which accrues from the death of a loved one — for others the death of what was once a happy marriage. For another, it may be the sorrow which stems from being estranged from one’s children, grandchildren or a once-close friend. For still others, the cross comes as the struggle to remain in recovery from an addiction. For a teen or young adult, it may be the inner struggle over his/her sexual preference and with this, the dreaded fear of being rejected or shunned by family and friends should the truth be made known. For many people, the cross is sadness which is caused by physical isolation and loneliness.

Having scanned a random sample of the crosses which we have all concealed in our private lives, let it be said: Jesus does not want us to suffer alone. Jesus does not want us to suffer in vain. Jesus

does not want our suffering to be absurd.

Jesus does not want us to fall victims to the crosses of life.

This year, when we venerate the Cross on which hung the Savior, let us take our personal cross out of the closet of our heart — the cross which we hide from many people — and let’s dedicate it to Jesus as we kiss his feet. Let’s entrust our personal cross to Jesus, who loves us so much that he died for us.

By surrendering our crosses, with a small “c” to the Cross with a capital “C,” Jesus may not remove its yoke from our shoulders right away, but he will make his presence known to us in our suffering. Moreover, he will transform our personal cross so that our suffering will take on meaning and purpose. United to Jesus’ Cross, the merits of our individual crosses will be applied to the on-going Redemption of the world — both to the suffering members of his Body here on earth — and to our brothers and sisters in

purgatory who cannot help themselves.

One day, with Jesus’ grace, we will triumph over our personal cross. And just as God our Father vindicated Jesus’ Cross by raising him to new life and proclaiming him Lord of heaven and earth — so Jesus will vindicate our misery and exult us to heights we can’t even begin to imagine.

On Good Friday, we ponder Jesus’ death precisely because, on the altar of the Cross, he successfully atones for our sins. He restores us to Communion with God our Father from whom we were estranged. He stamps out evil; he puts the devil at bay. And he transforms death from the end of life into a passageway to eternal life! As we offer up our personal crosses on Good Friday, let the Crucifix always remind us that Jesus is our hope, and we shall never hope in vain!

Father Comandini is managing editor of “The Catholic Spirit”

In Year of Family, be grateful for all who build Church of the pandemic at the Cathedral of St. leged witnesses of God’s faithful love.”

Sadly, the pandemic has brought Francis of Assisi, Metuchen, (with limited seating and also live-streamed). The many challenges for older adults as well.

Annunciation is a time to reflect on Our Some of those who are forced to stay Lady’s generous response to God’s invi- home to protect their health are expetation. It can also be an opportunity to be riencing isolation and loneliness. The pandemic has also put a reminded that our elderly

By Jennifer Ruggiero brothers and sisters have “We must reawak- damper on meeting new To mark the fifth year anniversary of his lived a life of “fiat” and in grandbabies, guiding adult en the collective children in parenting and apostolic exhortation, Amoris Laetitia, their golden years are prothe Joy of Love, Pope Francis has desig- found witnesses of saying sense of gratitude, the social benefits of being nated March 19, 2021 through June 26, “yes” to God over and over with grandchildren. How2022 as the Year of the Family. This year, again. of appreciation, of ever, while older adults which will end on the occasion of the X are especially vulnerable Over this past year, World Meeting of Families in Rome, will the pandemic experience hospitality, which physically during the corobe a time to reflect on and bear witness to has truly highlighted the makes the elderly navirus pandemic, they family love. central role of the family are also notably resilient feel like a living psychologically, calling Calling it one of the “first fruits as the domestic church. In of Amoris Laetitia Family Year,” Pope many cases, we can recupon a lifetime of experipart of the Francis announced the institution of a ognize and appreciate the ence, perspective and faith community.”

Church-wide celebration of World Day role of grandparents and to help them through these for Grandparents and the Elderly to pay older family members difficult times.

—Pope Francis, tribute to them for the wisdom that they now more than ever. While “Amoris Laetitia” (191) From his own experioffer to society. The inaugural celebra- families with young chilence of growing old, Pope tion will be held this year on the fourth dren struggle to manage St. John Paul II shared a Sunday of July, close to the liturgical remote learning and full-time jobs, older moving “Letter to the Elderly” (1999), memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, family members have been able to help just five and half years before his death. who were the grandparents to Jesus and by assisting with school work, offering In it, he expresses his spiritual closeness the parents of the Blessed Mother. financial support and providing wisdom, to older adults as he shares and cherishes At 5 p.m. on March 25, 2021, the advice and love. They also offer silent the experiences, beauty, agony and digFeast of the Annunciation, Bishop Chec- prayers and often help to pass on the faith nity of growing old and drawing closer to chio was scheduled to celebrate a special by their daily witness to the Gospel. As God. The letter also describes the many Mass to honor our seniors for their faith- Pope Francis states, “they can be actors splendid images of elderly people found fulness especially during this past year in an evangelizing pastoral care, privi- throughout the Bible, citing examples in Scripture “to remind us that at every stage in life the Lord asks each of us to contribute what talents we have.”

While many of our seniors are still If you were sexually abused by a member of the clergy or anyone representing the Catholic Church, or you active and able to contribute their talents know of someone who was, you are encouraged to report that abuse to local law enforcement, the New in the faith community, others, due to Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency at 1-877-NJ ABUSE (652-2873) or 1-800-835-5510 diminished health, are unable to partici(TTY/TDD for the deaf), and also the Diocesan Response Officer at (908) 930-4558 (24 hours/7 days a pate in their customary ways. One of the greatest gifts Pope St. John Paul II gave week). us in his final years was the courage he

MARCH 25, 2021

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Thoughts on Life

How to report abuse

showed in letting us see his infirmity. He served as a living testimony to the dignity of the human person in sickness and in health as well as in aging.

I have personally witnessed the deep faith of those older adults in our communities that are frail and/or sick.

A few months before the pandemic began, I started attending a Communion Service at my father’s assisted living residence. Dad, who suffered from Parkinson’s disease as well as dementia, would join about 50 other residents in the common area each Sunday to hear the Gospel. While most members of the community were physically or mentally diminished, it became clear to me that they still treasured their faith. Each Sunday, the facility was filled with prayers and hymns — like a choir of angels. At one point, I was asked to help distribute Communion each week. What an honor it was to place the sacred host into their frail hands and say those sacred words, “The Body of Christ.”

In “Amoris Laetitia”` (191), Pope Francis urges, “We must reawaken the collective sense of gratitude, of appreciation, of hospitality, which makes the elderly feel like a living part of the community.” As we begin this Year of the Family let us express our profound gratitude for the many ways in which faithful and generous older Catholics have built — and continue to build — the Church. Let us find ways to affirm and challenge older people, acknowledging both the blessings and the losses of later life and recognizing that interdependence, not independence, is the true Gospel value.

Ruggiero is secretary, diocesan Secretariat for Family and Pastoral Life

Bishop James Checchio It has been a challenging year, but one that we have not been left alone to face.

The pandemic has caused much uncertainty and we have all been impacted. I know I join you in praying for brighter days ahead for us all, even as we particularly remember all those who are sick, have lost loved ones or have felt the economic impact of the pandemic.

I have often heard from you throughout this year about how grateful you are for your priests who have strived to serve you throughout this pandemic in creative ways. I am so grateful for them, and all who have collaborated with them to continue to shepherd our beautiful flock in our four counties. In addition to your pastors and parochial vicars, our diocese has 31 retired diocesan priests and more approaching retirement this summer. At the retirement age for the majority of our diocesan priests at 75, their administrative responsibilities end, but their pastoral and sacramental minis-

try continues. Although retired, as long as they are physically able, I have seen this group so generously continue to help in so many ways. We are fortunate to have been the beneficiaries of their sacred ministry: countless Holy Masses, baptisms, weddings and confessions.

They have brought us the healing hand of Christ at the hour of death and they have mourned and prayed with us when we buried our dead. Where would our diocese be without their sacrificial gift of their lives and their spiritual and pastoral leadership? Indeed, their ongoing generosity, even during the pandemic, is nothing but inspirational. The retired priests, who for health reasons cannot minister in the parishes, also are asked to continue to support our local Church through their prayers, sacrifices and example.

We are now asked to share our blessings bestowed upon us so that our retired priests can enjoy their retirement even while continuing as able to celebrate public Mass and assist in your spiritual care. On March 27 and 28 we celebrate Palm Sunday, and the faithful of our diocese will have the opportunity to acknowledge these priests by responding to the Annual Collection for our Retired Diocesan Priests. All funds raised through this collection will be

OUR DIOCESE

Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

5

Collection on Palm Sunday will support retired priests

The Annual Collection for our Retired Priests supports the Maria Regina Residence, Somerset, which is home to almost half of the 31 in the diocese. — Chris Donahue photo used exclusively to support our retired priests.

Your generous response to the special collection is a practical way to convey your personal appreciation to our retired priests for their many years of service. Thank you for your continued generosity and grateful heart. Know of my love, prayers and gratitude for you, and asking you to continue to pray for vocations from our local Church to the

holy priesthood for service in our diocese!

With renewed best wishes, I remain Yours in Christ,

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

Faithful hope to see St. Joseph in new, deeper light; more evangelization Continued from page 3

the Latino community.”

In addition to the Consecration on March 19, the parish has commissioned a new statue of St. Joseph holding the Child Jesus that will be placed in the sanctuary. The blessing and dedication of the statue will also be a major part in the parish’s yearlong celebration to honor the great saint and to serve as a visual reminder of true fatherhood.

Deacon Cline exercises his ministry at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish, Bridgewater

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Top photo, John Von Nessen, a member of Mary, Mother of God Parish, Hillsborough, gives a reading at a Holy Hour at Mary, Mother of God Church. Right, Father John M. Rozembajgier, pastor, presents a monstrance containing a consecrated Host for adoration. Above, one of the attendees prays at the service, during which the parish was consecrated to St. Joseph.

— John Batkowski photos

MARCH 25. 2021

to encourage those who participate to implore his intercession; and to seek to imitate his virtue and zeal.

In his homily at the Holy Hour, Father Rozembajgier noted then-Pope John Paul II had reminded everyone of the uniqueness of St. Joseph in the life of our savior and his Church; St. Joseph, the Pope proclaimed, “was the first communicant in the Church, having received Jesus into his own hands from the tabernacle that was the Blessed Virgin.”

“A beautiful progressive journey to help us see St. Joseph in a new and deeper light, as a protector, and as a father,” is how Marybeth Taratino, a member of the parish, described her hopes and expectations for the experience.

Mary and John Von Nessan, also members of the parish, both believe, “This experience will build upon the success of the parish’s earlier consecration to Mary and contribute to an increase in the evangelization of the participants.”

John said he hopes, “a major outcome will be a greater appreciation on the importance of the family in our daily lives.”

Marie Christina Antonio echoed the importance of the family and said that to the Hispanic members of the parish, “The role of St. Joseph as a husband and father in the Holy Family underscores the strong emphasis of family in

6 OUR DIOCESE

Living beatitudes can change world, pope says in historic visit to Iraq

By Cindy Wooden BAGHDAD (CNS) — Pope Francis told Iraqi Christians that when they suffer discrimination, persecution or war, the Eight Beatitudes are addressed to them.

“Whatever the world takes from us is nothing compared to the tender and patient love with which the Lord fulfills his promises,” the pope told the congregation sitting inside and outside the Chaldean Catholic Cathedral of St. Joseph March 6.

“Dear sister, dear brother, perhaps when you look at your hands, they seem empty, perhaps you feel disheartened and unsatisfied by life,” he said in his homily.

“If so, do not be afraid: The beatitudes are for you — for you who are afflicted, who hunger and thirst for justice, who are persecuted. The Lord promises you that your name is written on his heart, written in heaven!”

According to the Vatican, the service marked the first time Pope Francis celebrated a eucharistic liturgy, “the Holy Qurbana,” in the rite of the Chaldean Church. While the pope recited the prayers in Italian, Cardinal Louis Sako, the Chaldean patriarch, and members of the congregation prayed in Chaldean, a modern form of Aramaic. The Bible readings were in Arabic.

Iraqi President Barham Salih and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein attended

the liturgy, which included a prayer for secuted are all called blessed,” he said, not government officials, asking God to help the rich and powerful. them be “examples of honesty for the The beatitudes “do not ask us to do common good” and “know how to col- extraordinary things, feats beyond our laborate for a renewed world in which abilities,” the pope said. But “they ask for liberty and harmony reign.” daily witness.”

One of the prayers of the faithful, “The blessed are those who live recited in Arabic, echoed the meekly, who show mercy “Whatever the wherever they happen to be, pope’s homily. “Benevolent Father, sustain your holy are pure of heart wherworld takes from who Church with the strength of ever they live,” he said. the Spirit so that it would The beatitudes are not us is nothing courageously witness to a call for a moment of herocompared to Christ and would be for our ics, but about imitating Jesus country a sign of reconciliathe tender and each day, Pope Francis said. tion and solidarity among all “That is how the world is the children of Abraham, our patient love with changed: not by power and father in faith.” but by the beatitudes.” which the Lord might,The In his homily, Pope Mass was the final Francis told the people that public event of a day that fulfills his while “in the eyes of the saw Pope Francis travel to promises.” world, those with less are Najaf, a center of spiritual —Pope Francis discarded, while those with and political power for Iraqi more are privileged,” it is Shiite Muslims, and then to not that way with God, which Jesus made Ur, the birthplace of Abraham, about 10 clear in the beatitudes. miles outside of Nasiriyah. On March 7, he Jesus overturned the worldly order traveled to Iraq’s Kurdistan region, where of things, he said. “It is no longer the rich he visited Irbil, Mosul and Qaraqosh, cities that are great, but the poor in spirit; not devastated under the Islamic State group’s those who can impose their will on others, rule. There, he met with some of the Chrisbut those who are gentle with all; not those tians who have returned to the region to try acclaimed by the crowds, but those who to rebuild. show mercy to their brother and sisters.”

The pope’s March 5-8 visit took “The poor, those who mourn, the per- place under tight security.

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Pope Francis celebrates Mass at St. Joseph Chaldean Catholic Cathedral in Baghdad March 6.

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As lectors, the men will proclaim the readings from Scripture (except for the Gospel), as well as instruct and prepare faithful appointed to read Scriptures at any liturgical celebration. In the absence of a cantor, the lector may recite the responsorial psalm, direct the congregational singing, and present the general intercessions.

Deacon Kern said the men have completed about two-thirds of the five-year diaconate process, and are due to complete their academic studies in May of next year.

“Deacon Edgar Chaves, their formation director, and I have been very impressed with the spirituality of the men in this class,” Deacon Kern asserted. “We are excited about the ministry of Word, Liturgy and Charity that they will be providing for our diocese in just a short time.”

In his homily, Bishop Checchio reminded the deacon candidates that Christ chose to dine not with the righteous, but with Levi, the tax collector (Luke 5:27-32), and that they, too, must show compassion and mercy to all.

“Mercy is the defining characteristic of God, and it must also be the defining characteristic of every disciple… If we judge others, God will judge us with the same criteria. Those are the words in the ‘Our Father,’” the bishop said. “If we forgive, God will forgive us, and that’s something we all need.”

Choosing to be disciples will make

the deacon candidates “a leaven to the entire diocese,” Bishop Checchio continued, and bade them proclaim in word and action to enable others to know God more fully.

“What a privilege and honor,” he said. “Open your heart to the love of God, spend time daily to reflect upon the Word and pray… The renewal of the Church in Metuchen will only come about this way.

That’s your job as a disciple.”

Each of the 15 deacon candidates approached Bishop Checchio in turn, kneeling before him and placing his hand on a Bible. He prayed, “Take this Book of Holy Scripture and be faithful in handing on the Word of God, so that it may grow strong in the hearts of his people.”

The new lectors expressed their joy about this next step along the diaconate formation process, sharing what they most anticipated about their lives of service to the people of the diocese.

Calling the formation process “a blessing,” Freddy Perez of Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish, Perth Amboy, added, “The most important thing is God’s call to the service of his flock. It is up to us to reflect on it and say, ‘Here we are, Lord, to do your will.’”

Jose Diaz of Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Perth Amboy, was invited by a deacon to consider life as a servant of the Church.

During a parish pilgrimage to the Our Lady of Guadalupe shrine in Mexico City, a prayerful encounter with a sick young girl

OUR DIOCESE

Continued from page 1

7

Bishop Checchio institutes members of diocese’s deacon class as lectors

Above, Bishop James F. Checchio gives a copy of Holy Bible to Freddy A. Perez during the Rite of Lectors. Right, Deacon Edgar Chaves, formation director for the deacon class, speaks from the ambo.

— Frank Wojciechowski photos

prompted him to utter a firm ‘yes’ to the call.

“What I look forward to in serving the people of Metuchen,” Diaz said, “is seeing their relationship with God develop… recognize that God is truly alive and in our midst and desires for us to build a relationship with him.”

“I am studying to be a deacon because Christ has called me … to deliver his word of love, peace and announcing the Good News,” explained Richard Ferreira of St. Matthew the Apostle Parish, Edison. “The opportunity to meet dynamic classmates and professors who have worked and challenged me in this

formation brings me hope and excitement to work with my community and especially the Latino population.”

Hernando Patino, a member of St. Magdalen de Pazzi Parish, Flemington, said he became a physician “focused on facilitating people leading healthier and happier lives. But something was missing.”

“It [the Diaconate] became obvious,” he added, “to complement my passion by helping others to have a happier spiritual life, helping them to get closer to the Lord. Being a servant of the Church and bringing the Gospel everywhere I go are the major drivers for me to aspire to become a deacon.”

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8 OUR DIOCESE

Elect hear call to sacramental life in Church at respective parishes

By Christina Leslie Correspondent Despite the ever-continuing cacophony of pandemic precautions, technological mastery, remote learning challenges and the need for social distancing, scores of individuals in the diocese decided to heed God’s invitation to take the next step along their path towards Christ this Lent.

Some 66 men, women and young adults from 21 parishes of the diocese marked a milestone in their Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) journey to become part of the group of believers known as the Elect, participating in a Rite of Election in their parishes Feb. 21, the First Sunday of Lent.

The Rite of Election in the diocese is traditionally celebrated each year by Bishop James F. Checchio at the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen, during which catechumens publicly declare their intention to become fully initiated in the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil with the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and first holy Communion.

At their formal declaration, they are known as the Elect. This year, because

Father Thomas J. Serafin, left, pastor, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Three Bridges, leads the faithful in a blessing of the Elect at Mass at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church Feb. 21, the First Sunday of Lent.

— photo courtesy of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish

of pandemic restrictions, Bishop Checchio decreed the Rite of Election should be celebrated on the parish level.

Sara Sharlow, director, diocesan Office of RCIA, expressed her gratitude for parish catechetical leaders open to adapting their programs for the pandemic, and those catechumens eager to continue their education despite these

new challenges. She explained, “It is my sense that God calls people all the time.

When someone starts RCIA, they have heard the call and are anxious to go forward with it, to respond to God’s call.”

A number of parishes happily shared their preparations for the momentous day.

St. Magdalen de Pazzi Parish, Flemington: The Book of the Elect

was signed during a parish livestream Mass on the first Sunday of Lent. Father Matthew Marinelli, parochial vicar, presided, and Father Kenneth D. Brighenti, pastor, performed the Rite of Election.

Parish RCIA leader Dolores Wright said, “We had both in-person instruction and Zoom for those who were more comfortable at home. The learning and participation factors were not stripped down, but the usual hospitality and parish service was limited [because of the pandemic].

“We regretted it was not held at the Cathedral, which is such an inspired ceremony and gives the sense of the universality of the Church, but we did what we had to do. God gave us [the pandemic]. We have to work through it.”

St. Mary of Ostrabrama Parish, South River: “Overall, it has turned out to be a rather rewarding experience,” stated parish catechetical leader Rosemary Eckert. In addition to individuals preparing for their confirmation, an entire family unit in need of baptism came to the religious instruction program.

“Several of the children had learning difficulties,” Eckert continued.

“Fortunately, the father and godparents Continued on page 14

List of Candidates / Catechumens who will be fully initiated into Church at Easter Vigil Basking Ridge St. James Catechumens: Sharon Maloney, Christian Maloney, Brendan Maloney, Merari Castann, Logan Milan London Milan. Alexander Dawoody Candidates: Evan Toth, Lauren Manduke, Bianca Santulli Blairstown St. Jude Candidates: Jackson Abraham Yawger, Joshua Comune Bound Brook St. Joseph Candidates: Teresa Menjivar, Maritza Flores

MARCH 25, 2021

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Colonia St. John Vianney Catechumens: Pranali More, Destinee Tapia Candidate: Jack McGrory Dunellen St. John the Evangelist Catechumen: Karina Monterroso Candidate: Eduvina Mazariegos East Brunswick St. Bartholomew Candidate: Tanya Hughes Edison St. Helena Candidate: Emily Shultis Flemington St. Magdalen de Pazzi Catechumens: Samantha Lewczak, William Hernandez, Loren Hernandez, Jafeth Rivera, Heidi Rosas, Steven Rosas, Angie Rosa, ,

Candidates: Carly Jane Hendrickson, Jennifer Mazur, Brandon Delcid, Brayan Garcia, Kerlin Palacios, Jose Carrera, Hackettstown Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Candidates: Amy Oseguera Mendoza, Amy Gissell Oseguera Miranda, Abigail Perez Lopez, Saray Perez Lopez Hillsborough Mary, Mother of God Candidate: Adrian Suprien Iselin St. Cecelia Candidates: Christina Rodriguez, Remi Lipford Jamesburg St. James the Less Candidates: Hector Isidoro Salinas Salcedo, Santos Guzman Kendall Park St. Augustine of Canterbury Catechumens: David Morales, Michael Morales Candidates: Christine Beaton, Gabriella Mastandino, Jessica Mastandino Lambertville St. John the Evangelist Catechumens: Jessica Polomski, Johnny Tenesaca Morales, Samantha Tenesaca Morales Manville Christ the Redeemer Catechumens: Natalie Parez, Kevin Juarez

Middlesex Our Lady of Mount Virgin Candidates: Dawn Aloisio, Luann Belly, Jason Ciannello, Linda Jo Klem, Isabella Gomez Milford St. Edward the Confessor Catechumen: Samantha Verba New Brunswick Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catechumens: Jose Paez, Jose Palacios, Jacob Ramos Martinez, Claudia Elizabeth Rivas Catana, Judith Rocha Lopez, Miguel Angel Santiago Lopez Candidates: Fulvio Batista, Emestina Flores, Yaniri Del Carmen Jaquez Rodriguez, Maximiliano Lopez, Leobarda Lopez Cruz, Marvin Martinez, Fernando Pelaez Olivera, Liliana Quevedo Morga, Carlos Rojas, Emestina Santos Parish of the Visitation Catechumens: Adan Garcia, Juan Gonzalez, Nancy Hernandez, Javian Jovanny Rojas, Henry Mendoza Gomez, Alexander Arocho, Steve Rutch, Candidates: Jenise Enithlee Caban, Denisse Camarillo, Nashaly Espinal, Eric Rodriguez, Yelarin Rodriguez St. Peter the Apostle Candidates: Josefina Maciel, Arianna Maciel, Old Bridge St. Ambrose Candidates: Amy Hernandez, Ariana Galindo, Shakiema Jeffers, Emilia Marques Parlin St. Bernadette Catechumens: Leanna Olson, Daniella Squires,

Michael Vincent, Derek Pugh, Makayla Pugh, Darius Pugh Candidates: Diane Crespo, Eunice Danseglio, Edna Danseglio, Malik Presssley, Nico Barrafato,

Somerville Immaculate Conception Catechumens: Jadira Marino, Elmer Ruiz Candidates: Samantha Fronio, Abigail Crowell, Blanca Banos, Alejandra Castro

Perth Amboy Blessed John Paul II Catechumens: Daniella Almeira, Yefreson Garcia Candidate: Deyvi Hidalgo

South Amboy Sacred Heart Catechumen: Kristina Zodiaco South Plainfield Our Lady of Czestochowa Catechumens: Thinh Nguyen, Dinh Tran

Our Lady of Fatima Catechumens: Alma Hernandez, Luis Nieves, Emilio Ricopalchi Candidates: Frank Cortez, Vickiana Gutierrez, Giovanni Gurtierrez Phillipsburg St. Philip & St. James Catechumens: Gabryal Bennett, Sharon Gunn Candidate: John Hardcastle Plainsboro Queenship of Mary Candidates: Nicholas Pinilla, Kristin Park Raritan Borough St. Ann Catechumen: Alejandro Andino Somerset St. Matthias Catechumens: Nalini Stone, Danielle Bishop Gille, Dashawn Durden Candidates: Shannon Long, Loren Long, Waid Barfield, Maritza Almonte, Nicholas Chodl, Luis Cuevas, Ava Ortman, Rosana Garon

South River St. Mary Ostrabrama Catechumens: Robert Alfrey Jr., Emmaleigh Alfrey, Aubrey Alfrey, Aiden Alfrey Candidates: Dazay Emmanuel Martinez, Stanley Peters, Laurie Joy Sirinakis, Braulio Simoes, Spotswood Immaculate Conception Candidates: Beckam Moyer, Casey Moyer, Daniella Rizzo, Kenneth Wise Three Bridges Elizabeth Ann Seton Catechumens: Angela Cardone, James McQueen Whitehouse Station Our Lady of Lourdes Candidates: Noelle Mazzaferro, John Icaza Woodbridge St. James Candidates: Deisy Rojas-Landero, Melina Rojas-Landero, Pablo Alexis HernandezDeLaPaz, Brenda Gonzalez, Carolina Miguel, Jonathan Miguel

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Visiting prelate encourages participants of retreat ‘be men of hope’ he made his first profession of vows in 1985; was ordained a priest in 1989 and was consecrated a Bishop for the ArchEAST BRUNSWICK — The word diocese this past July. He holds a mas“hope” is often not the right word at all, ter’s degree in liturgical theology from said Auxiliary Bishop Elias R. Lorenzo St. John’s University, Collegeville, of the Archdiocese of Newark, during Minn.; a master’s degree in counseling an in-person and online presentation psychology from Seton Hall University, South Orange, and at St. Bartholomew a licentiate in canon Church.

“If we are with law from The Catholic “How often we use Christ, we, too, are University of America, the word ‘hope’ when we mean ‘I would like,’ on a journey. The Washington, D.C. Following his service as or ‘I want,’ or ‘I wish,’” Christian life is a prior of the Abbey, he he continued. “Hope is as vicar for Rea deeper virtue. Delving life of hope, with served ligious for the Diocese into the biblical considerations of the word the presence of the of Metuchen.

The Book of ‘hope’ is more difficult risen Lord walking Psalms is filled with exand more profound.”

Bishop Lorenzo with us all along amples of hope, Bishop Lorenzo noted. served as keynote speakthe way.”

“Psalms 42 and 43 er for the “Being Men of show that hope is tied Hope” retreat held Dec. —Bishop Elias R. Lorenzo to God’s intervention 19. The retreat included and saving presence,” an examination of the Biblical meaning of hope in the Old he said. “There is a longing for God’s and New Testaments, Eucharistic ado- intervention in captivity and deliverration, opportunities for the sacrament ance, and the psalmist distinguishes of reconciliation and an evening Mass. between hope and optimism: optimists Bishop Lorenzo serves as the re- see that life’s troubles may have a posigional bishop of Union County for the tive outcome, while hope is a virtue.

“Believing and trusting in God Newark Archdiocese. A Benedictine monk of St. Mary’s Abbey, Delbarton, is essential… Hope has confidence in

By Christina Leslie Correspondent

MARCH 25, 2021

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Student honored for academic, civic achievement Cara Ventrudo, an eighth-grader at Immaculate Conception School, Spotswood, has been named a recipient of a 2021 Carson Scholar. She is among more than 8,000 students across the country who received the honor.

As part of her award, Cara will receive a $1,000 scholarship award that will be invested for her college education, as well as a medal and certificate.

“Being named a Carson Scholar has been a boost to my academic self-confidence. This has proved that I can do anything I put my mind to in school,” she said.

The Carson Scholars program, which was founded by Dr. Benjamin Carson and his wife, Candy, in 1994, is awarded to students in the fourth through 11th grades. The scholarship works to encourage a college-going culture in homes and schools across the country.

The program recognizes students who have a track record of academic excellence and participation in community service. Carson Scholars must have a minimum grade-point-average of 3.75. Candidates must also display humanitarian qualities through community service that goes beyond what is required by their schools.

Carson Scholars are recognized role models in their schools and are

nominated for the award by their principals. Mary Erath, principal of Immaculate Conception, noted, “Cara was selected because not only are her academics excellent, but I find her to be a person who is selfless and caring about her peers. She is also deeply invested in Immaculate Conception School.”

As part of the application process, Cara was asked to write about a book that has influenced her. She chose to write about the Harry Potter series because she feels that it focuses on real life magic and the idea that it comes in all forms, from the kindness of people to a smile shared between strangers.

Bishop Elias R. Lorenzo, center, of the Archdiocese of Newark; Father Thomas J. Walsh, right, pastor, St. Bartholomew Parish; and Father James E. De Fillipps, parochial vicar, pose at the men’s retreat.

Right, Bishop Lorenzo gives the keynote address.

— Christina Leslie photos God’s fidelity; we cannot see the future, but can only imagine it,” Bishop Lorenzo said. “Hope places trust in God’s ways and purpose for our lives.”

The exhortation to trust in God is good advice even today, he said.

Quoting the prophet Isaiah (40-31), the bishop explained, “‘They that hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar on eagles’ wings.’

“Faith could give way to hope: is there some parallel to the present divisions in society and the crisis in the Church? Scriptures suggest we move forward. We become ambassadors of hope.”

Bishop Lorenzo reminded his audience that hope is mentioned in each celebration of the Mass when the priest declares, “We wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.”

“Hope carries a special message,” he said. “We are tasting that hope when we come to the altar to be fed with the very life of the risen Christ… Hope challenges us to see with eyes of faith, it is about God’s redemptive action in Jesus Christ. The salvific experience in our human experience can give rise to great faith and acts of love.”

Hope flows from the resurrection of Christ as well, Bishop Lorenzo said, noting, “Christ’s resurrection brought redemption, forgiveness of sins and promise of eternal life once and for all. Because we believe in something so marvelous, we have authentic hope.

Amidst all the challenges of life, we place our hope and trust in Christ. This

gives us solid, authentic, unbridled hope.”

Chapter 15 of St. Luke’s gospel recounts the story of the two disciples on their way to Emmaus following the crucifixion of Christ. Noting the passage was “one of the most mysterious but hopeful scenes in the gospels,” Bishop Lorenzo described how the two distraught disciples regain their hope when they meet Christ along the road and only recognize him in the breaking of the bread.

“They had hoped that Jesus would bring about significant changes in their lives,” he said. “This opens an important dimension for reflection on our personal goals. We can live so strongly in the present that we fail to recall the past, especially the mysterious and confusing things we hear. How often do we get the truer meaning of something only after we pray?

“The journey is significant,” Bishop Lorenzo concluded. “If we are with Christ, we, too, are on a journey.

The Christian life is a life of hope, with the presence of the risen Lord walking with us all along the way. This is reason for hope.”

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Sacred Rite Jose Lim, a seminarian for the Diocese of Metuchen at the Pontifical North American College, Vatican City, kneels before Archbishop Jorge Carlos Patrón Wong to be conferred in the Ministry of Acolyte at Mass in the college’s Chapel of the Immaculate Conception March 7. Lim was one of 32 seminarians conferred with the title by Archbishop Patrón Wong, Secretary for Seminaries in the Congregation for Clergy. In his homily, Archbishop Patrón Wong charged the acolytes to live a zeal for the people of God. Using the Prophetess Anna as contrast, he explained that the diocesan priest must take up her example of contemplative prayer, but that he “must not stay in the temple… he must share the fruits of his contemplation through teaching and preaching.” The seminarians, currently in their second year of formation at the college, have two additional years of theological studies before being ordained to the priesthood in their home dioceses.

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Faithful, seminarians from diocese participate in national conference diocese.

Reflecting on SEEK21, SeminarMore than 27,000 young adults, col- ian Peter Tran said he was edified by lege students, missionaries, parishio- the speakers and small group conners, clergy, religious and others from versations. He noted, “I have known across the country gathered in small Bishop Barron for a long time, and groups Feb. 4-7 to participate in the I am always inspired by his words. I enjoyed listening to his talk about the SEEK21 conference.

It was an opportunity for indi- Lordship of Christ.”

He said he was very moved by the viduals to gather in small groups to watch the event, broadcast online, and story of Immaculee. “She is a strong encounter the beauty of faith, the truth woman and her story helped me to of the Church, and the joy, hope, and realize the importance of living my love of Christ. Hosted annually by the life with gratitude,” Tran explained. “I Fellowship of Catholic University Stu- also loved Sister Bethany’s talk. She reminded me of the dents (FOCUS), be“Taking part in SEEK importance of discause of COVID-19, God’s voice 2021 marked the first opened my eyes to cerning and the power of askyear the conference was virtual. the fact that there is ing God for help in our life discernment,” In the Diocese of a flourishing comhe added.

Metuchen, 40 young About the small adults from Immacumunity of Catholic group times, Tran late Conception Paryoung men and said, “I am also grateish, Annandale; the BREAK Ministry women right here in ful for the discussions after each session. at St. Cecelia Parish, Iselin; and the my home parish — a Our brothers’ insights were very holy and Somerville Young Adult Group from Im- community that I had edifying. I learned a lot from them.” maculate Conception been hoping and The gift of sharParish participated in the SEEK21 SEEK21. They were praying for since I left ing joined by 20 Semi- school, and one that experience with a community also narians from the Diocesan House of For- I am excited to share resonated deeply with Tori Furka, a memmation. All utilized my journey ber of Immaculate in-person and online Conception Parish, options to experiof faith with.”

Annandale. She told ence the conference —Tori Furka her discussion group, in community. They “I was nervous about listened to talks, had moving back to New time for fellowship, engaged in small group discussions, Jersey after college because I knew spent time in prayer, and received the of very few other young adults back home who were serious about their sacraments.

Bishop Robert Barron, founder Catholic faith.

“Taking part in SEEK opened my of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, was one of the keynote speakers who eyes to the fact that there is a flouropened the conference. Among the ishing community of Catholic young other 23 speakers were Sister of Life men and women right here in my home Bethany Madonna, known for her talks parish — a community that I had been on vocations, and Immaculee Ilibagi- hoping and praying for since I left za, a Rwandan American author and school, and one that I am excited to who wrote an autobiography detailing share my journey of faith with.”

Finding community after college how she survived during the Rwandan genocide. They offered challenging as can be very difficult for young Catholics in a more transitional state of life. well as encouraging words.

During the Feb. 6 live session, The SEEK conference served as a uniFather Mike Schmitz, widely known fying event for a number of fairly refor his YouTube videos, spoke of how cent-college graduates looking to live to live in relationship with God the and share their faith alongside others.

While SEEK21 brought many Father. He encouraged attendees saying, “Let yourself be known. Tell Him people together, that was not its only your story. Give the Father permission goal. It also sought to help everyone participating to walk away with a to love you.”

He asked, “Does the Father have mission. Jenthel Reyes, a member of permission to love you as you are? St. Cecelia’s BREAK Ministry said, Let yourself be seen, let yourself be “Coming into SEEK I didn’t know known, and let yourself be loved by what to expect. However, the conferthe Father.” Those words led to pow- ence exceeded so many expectations erful discussions by members from the and has changed my life in a more

By Megan Vantslot

Above, during the SEEK21 conference, members of BREAK Ministry watch a Live Impact Session titled “Sacred Tension” given by Chika Anyanwu. During this talk, Anyanwu discussed how to intentionally engage in difficult conversations and situations, especially in regard to race. Right, Christian Charity Sister Anna Nguyen and Megan Vantslot, play the SEEK21 card game with other members of BREAK Ministry.

Each group that participated was sent a “Swag Box” with items for each participant.

Pictured are a rosary, small group leader’s booklet, blank journal to take notes, pen, and holy card of recently canonized Blessed Carlo Acutis, the patron of the conference.

— photos courtesy of Megan Vantslot

positive and growing way. It has lit a fire in me that will be burning for a very long time!”

A major fruit of the conference for the BREAK Ministry was that SEEK acted as a catalyst for BREAK to launch its new discipleship program.

The diocesan Office of Youth and

Young Adult Evangelization will be working with Break and other groups to provide resources and encouragement to keep the missionary fire burning in our local Church.

Vantslot is director, diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Evangelization

opening” towards acceptance of practiced called for changes to the section on homohomosexuality and the blessing of homo- sexuality in the Catechism of the Catholic sexual unions in the Church.

Church. Expressing openness to blessings Following consultations in Berlin in of homosexual unions, he said, “we need late 2019, the chairman of the marriage solutions for this.” and family commission of the German On Feb. 23, Bishop Peter Kohlgraf of bishops’ conference declared that the Ger- Mainz defended his support for a book of man bishops agreed that homosexuality is blessings and rites for homosexual unions. a “normal form” of human sexual identity. The book followed a May 2020 publicaThe topic also plays a central role in tion from Austria about how same-sex one of four forums that constitute the con- couples might receive a formal, liturgical troversial “Synodal Process” underway in blessing. Kohlgraf suggested that CathoGermany. lics with homosexual inclinations cannot The CDF explained in 2003 that all be expected to live chastely. “the Church teaches that respect for hoThe call for liturgical blessings of mosexual persons cannot lead in any way same-sex unions is part of a wider push to approval of homosexual behavior or to by some German bishops to change the legal recognition of homosexual unions.” Church’s teaching on a number of issues, Bätzing, the president of the German including on the sacraments of priestly bishops’ conference, in December 2020 ordination and marriage.

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Rome Newsroom (CNA) — The Northern Ireland Assembly voted in favor March 17 of a bill that would restrict abortions on the basis of non-fatal disability. The Severe Fetal Impairment Abortion (Amendment) Bill passed 48 to 12 at its second reading, and will now to move to the next stage of debate.

Introduced in January by Paul Givan, a member of the Democratic Unionist Party, the bill would remove “severe fetal impairment” as an exception to the country’s abortion laws.

Presently, Northern Ireland’s abortion law, which went into effect almost one year ago, allows elective abortions up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. Abortions up to 24 weeks are legal when the mother’s physical or mental health is determined to be at risk.

Abortions up until the point of birth are legal in cases of severe fetal impairment or fetal abnormality.

Under the current statute, an unborn child who has been diagnosed with a condition such as Down syndrome or cleft palate can be aborted past the 24-week legal limit.

Disability rights campaigners — including the group Don’t Screen Us Out and Heidi Crowter, an Irish woman with Down syndrome — have welcomed the bill, calling the current law “downright discrimination” toward people with disabilities.

Bishops in Northern Ireland have also strongly backed the proposal.

Givan’s bill would still permit late-term abortions in cases of fatal fetal abormality.

“The current law tells those with dis-

abilities that they are worth less than other people, their contribution is less valuable, their lives less important, less full,” Givan said in a statement.

“The idea that Down’s syndrome is some huge problem that should be addressed by abortion is chilling,” he said. “You don’t have to look far to see the full lives those with disabilities lead. They enrich our communities and families.”

Speaking on Good Morning Ulster, Givan said that his bill is “an opportunity for people to come together and fight a prejudicial, discriminatory piece of legislation,” referring to the existing abortion law.

Laws such as the Disability Act of 1995 have provided “support” for “people with disabilities,” he said — support which should be extended to the unborn.

“I believe that those rights — and these are human rights — ought to be conferred upon people before they are born and that is what this campaign is going to be about,” he said.

Abortion became legal in Northern Ireland in April, 2020, after the British parliament imposed changes to the region’s abortion and marriage laws and the local devolved legislature failed to block the changes.

Before March 31, abortion was legally permitted in Northern Ireland only if the mother’s life was at risk or if there was risk of long term or permanent, serious damage to her mental or physical health.

The region was not included in the United Kingdom’s Abortion Act of 1967, which legalized abortion.

OUR DIOCESE

VATICAN CITY STATE (CNA) — The are congruent with the essence of the blessing Vatican’s doctrinal office on Monday imparted by the Church,” the CDF said. clarified that the Catholic Church does not “For this reason, it is not licit to have the power to give liturgical blessings impart a blessing on relationships, or partof homosexual unions. nerships, even stable, that involve sexual Answering the question, “does the activity outside of marriage (i.e., outside Church have the power to the indissoluble union of a give the blessing to unions The ruling and man and a woman open in of persons of the same sex,” itself to the transmission of note were ap- life), as is the case of the the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith reunions between persons of proved for sponded, “negative.” the same sex.” publication by In an accompanying The ruling and note were approved for publicanote, the doctrine office Pope Francis and tion by Pope Francis and explained that blessings are sacramentals, and “consesigned by CDF signed by CDF prefect Cardinal Luis Ladaria and secquently, in order to conform with the nature of sacramen- prefect Cardinal retary Archbishop Giacomo tals, when a blessing is in- Luis Ladaria and Morandi.

The CDF’s note did voked on particular human secretary Arch- not state the origin of the relationships, in addition to the right intention of those bishop Giacomo dubium submitted to the doctrinal office, but noted who participate, it is necesthat “in some ecclesial sary that what is blessed be Morandi. contexts, plans and proposobjectively and positively als for blessings of unions ordered to receive and express grace, according to the designs of of persons of the same sex are being adGod inscribed in creation, and fully re- vanced.”

In recent years, German bishops in vealed by Christ the Lord.”

“Therefore, only those realities which particular have been increasingly outspoare in themselves ordered to serve those ends ken in demanding “discussions about an

13

Church does not have power to bless same-sex unions

14 OUR DIOCESE

Bible study, rosary, saints, sacrifice helping deepen faith during Lent Although this year Lent may be different, this holy season continues to be an opportunity for a deeper relationship with Christ and an invitation to accompany Him on his fateful journey to Jerusalem.

During this holy season, the faithful of the Diocese of Metuchen are diving deeper into their Catholic faith by increasing in prayer, growing in sacrifice, and for some, by following Lenten family traditions. Their witnesses and stories of faith are a reminder that our local church is alive and is a vibrant community of faith.

This Lenten season, I will continue to allow Jesus to transform me and rid me of the sins, attachments and bad habits, that are holding me captive and remake me into the man He is calling me to be; a strong willed, free, holy, virtuous man. Through an intense spiritual excerise called Exodus 90.

For 90 days me and my seven fellow brothers in Christ have been embarking on a spiritual journey since January 4th. This Lent should be one of great transformation!

Jeffrey Alfaro Saint Cecelia Parish, Iselin

MARCH 25, 2021

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

“Many people give something up for Lent, and my daughters and I are also giving something up. My younger daughter, Lilly, has committed to giving up video games, my older daughter, Grace, wishes she could give up homework but when told that it wasn’t an option, she said she would reduce her screen time. For Lent I’m giving up those words you use in frustration that you hope your children don’t hear. But Lent is not just about giving something up in order to prepare. It is about making room for Christ. So we will make more room for family prayer and spiritual growth.”

Rachelle Hanna, BSN, RN, CSN St. Joseph Parish, Hillsborough

“This Lenten season I am participating in the diocesan rosary ministry.

It gives me so much joy just knowing these rosaries will fall into a law enforcement officer’s pocket. Making them will be part of my alms during Lent and beyond.”

Jane McElroy Blue Rosary Guild Member “For the Lenten season, I am going to try to make one pocket rosary a day.

I’ve had a lot of loss lately and this passes the time for me while reflecting.”

Beth Nartowicz St. Helena Parish, Edison, and member of the Blue Rosary Guild “As Lent begins this year, we are turning to the examples of both Saint Teresa of Calcutta and Pope Saint John Paul II to grow spiritually and grow closer to Christ. We are also participating in an engaged and married couple’s Bible Study through the Office of Family Life where we reflect on the words of JPII’s Love and Responsibility by reading Men, Women, and the Mystery of Love. We hope to grow in the love that is Jesus Christ through this group during Lent.”

Emily and Jon Patteson Young Couples’ Group Member “This Lenten season we will continue studying our faith with other couples as we journey towards marriage. We are participating on a 12-week virtual Bible Study group with other couples which have strengthened our knowledge of Scripture and faith. We are keeping what we learn with us as Easter approaches and our nuptials later in April.”

Kristie Marcinczyk St. Mary’s Parish, South Amboy Young Couples’ Group Member

I’ve heard several people say they are doing nothing special for Lent because they feel as if they’ve been living Lent this entire year. I appreciate that sentiment, since there have been so many restrictions placed on us due to the pandemic, and we’ve had to sacrifice in so many ways. However, I’ve always treasured the opportunity this holy season provides to grow in my relationship with God. Mary Jo Kearns, RSM Founder of Mount Saint Mary House of Prayer, Watchung, and presently ministering part time “This year during Lent, I am doing my best to detach from material things/ social media and instead fill my time with things to help me grow in my faith. I am trying to grow closer to St Joseph by praying the Prayer of the Holy Cloak Novena daily, a beautiful prayer that was included in Father Calloways book: Consecration to St Joseph. I am attending weekly adoration to spend time with the Lord, and I am also making sure to dive into some spiritual books I have been putting on hold“ Rose Marie DiStefano Good Shepperd Parish “Every year at the start of Lent, we set out two jars: one is empty, and the other is filled with dried beans. When one of us joyfully makes a sacrifice, we transfer a bean to the empty jar.

Each member of the family — child and adult--is capable of making a sacrifice appropriate to his or her age.

This sacrifice might be setting the table without being asked, helping a younger sibling, obeying instructions from a parent without whining, or getting up in the morning without hitting the snooze button. On Easter morning, the beans in the Bean Jar are transformed into jelly beans, reminding all

of us that the sacrifices we make in union with the Lord ultimately yield a sweet reward.”

The Schlegel Family Parents at the School of St. Elizabeth, Bernardsville “With the challenges that we face today, I feel the importance of educating our youth on Lent and the meaning of selfless acts is at its greatest. Charity, patience, counsel, and love are what will help me grow this Lent.”

Gina Talijan Director of Religious Education at St. Mary Parish, Alpha To deepen our prayer life as a couple, we are doing a program called Lent for Couples based on reading the daily Gospel and meditation. We are also part of a small faith-sharing group that meets virtually every week to discuss the upcoming Sunday’s Liturgy and share our Lenten Journey with each other.

Russ and Janet Baker Pewmbers, Cathedral of St. Francis Parish, Metuchen, catechists for RCIA Lent is a wonderful season because it invites me to reflect on my relationship with God in a more intentional way, and challenges me to be transformed into the person whom God is loving into being. Part of my Lenten practice is to participate in the many programs offered by the House of Prayer. It’s vital that I find ways to feed my soul so I can be attentive to the needs of others. I pray that, in the words of St. Catherine of Siena, I will “be who I am meant to be and will set the world on fire.”

Laura M. Arvin, OP Dominican Sister Director, Mount Saint Mary House of Prayer, Watchung

Faith journey of Elect continues toward full communion with Church Continued from page 8

were very helpful with reinforcing the material discussed.

“Almost everything was presented orally, [and] lesson times were shortened due to their attention span… They see the importance of the sacraments and would like to ensure their children take part.”

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Three Bridges: “This year definitely posed some challenges, but we tried to keep our program as consistent with the past as possible,” said Diane Luceri, the parish’s director of RCIA and Adult Faith Formation. “Since things opened up last fall, we have continued to meet

each week in person at the church on Sundays.”

Luceri explained that the usual social distancing was in effect during the classes and Bible study, and “we have found that meeting in person is an important part of conversion for our Elect.”

The Book of Elect was signed before the congregation during the First Sunday of Lent’s livestream Mass with Father Thomas J. Serafin, pastor, presiding.

Luceri said the Elect “are excited about the upcoming Triduum and most especially with their entrance into the Church at the Easter Vigil.”

James McQueen signs the Book of the Elect in the presence of the assembly at Mass at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, Three Bridges.

— photo courtesy of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish

15

EDUCATION

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

MARCH 25, 2021

16 EDUCATION

Schools’ successful practices affirmed in reaccreditation process

By Barbara Stevens As I reflect on the 2020–2021 school year, which is well underway, I find so much for which to be thankful as our schools continue to offer a spiritually-rich and academically excellent education for our students.

In mid-October, our schools participated in a system-wide reaccreditation process by Cognia. This consisted of an external review by a team of educators who provided objective feedback with regard to policies, programs, and practices in our schools. The reaccreditation process provides an opportunity to acknowledge and affirm the successful practices in our schools and to establish a roadmap for continuous improvement so that we can accomplish even more.

Each school engages in a process to assess the quality of its programs according to a rigorous set of standards and criteria.

Additionally, the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools was used as a tool to reflect upon the Catholic Identity and Mis-

sion of the schools. school leadership teams and faculty.

Bishop James F. Checchio stated I am proud to say that we were affirmed by the Review Team that the in one of his letters, “Catholic schools Diocese of Metuchen and its schools are meant to assist parents/guardians in the important role are joined by common faith, unity, and the primary teachIn addition, it is noted as ers of their children’s shared values. Parents expressed a strong faith.” Therefore, it that the diocese sense of partnership remains a primary embodies dedicated goal for our schools and trust in their to continue to dechild’s education commitment to velop partnerships through survey and continuous improve- with parents and all inventory responses. so that All stakeholders (parment. The outstanding stakeholders ents, students, pasour communities will tors, faculty, school programs and practices continue to flourish staff) in interviews both spiritually and present in our schools academically. We and on surveys stated that communication are a result of ongoing encourage parents to share, whenever posis outstanding and collaboration among sible, in the spiritual timely. life of our schools.

In addition, it is the Schools Office, noted that the diocese Pastors have worked embodies dedicated school leadership teams tirelessly to encourcommitment to conage participation by and faculty. offering livestreamed tinuous improvement. liturgies and paraliThe outstanding programs and practices present in our turgical events. Workshops and schools are a result of ongoing col- prayer opportunities are offered onlaboration among the Schools Office, line through the Diocesan Offices of

Evangelization, Family Life, and the Office of Human Life and Dignity.

The Office of Schools offers a Resource Page on the diocesan website which contains information to assist parents in their own faith development. We understand the importance of learning and growing together so that we can help the children along their faith journey.

Despite the constraints imposed upon us due to the COVID pandemic, the diocesan schools are open and flourishing as was affirmed by the Cognia reaccreditation team! We are proud of our schools’ commitment to providing an effective, missioncentered education for all students.

We celebrate the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders as we uphold the diocesan mission: The Office of Schools assists the Bishop in providing opportunities for the people of God to be formed, informed and transformed into Disciples of Christ through the ministry of Catholic education.

Stevens is assistant superintendent, diocesan Office of Schools

National Charity In Action Award The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC

IMMACULATA

H I G H SC H O O L

MARCH 25, 2021

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

FAITH ✦ SCHOLARSHIP ✦ SERVICE ✦ FRIENDSHIP

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EDUCATION

Above, Msgr. Joseph G. Celano (right), pastor, Immaculate Conception Parish and director of Immaculata High School, both in Somerville, and Deacon John Czekaj (Immaculata class of 1966), process into the school’s chapel at the 17th annual Spartan Memorial Mass. Right, a vase holds a memorial bouquet of hydrangeas in honor of deceased alumni and faculty. Below, Terry Lavin Kuboski (‘69), who helped establish the Memorial Mass, gives the liturgy’s traditional closing remarks on grief and healing.

— photos courtesy of Immaculata High School

will be back in the gym and our sense of community will be even stronger.

“There is a saying for grievers: may his/her memory be a blessing, which translates into this: it is those left behind who must keep the loved one’s goodness alive…to keep their legacy of kindness, grace, and compassion vibrant. May we do that for all those deceased teachers, classmates, Guardian Angels, and may God bless Immaculata and our entire community. “ In closing, Msgr. Celano expressed his gratitude for those who joined in the Mass.

“You are here with us in spirit and heart. As we celebrate our unity through the Eucharist, we commend our deceased loved ones to God’s mercy and love,” he said.

MARCH 25, 2021

tine. as well as new Guardian Angels: Mimi Brown, Jean Cummins, Ray Durborow, Ann Marie Lisi, Diane Peterson, and Lina Poorten.”

The Guardian Angel Scholarship Program, established in 2019, gives the opportunity to family and friends to remember loved ones, dedicated to Immaculata and Catholic education. This past school year, six enrolled students received scholarships toward their tuition, thanks to those benefactors.

Kuboski concluded her remarks by saying, “Certainly, we miss the sense of togetherness of our grieving community.

We want to have classmates and families with us. They have created an invisible net of support and hope for our new grieving families. We wish classes could gather for the repast. But next year we

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

deceased including: students, faculty, Hall of Famers, Spartans of the Year, parents, second-generation parents, and So much has changed during the pan- Immaculate Heart of Mary sisters.

In his homily Msgr. Celano said, demic; then again, so much has not.

For the 17th consecutive year, the “For the deceased members of our annual Spartan Memorial Mass was alumni and our faculty, our benefactors, celebrated for deceased alumni and fac- the campaign of holiness that is Lent is ulty of Immaculata High School (IHS), now ended. What they strove for, setting Somerville. While in years past this spe- the love of God and neighbor above all cial liturgy was celebrated in the school other concerns, is now theirs in its fullgym to accommodate hundreds of con- ness.”

Music for the gregants, this year’s afMass was provided by ternoon service on Feb. students Victoria Coey, 21 was live-streamed Olivia Izzo, Phillip “Pay tribute to our from the IHS chapel, Jack Slomka an integral part of the deceased loved ones Enad, and Sarah Nichols. school. From 1964 They sang “On Eagle’s to 1976 after a fire by living life to its Wings,” “Seek Ye destroyed the church, fullest. That is what First,” and “Amazing the chapel served the Immaculate Concep- they would want. But Grace.”

Before the final tion parishioners for daily Mass, weddings how can you do that blessing, Terry Lavin (’69), who and funerals. For dewhen grief is suffocat- Kuboski helped establish the cades, the chapel has been used by Immacuing us? Does it ever Memorial Mass, gave the Mass’ traditional lata students for prayer services, daily Mass, end? No, it doesn’t. It closing remarks on theology classes, and may become softer grief and healing.

“Prayer is one private meditation, so and gentler. But like very key way to asit was a beautiful and suage our grief,” she meaningful setting for love, it is forever.” said. “Believe in the this special liturgy.

—Terry Kuboski strength of prayer.

Near the altar, Remember the story symbols illustrating of the villagers gatherthe hallmarks of IHS were displayed. Among them were a Bi- ing to pray for desperately needed rain. ble (faith), mortar board (scholarship), Only one little boy brought an umbrella. service award medal (service), and red Be that one little boy.”

Reflecting on grief, Kuboski, now roses (friendship). Each symbol denoted a specific decade of deceased alumni. In a retired faculty member and director of previous years, family members of the communications, said, “Pay tribute to deceased would process to the altar with our deceased loved ones by living life to carnations in memory of loved ones; its fullest. That is what they would want. this year in front of the altar, there was But how can you do that when grief is a single memorial bouquet of hydran- suffocating us? Does it ever end? No, it geas by a statue of a Guardian Angel doesn’t. It may become softer and geninscribed: “May your unfailing love be tler. But like love, it is forever. For the rest of our lives, grief becomes a dance my comfort.”

Before the Mass began, Joan Silo, between sorrow and joy, pain and sweet head of school, welcomed all the family, memories. It can’t consume you, for if friends and alumni participating in the it does, it goes against our loved one’s online Memorial Mass. “Unfortunately, most fervent wishes. And if you feel we cannot be in-person today,” Silo said grief destroying you, then you must give adding, “but our prayers will be as deep it to God.” Twenty-six of God’s Spartan Anand our ceremony as special.”

She noted that because the Mass gels were remembered this year. They was virtual, many families from all over include Ed Chaya, Pat Cullen, Marilyn Mills DePoe, James DiLello, Hector the country were able to participate.

“We believe Once A Spartan, Al- Elfante, Rosemarie Gessner, Andrew ways A Spartan and this Mass symbol- Gombos, Anne Kotalic Gray, Claire izes our prayerful commitment to all of Murphy LaMont, Jamie LePoidevin, Rosemarie O’Donahue McGilligan, our Immaculata community,” Silo said.

Msgr. Joseph G. Celano, recently Frank McGuire, Joe Moran, Mark named pastor of Immaculate Conception Murphy, Robbie Pietrucha, Anthony Parish and director of Immaculata High Quadagnito, Vincent Riccardo, Karen School, presided at the Mass. Deacon Janeski Sauer, Christian Smith, Valerie Lisi Tienkien, Christopher Wasson, AnJohn Czekaj (class of 1966) assisted.

The first and second readings, as drew Woodhull; and faculty members well as the Prayer of the Faithful, were Jack Kelly, and Sisters Patrick Mary, dedicated to the different groups of the Sister Aloysius, and Sister Mary ErnesBy Debra Stevko Miller Correspondent

17

Spartan Memorial Mass celebrated for deceased alumni, faculty

18 EDUCATION

Thank you for your dedication to the students of our diocese

“Yours is a sacred vocation not only to impart practical knowledge, but, as Catholic School teachers, you have a far distant horizon to lead young hearts and minds.”

MARCH 25, 2021

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

—Bishop James Checchio

19 EDUCATION THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT MARCH 25, 2021

Not shown: Mount Saint Mary Academy, Watchung; Saint Joseph High School, Metuchen; and St. Matthew the Apostle School, Edison.

BISHOPS ANNUAL APPEAL 20 THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT MARCH 25, 2021

SENT ON MISSION TO

CALL THE OFFICE OF STEWARDSHIP & DEVELOPMENT AT 732-562-2432

transformed; are changed. We believe we become what we receive. We become As we kick off our 2021 Bishop’s Annual Christ’s body. He then uses us and sends Appeal, Bishop James F. Checchio invites us into the world to light a fire in the heart all Catholics throughout the Diocese of of His Church, to love His people and to Metuchen to be Transformed by Christ’s serve those in need,” Bishop Checchio Body and Blood as we are Sent On Mis- said in this year’s appeal video.

The mission we are sent on is to sion to Light a Fire in the Heart of the spread the Good Church.

News of the GosWe have all been pel, to make God through so much in known throughout the last 12 months. our diocese, to help The way we live our the homeless, the lives personally, prohungry, and all who fessionally, socially have been impacted and through worship by the pandemic. Our has changed. Yet, mission includes not in these challenging only caring for our days, we are called to “The Bishop’s Annual brothers and sisters trust in Christ even Appeal brings us now, but also insurmore and hope for ing there will be better days. together corporately priests who can minThis theme of ister to them in the as the Body of Christ, it this year’s appeal, future. which has a goal of helps us to do things we The Diocese of $7.2 million, is so relevant to the times in are not able to do on our Metuchen responds to the challenges which we are living. own and it transforms created by the panDuring the pandemdemic and those ic, when churches the world into a greater we experience even were closed, spiriimage of God Himself. If in normal times, tual communion was through more than the primary way we every household is able 25 pastoral, educaasked Jesus to come tional and charitable into our hearts. It to share something we ministries. Their priwas a time many pawill be lighting a fire in mary funding source rishioners were sayBishop’s Aning how they longed the heart of our Church” isnualtheAppeal, which to receive Christ in —Bishop James F. Checchio depends upon your the Eucharist. It is generosity. The anthe real presence nual campaign helps of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament that people truly thousands of people each day throughout want and need. “All of us when we re- Middlesex, Somerset, and Hunterdon and ceive the body and blood of our Lord are Warren counties and all funds received

Above, Bishop James F. Checchio (center) presides at Mass in a chapel at one of the diocese’s two cemeteries. The generosity of the faithful helps the Bishop’s Annual Appeal support more than 25 pastoral, educational and charitable ministries. The goal of this year’s appeal is $7.2 million.

Right, Thomas J. Smith, director, diocesan Office of Stewardship and Development.

Seminarians are also highlighted in this year’s Annual Appeal. The men in the seminary are vital to the faith formation, the evangelization and the future of the diocese. Currently, 26 men are studying for the priesthood. Funds from the appeal helps these men complete their journey through the seminary and ensures the future of our Church. The expense of educating our seminarians is sizable, but necessary if we are to have priests who will minister to the spiritual and pastoral needs of the faithful, and lead our parishes.

Through the Bishop’s Appeal we can light a fire in the heart of the Church of Metuchen as we meet the challenges the pandemic still poses to help all in need.

If you are able, please consider a sacrificial contribution to this year’s appeal by responding to our most recent mailing or by making an online pledge at the appeal website or you can use the QR code at the end of this article. The sacrifice, generosity and prayers from all of the disciples that embody the Church of Metuchen is an example of living the Gospel message.

Smith is director, diocesan Office of Stewardship and Development

MARCH 25, 2021

from the appeal are used, without exception, to provide for the ministries outlined in the appeal materials and can be viewed on the Bishop’s Annual Appeal website at: https://www.diometuchen.org/baa Three ministries highlighted in this year’s appeal illustrate how we are lighting a fire in the heart of the Church. During the pandemic the Vicariate for Evangelization and Communication expanded its efforts and developed new ways for us to bring Christ’s love and His Good News to others, especially to those who need Him the most. The way we communicate the Gospel message evolved through the use of websites, social media platforms, live-streaming Masses and services. Virtual Bible studies, retreats and faith sharing groups brought us together, though we have been physically apart. The use of videos, podcasts and written content about our Catholic faith have been used in ways that it had never been done before.

Despite the pandemic, the important work of Catholic Charities, another highlighted ministry, did not stop during the past year. The staff continued to respond to the challenges created by an increase in requests for basic services including food, shelter and clothing. They provided rental assistance, housing support, and utilized technology for counseling and telehealth. Catholic Charities assertive community treatment teams are still providing psychiatric services as well as delivering food and medication to their clients with serious and persistent mental illness. The teams, as well as all of Catholic Charities’ staff has served everyone with compassion, dignity and respect.

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Bishop James F. Checchio, fourth from right, poses with clergy from the diocese and seminarians. Currently, 26 men are studying for the priesthood for the diocese. Funds from the Bishop’s Annual Appeal help the men complete their journey through the — The Catholic Spirit file photos seminary and ensures the future of the Church.

BISHOPS ANNUAL APPEAL

By Thomas J. Smith

21

Bishop’s Annual Appeal supports vital ministries such as Catholic Charities

22 EDUCATION

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS...

we offer a SMARTER START in school and in life!

MARCH 25, 2021

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

To find a Catholic school visit: diometuchen.org/ find-a-school

All schools in the Diocese of Metuchen follow the safety guidelines issued by the CDC. These include the use of masks and safe distancing during the times when students are in the schools. If you need any additional information, please contact the office of schools.

Diocese of Metuchen • Office of Schools � 732-562-2446 • https://metuchencatholicschools.org/schools/

Winter wear collected for needy WATCHUNG – Members of the H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Everywhere) Club, the Peer Ministry program and the Student Council at Mount Saint Mary Academy held a Winter Coat Drive for St. Ann’s Franciscan Soup Kitchen in Newark.

According to Donna Toryak, director of Admissions at Mount Saint Mary, and H.O.P.E. Club Advisor, the collections

boxes were overflowing and the surrounding bags contained coats, hats, scarves and gloves for adults and children.

The Sirianni family of Maplewood, including Mount Saint Mary graduates Olivia ‘11 and Kate ‘19, volunteer at the soup kitchen and contacted the academy to the urgent need for winter wear for those it serves

Are You Happy With Your Current Program?

You Should Meet the Mount

Touring T uesdays Explore our spacious 80-acre campus with members of our Admissions team.

Zoom Meetings Chat with our Admissions team virtually to learn why Successful Journeys Begin Here.

Class of 2020: Over $20 Million in academic scholarships/grants received by 76 graduates

8:1 Student/Teacher Ratio 50 Clubs & Activities 100% College Attendance

11 Varsity Sports Teams

80 AP Scholars

Bloomberg Financial Markets Lab

Contact admissions@mountsaintmary.org or (908) 757-0108,

— photos courtesy of Mount Saint Mary Academy

1645 Route 22, West at Terrill Rd. watchung, nj 07069 www.mountsaintmary.org

MARCH 25, 2021

ACADEMY

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

MOUNT SAINT MARY

Top, posing with donations of winter wear at Mount Saint Mary Academy, from left, Donna Toryak and Olivia Sirianni; and Karoline Hocevar, a junior from Cranford, and Sarah Gresham, a junior from Califon.

EDUCATION

WATCHUNG – Mount Saint Mary Acad- work is being honored by this designation.” emy senior Martha Byrne has been named Mount Saint Mary Academy is a Catha National Merit Finalist by the National olic, independent school that provides an exMerit Scholarship Corporaemplary college preparatory tion (NMSC), according education for young women to Sofia Santos, director of in grades 9 through 12.

Student Services.

As a sponsored work of the Sisters of Mercy of the She was chosen out Americas, the Mount is rootof 16,000 semifinalists and will be considered for the ed in the values and traditions of the Venerable Catherine National Merit Scholarship.

McAuley: “Martha Byrne is an • Commitment to acaextraordinarily accomplished Martha Byrne demic excellence young woman who possesses • Development of the a high level of intellectual curiosity,” Santos said. “Her hard work and whole person • Cultivation of individual gifts and perseverance have led to a multitude of successes. Mount Saint Mary Academy is talents • Dedication to service and the comincredibly proud of Martha and her great munity achievement as a National Merit Finalist.”

“I’m so excited to be recognized as • Instilling confidence, respect, and a National Merit Finalist,” said Byrne, a integrity resident of Westfield. “Without my amazing More than 370 students are enrolled teachers and the support of the whole Mount at Mount Saint Mary Academy and come community, I never would have developed from 80 New Jersey communities in Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, the skills or determination to achieve this.

“I’m so very grateful that all of my hard Morris, Somerset and Union counties.

23

MSMA student NMSC finalist

24 EDUCATION THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT MARCH 25, 2021

EXPERIENCE

THE SAINT JOE’S DIFFERENCE

Schedule a campus tour today!

We invite families to join us for an in-person campus tour with our Director of Admissions.

To schedule a campus tour, visit admissions.stjoes.org or call us at 732 549-7600, x221

EDUCATION

METUCHEN — The robotics program ties, Saint Joseph has developed a at Saint Joseph High School began in rotating hybrid model for its robotics 2005 with a handful of students and team members to use both Makerspace has grown into one of the largest orga- and Zoom sessions for meetings. This nizations on campus, averaging 60 to fully functional Makerspace includes 70 student participants each year. room for drive team members to The team is led by moderators practice maneuvering and operating and mentors composed of professional the robot. It is one of the hallmarks engineers, software programmers, of the STEM program and offers stuand returning alumni. As participants dents the ability to learn the different in the FIRST Robotfacets of robotics and In keeping with ics Competition (FRC), engineering such as: they have won numermetal fabrication and the mission of ous awards through the machining, electronics years, including Indusproduction and service to the com- board trial Design, finishing circuitry, coding and as regional finalists, munity, the team programming, and 3-D and several victories in design through Autolocal competitions. The CAD programs. prides itself on team also competed at One of the most the World Champion- helping others and recent additions was a ships in 2006 and 2011. automated CNC using their talents fully Despite all this, one machine that allows of the proudest awards to bring knowledge the team to cut its own the team has earned is custom-made parts and the Children’s Book and STEM (science, engravings. This next Donation award at the step in technology for technology, Duel on the Delaware the robotics program Event. In keeping with will give students the engineering and opportunity to immerse the mission of service to the community, the math) opportunities themselves in modteam prides itself on ern mechanical design helping others and ustechniques, giving them to children of all ing their talents to bring valuable hands-on exages. knowledge and STEM perience. (science, technology, Naturally, in adengineering and math) dition to machining opportunities to children of all ages. parts for the robot, the team offers its This strong message of servant lead- services to the school community to ership and using engineering and design and to fabricate logos, letters, technology to make the world a better and engravings. Its first two projects place is even more essential during were highly successful in replicating the COVID-19 pandemic. the school logo as well as the Falcon As schools throughout the coun- Robotics Team logo. try struggle to facilitate in-person Even with the restrictions that learning and extracurricular activi- the pandemic has placed on educa-

Members of the robotics program at Saint Joseph High School, Metuchen, work on a project. From left: sophomores Joshua Peter and Joshua Oliveira; junior Matthew San Miguel, and Erin Hutnick, a senior at Mother Seton Regional High School, Clark.

— Mary Hutnick photo

tional programs everywhere, adopting proper procedures and protocols ensures that students, teachers, and volunteers are working in a comfortable and safe environment.

Junior Matthew San Miguel noted that “COVID-19 had a huge impact on our robotics team, but we’ve managed to safely and effectively meet together to work on our robot.”

The team has found ways to rebuild and revamp its program to meet the ever-changingW needs of its students.

While this competition season may not have been what anyone expected, the organization still finds ways to develop essential engineering skills through the various at-home challenges and virtual events by FIRST. Team 1626: Falcon Robotics is looking forward to a season where they will be able to compete in-person again, but until then, they continue to learn the value of communication, teamwork, and dedication to the STEM fields.

DIOCESE OF METUCHEN

Sponsoring programs and activities dedicated to protecting life at all stages and in all conditions through . . .

Public Information & Education • Outreach & Pastoral CarePublic Policy & Legislation • Prayer & Worship 732-562-4574 • jruggiero@diometuchen.org

Angela Marshall, Program Coordinator 732-562-1543 • amarshall@diometuchen.org

MARCH 25, 2021

Jennifer Ruggiero, Director

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The Office of Human Life and Dignity

The first two projects of Saint Joseph High School’s robotics team were the school’s Falcon and the school logo.

— Roel Mercado photo

25

Prep-school robots provide hands-on learning despite pandemic

26 EDUCATION

St. Francis Cathedral School 528 Main Street, Metuchen, NJ 732-548-3107 stfranciscathedralschool.org 

Full Day PreK & Kindergarten Programs Before & After Care 7am - 6pm

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Art, Music, Gym & Spanish Classes

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Campus wide WiFi & 3D Printers All-in-One Touchscreen Computers

Holy Savior Academy

PreK 3 - 8th Grade Prek 3 & 4 - 3 or 5 day f ull day programs Before Care beginning at 7:00am Af tercare programavailable daily until 6:00pm

Check out the virtual tour and registration information on our website!

Follow us on:

SCHEDULED TOURS 908-822-5890 option 3

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Tradition. Excellence. Achievement.

A 2017 National Blue Ribbon School

149 South Plainfield Ave • South Plainfield, NJ 07080 Holy Savior Academy is fully accredited by AdvancEd. We welcome students of all faiths and cultures.

Why Saint Helena School?

We are a 2018 National Blue Ribbon Award winner for academic excellence and...

MARCH 25, 2021

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• Cognia-AdvanceED Accredited • Curriculum that highlights academic excellence • Advance Math classes for grades 7 and 8 • S.T.R.E.A.M. incorporated into the curriculum • 1.1 Chromebook technology for grades PreK3-8 • Google Classroom, i-Ready, and Seesaw technology integrated with Zoom • Technology Lab • Smartboards in all classrooms • World Language, Art, Music, Library, Technology, and Physical Education /Health for all grades including Prekindergarten• Before care and after care for Pre-K to 8 • Tuition assistance for those eligible and bus transportation available from some districts.

Did you know???

We are (and have been) open—5 days a week from 7:30 to 2:30, in actual classrooms or on Zoom - PARENT CHOICE!!!

Call our office at 732-549-6234 OR visit our website https://www.sthelenaedison.org/ Click on Our School and then School Resources where you will find our Virtual Open House and Student Classroom Tour as well as information on how to register for the 2021-2022 school year.

930 Grove Avenue, Edison, NJ 08820 Phone: 732.549.6234 Fax: 732.549.6205 E-Mail: school@sthelenaedison.org

EDUCATION

“It’s incredible what you can ac- Students are working passionately on complish in a couple months.” These projects that range from stained glass words from Megan Kibalo, a junior to cast metals to catapulting robots to at St. Thomas Aquinas life-sized board games High School, Edison, The finished projects to facial recognition encapsulate the ferprograms, just to name vor that pervades the that dazzle attendees a few.

STEM (science, techyear’s Maker are the culmination FaireThis nology, engineering, will have some mathematics) Learnnoteworthy differences of an ongoing, ing Lab, also known from that first two as as the Makerspace, as collaborative process a result of COVIDstudents and faculty related restrictions, involving both prepare for the third which have presented annual Maker Faire. both opportunities fellow students and and challenges. The Often referred to as “the greatest show- teachers, with sparks biggest difference is and-tell on Earth,” that the Maker Faire Maker Faires have of inspiration being will take place entaken off around the tirely outdoors. Junior world because they struck as recently as a Vera McCoy said she allow students the opis excited about the couple months portunity to show off world of opportunithe products of their that an outdoor before the big day, ties know-how and imagiMaker Faire makes nation. but in some cases as possible for projects With a month of like obstacle courses preparation time still far back as a couple and giant board games remaining, this year’s — “mega projects,” as years prior.

Maker Faire already Dan Mulvihill, director promises to outshine of the STEM program its astonishing predeat St. Thomas Aquinas cessors by showcasing a wide range (STA), calls them. of student creativity and ingenuity.

Contined on page 28

27

School community prepares for annual display of creativity, ingenuity

Above, Dan Mulvihill, director of the STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) program at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Edison, tests a cardboard bridge at the institution’s Maker Faire last year. Right, Josh Hebbe uses power tools as he prepares for his Maker Faire exhibit.

— Mike Kowalczyk photos

e nc ent on e i i EW RS er Sc gem trat s N JO ut na ni A p a i M Com rts M Adm in po re S. Es thca .

B in al S. e B. in H S. B.

RANKED IN THE “TOP 15”

• 31 Nationally Acclaimed Undergraduate Degrees

Best Value Colleges in the North by U.S. News & World Report

• One of the Most Affordable Private Universities in New Jersey Caldwell, NJ

caldwell.edu/visit

MARCH 25, 2021

• 98% of Recent Graduates Employed, in Graduate School or Participating in a Service Project

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DISCOVER YOU

28 EDUCATION THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT MARCH 25, 2021

STEM Lab to yield wide array of projects for school’s annual exhibit Continued from page 27

But there is also the specter of bad weather. And inside the Lab, distancing rules have made it challenging for participants to collaborate as effectively as in the past. But everyone involved is powering through the obstacles, determined to still make this the biggest and best Maker Faire to date.

The finished projects that dazzle attendees are the culmination of an ongoing, collaborative process involving both fellow students and teachers, with sparks of inspiration being struck as recently as a couple months before the big day, but in some cases as far back as a couple years prior. Mulvihill, along with Maker Faire co-coordinator Casey Walker, have created an intricate network of support and inspiration for students of wide-ranging interests. Along with their own expert abilities and oversight, they’ve also trained a group of STEM Techs, who form the backbone of this initiative.

Those STEM Techs assist the students who frequent the Makerspace after school, pairing up based on interest and know-how in order to offer guidance, inspiration, and technical help.

“In a lot of ways, the Makerspace has become self-sustaining,” Mulvihill noted. As the date of the Maker Faire

approaches, the STEM Techs and faculty coordinators hold “Brainstorming Bashes,” in which students who want to participate can gain inspiration and hone their ideas. Through collaborations like these, the STEM program at STA has continuously advanced and expanded along with the passion and creativity of everyone involved.

For some students, like junior Ethan Hung, the STEM Learning Lab and Maker Faire offer the opportunity to further lifelong passions. Ethan began teaching himself programming languages like C++ and Python at age 10 and is now the co-president of the school’s Robotics Club and a STEM Tech, giving him the opportunity to teach and impassion others.

For other students, like Kibalo, the love for making and breaking began when they first set foot in the Makerspace.

“My interest sparked when I first came here,” she said. “From then on, I was hooked and now I never leave!”

Although Kibalo will not be exhibiting at this year’s Maker Faire, she will serve as the Student Event Coordinator, in charge of reviewing proposals, working with students oneon-one, and making sure that everything runs smoothly.

Experienced welder John Norcia demonstrates welding techniques to fellow St. Thomas Aquinas High School student Josh Hebbe and teacher Chris Garr.

— Mike Kowalczyk photos

As the April 21 debut of this year’s Maker Faire approaches and the wide array of projects take shape, the excitement continues to build for the participants and the student body, which will have an opportunity to attend the event.

Junior STEM Tech Jacob Pil summarized the feeling of enthusiasm by noting: “The Maker Faire encourages people to express their interests and creativity. Even with the restrictions,

there’s still great opportunity for us to have a great event.”

Attendance at Maker Faire will be limited to St. Thomas Aquinas students, but others may watch it virtually.

A recap of the exhibits at Maker Faire will be available on the website www.stahs.net soon after the event.

Information about the STEM Learning Lab is also available on the website.

29

St. Matthew School

EDUCATION

1 0 0 S e y m ou r Ave nu e, E d i s on N J

stmatthewtheapostle.com/school

Educating Tomorrow’s Leaders since 1954 Pre-K3 through Grade 8 • Half day and full day Pre-K3 and Pre-K4 Full day Kindergarten • Morning care and extended care available

School hours: 7:50 AM-2:35 PM

Top Achieving School AdvancEd Accredited Rigorous Academic Program

TO SCHEDULE A PRIVATE TOUR CALL 732-985-6633

Strong Catholic Identity Google Education, Chromebooks, Interactive Whiteboards STEM/STREAM Program Next Generation Science Standards Community Service Activities for all grades After school sports and clubs

"We are committed to the intellectual, moral, and spiritual development of our children, in a safe and nurturing Catholic environment, to the honor and glory of God." St. Matthew School Mission Statement

All faiths are welcome Summer program 13 Acre campus Convenient payment options Tuition incentives and assistance available

For information please email: jschaefer@saintmschool.org

St. Thomas Aquinas High School

OPEN HOUSE APRIL 21st • 7PM 1600 Martine Avenue • Scotch Plains, NJ 07076 • www.unioncatholic.org

Be Aquinas

stahs.net

MARCH 25, 2021

St. Thomas Aquinas High School is a co-educational secondary school located at 1 Tingley Lane, Edison, NJ 08820 – 732 549 1108 – Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @stahsedison for all the latest!

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Visit us at our Spring Open House on April 22 from 4 to 6 p.m.

MARCH 25, 2021

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

OUR FAITH

30

Reason for celibacy/Living arrangements Pope Francis

AUDIENCE

March 3, 2021 Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

In our journey of catechesis on prayer, today and next week we will see how, thanks to Jesus Christ, prayer opens us up to the Trinity — to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit — to the immense sea of God who is Love. It is Jesus who opened up Heaven to us and projected us into a relationship with God. It was he who did this: he opened up to us this relationship with the Triune God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This is what the Apostle John says at the conclusion of the prologue of his Gospel: “No one has ever seen God: the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known” (Jn 1:18). Jesus revealed the identity to us, this identity of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We really did not know how to pray: what words, what feelings and what language were appropriate for God. In that request the disciples addressed to the Teacher, which we have often recalled in the course of these catecheses, there is all of humanity’s fumbling, repeated attempts, often unsuccessful, to address the Creator: “Lord, teach us to pray” (Lk 11:1). Not all prayers are equal, and not all are convenient: the Bible itself attests to the negative outcome of many prayers, which are rejected.

Perhaps God at times is not pleased with our prayers and we are not even aware of this.

God looks at the hands of those who pray: to make them pure it is not necessary to wash them; if anything, one should refrain from evil acts. Saint Francis prayed: “Nullu homo ène dignu te mentovare, ” that is, “no man is worthy to mention Your name” (Canticle of the Sun ). But perhaps the most moving acknowledgment of the poverty of our prayer came from the lips of the Roman centurion who one day begged Jesus to heal his sick servant (cf. Mt 8:5–13). He felt totally inadequate: he was not a Jew, he was an officer in the detested occupying army. But his concern for his servant emboldens him, and he says: “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed” (v. 8). It is the phrase we also repeat in every Eucharistic liturgy. To dialogue with God is a grace: we are not worthy of it, we have no rights to claim, we “limp” with every word and every thought... But Jesus is the door that opens us to this dialogue with God.

Prayer to St. Joseph

O Good St. Joseph, I ask you to intercede for me with Jesus, to protect and care for me and my loved ones in our daily life and work, just as you did for the Holy Family.

Help me to live a simple life of service, to cherish the importance of being rich in faith.

Amen.

My wife and I recently came into communion with the Roman Catholic Church. I know that a hot-button topic in the church is the question of whether there should be married priests. I have slowly

Q

Question Corner

By Father Kenneth Doyle come to the belief that unmarried priests make logical and biblical sense.

Seeing how hard our own parish priest works, it doesn't seem that he would also have the time to care for a family, and I have read the biblical reasoning in Matthew 19:12 and Paul’s guidance in First Corinthians. But my question is this: How does the Catholic Church reconcile this teaching with the fact that the chief apostle and first pope, St. Peter, was married? (Camden, N.C.) In the Latin-rite (Roman) Catholic Church, celibacy is today a prerequisite for ordination to the priesthood. But that has not always been so; it is a discipline that developed over history. (Even today, clerics

A

of Eastern-rite Catholic churches are permitted to marry before ordination.) For the first several centuries of the Christian era, it was common for Latin-rite priests to be married.

As you mention, St. Peter was obviously married, since Luke 4:38 tells the story of Jesus healing Peter's mother-in-law. But over time, the Church came to the realization — as you yourself suggest — that a priest is most free to serve the people and his ministry by not having the responsibility of a family, and it was the First Lateran Council in 1123 that finally mandated celibacy for Western clergy.

That requirement, and the practical reason behind it, are reflected in the current Code of Canon Law: “Clerics are obliged to observe perfect and perpetual continence for the sake of the kingdom of heaven and therefore are bound to celibacy which is a special gift of God by which sacred ministers can adhere more easily to Christ with an undivided heart and are able to dedicate themselves more freely to the service of God and humanity” (Canon 277).

I was married in the Catholic Church in 1965, divorced in 1976 with two children. I never had the marriage annulled. I married a wonderful man in 1981, but, un-

Q

fortunately, he died suddenly in 2018. I go to Mass and receive Communion regularly, and I feel that I am a devout Catholic.

Fast forward to 2021, and I have met a good Catholic man who was divorced but never had the marriage annulled. We have found a good life together and enjoy each other’s families. I don’t want to remarry because of financial considerations. We want to live together and would like to have this relationship blessed by a Catholic priest. Is there a way that this can take place? Please help. (Illinois) To do want you want — to have that particular living situation blessed by a Catholic priest — the Church would have to abandon its Biblically based teaching that marriage is a permanent commitment. The Church also believes that a couple should not be living together without being married.

I recognize your desire for the Eucharist and your eagerness to be “a devout Catholic,” but to be eligible to receive, one has to be living in concert with the Church’s teachings, including those concerning marriage.

Questions may be sent to Father Kenneth Doyle at askfatherdoyle@ gmail.com and 30 Columbia Circle Dr., Albany, NY 12203

A

Cherish natural disposition of friends

Most of us have at least one story to tell about a personal loss due to the COVID pandemic.

One of mine involves the death in February of a friend I had since kindergarten in 1947. I still have three friends from that class, but this one, Ralph, played an important part in my life.

Ralph and I could not have been more different when we were kids, and especially when we were in our teens.

He was good-looking, brash, athletic, and popular with the boys and girls in the upper stratum of society, as it were.

I wore glasses, was usually unkempt, couldn’t hit or field, spent far too much time in church, and managed to avoid attracting even a glance from a girl.

I was, to use the technical term, a nerd — interested in things that didn’t interest most kids, more comfortable in the company of adults than of most teenagers.

I was also a target for a set of swaggering greasers, guys who would have high-fived Ralph but who liked to corner me and make fun of my appearance and push

me around. In other words, to put it in 21st century terms, I was bullied.

Of course, I had friends, but they tended to be like me — outliers.

Throughout that period, Ralph, who could be a roughneck at times, never treated me with anything but good cheer, never signaled anything but that he was glad to see me.

He called me “Choll” — his derivative of “Charlie” — and the sound of “Hey, Choll” was music to my ears.

That remained true until, almost literally, the day Ralph died.

As I write this column, I am telling this story for the first time. I certainly never told Ralph; he would have been mortified, but I have often thought of him when I have read statements Pope Francis has made about the many small acts with which we can bless the world around us.

There may be a tendency to associate the Gospel imperative of charity only with overt acts, donations of cash or time or labor with which we help to relieve some pressing public need. But what Ralph did for me didn’t fit into those categories; he wasn’t trying to heal my battered self-respect — I don’t think he knew it was battered — but rather he was simply acting on a natural disposition to be a friend.

In the epoch we’re living through, there doesn’t seem to be enough of that disposition, and it’s worth cultivating in ourselves

and, if we have any influence over children, in them.

A combination of factors including political divisiveness, religious and racial intolerance, and the corrosive aspects of social media have contributed to a fault-finding atmosphere that defies common sense.

Readers of a certain age may remember a popular book on transactional analysis published in 1967: “I’m OK — You’re OK”

by Thomas Anthony Harris.

There was a lot more to it than this, but Harris discussed what he identified as four “life positions” a person may take: I’m not OK; you’re not OK. I’m not OK; you’re OK. I’m OK; you’re not OK. I’m OK; you’re OK. In this last and, obviously, ideal life position, a person concludes that he or she is OK, and that another person is OK, and so there is no basis for either person feeling superior or inferior in that relationship.

If you and I are “OK” in this respect, it does not mean that I agree with everything you do, believe, or are. It means simply that, here and now, I am comfortable with you as you stand before me.

And so, Ralph. It was the gift he gave me and the gift the Gospel calls on all of us to give.

Deacon Paolino exercises his ministry at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Whitehouse Station

31

Son’s love for his Father Our first reading this Passion Sunday is generally referred to as the “Third Servant Song.” Taken from the Section of the Book of Isaiah known as Second Isaiah, this text is third in a series of four Old Testament passages that highlight the salvation and victory won through the suffering of the faithful servant of the Lord. Written over 500 years before Jesus’ own passion and death, this text is vitally important because it so well captures the way that Jesus himself might have understood the events of Holy Week.

SCRIPTURE STUDY

By Msgr. John N. Fell The “Third Servant Song” speaks of a servant of the Lord who was commissioned by God to teach his people. He proclaimed a message of correction and hope to a weary, downtrodden flock. Although he had labored faithfully at his task, the people refused to accept his message and abused him with insults and vile taunts. He endured these insults with patience and continued his mission with courage, always certain that the God who had commissioned him would ultimately vindicate his efforts. In the end, the servant’s faith is well rewarded; the anguish endured by the servant is the precise means God uses to bestow salvation upon both the servant and his people. It is truly amazing how well this passage helps us to understand the events we prepare to remember this Holy Week.

“The Lord God has given me a well-trained tongue, that I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them” (Is 50:4ab). Throughout his public ministry, Jesus had taught his people by word and deed. His message of repentance and salvation was backed up by the powerful authenticity of his person, the wonder and awe wrought by his miracles, and the genuine concern he exuded especially for God’s “little ones.” How wonderful his theme of justice, peace, and joy must have sounded to the ears of those downtrodden people — every moment of his ministry was dedicated to bringing them into the fullness of his Father’s Kingdom.

“Morning after morning he opens my ear

WEEK IN SCRIPTURE Mon 29 Tues 30 Wed 31 Thurs 1 Fri 2 Sat 3

Mon 5 Tues 6

Ez 37:21-28 / Jer 31:10, 11-12abcd, 13 / Jn 11:45-56 Mk 11:1-10 or Jn 12:12-16 / is 50:4-7 / Ps 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24 / Phil 2:6-11 / Mk 14:115:47 or 15:1-39 Is 42:1-7 / Ps 27:1, 2, 3, 13-14 / Jn 12:1-11 Is 49:1-6 / Ps 71:1-2, 3-4a, 5ab-6ab, 15 and 17 / Jn 13:21-33, 36-38 Is 50:4-9a / Ps 69:8-10, 21-22, 31 and 33-34 / Mt 26:14-25 Chrism Mass Is 61:1-3a, 8b-9 / Ps 89:21-22, 25 and 27 / Rv 1:5-8 / Lk 4:16-21 Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper Ex 12:1-8, 11-14 / Ps 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18 / 1 Cor 11:23-26 / Jn 13:1-15 Good Friday Is 52:13-53:12 / Ps 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25 / Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9 / Jn 18:1-19:42 Easter Vigil Gn 1:1-2:2 or 1:1, 26-31a / Ps 104:1-2, 5-6, 10, 12, 13-14, 24, 35 or Ps 33:4-5, 6-7, 1213, 20-22 / Gn 22:1-18 or 22:1-2 / Ps 16:5, 8, 0-10, 11 / Ex 14:15:1 / Ex 15:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 17-18 / Is 54:5-14 / Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13 / Is 55:1-11/ Is 12L2-3, 4, 5-6 / Bar 3:9-15, 32-4:4 / Ps 19: 8, 9, 10, 11 / Ez 36:16-17a, 18-28 / Ps 42:3, 5; 43:3, 4 or Is 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6 or Ps 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19 / Rom 6:3-11 / Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 / Mk 16:1-7 Easter Sunday Acts 10:34a, 37-43 / Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 / Col 3:1-4 or Cor 5:6b-8 / Victimae Paschali Laudes / Jn 20:1-9 or Mk 16:1-7 or, at an afternoon or evening Mass, Lk 13-35 Acts 2:14, 22-33 / Ps 16:1-2a and 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11 / Victimae Paschali Laudes / Mt 28:8-15 Acts 2:36-41 / Ps 33:4-5, 18-19, 20 and 22 / Victimae Paschali Laudes / Jn 20:11-18

11th century April 9

CNS

Born in central Spain, Casilda was the daughter of the emir of Toledo. Though a Muslim, she had a reputation for being kind to Christian prisoners. After she became sick, she went on a pilgrimage to the shrine of San Vicenzo de Briviesca, which was famous for its healing waters. She was cured and became a Christian, embarking on a life of solitude and penance in a cell near the shrine. Her name eventually was added to the shrine’s name, and she reputedly lived to the age of 100. In 1750 her remains were transferred to a new shrine.

Saints

 

  

           



        

       

 

                                                                                                                                                 

MARCH 25, 2021

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that I might hear; and I have not rebelled, have not turned back” (Is 50:4c-5). The very core of Jesus’ being was his love and devotion to his Heavenly Father. Morning after morning, through his multiple examples of prayer, Jesus witnessed to the centrality of this relationship.

Having been commissioned by his Father to win the salvation of his people, Jesus remained steadfastly faithful to that call, enduring whatever was necessary to do his Father’s will. The intense love between the Father and the Son is a privileged insight into the communion of love that is the Blessed Trinity. Jesus’ passion and death must be understood as a manifestation of his total love for his Heavenly Father, a love which overflowed into the redemption of all humanity.

“I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting” (Is 50:6). Jesus is perhaps the prime manifestation of the truth that real love must always include  the willingness to sacrifice and endure suffering. Even through the 2,000 years of history that separates from the events of Jesus’ passion, we must remember that his suffering and death was violent and cruel and real. Ever faithful to his mission, Jesus endured the tortures of that first Holy Week, proving his infinite love for us, and thereby winning our salvation. The great apostle St. Paul captures this best: “It is in this that God proves his love for us, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8).

“The Lord God is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame” (Is 50:7). In fact, not only was Christ not abandoned to shame, but his Almighty Father raised him up as Lord of heaven and earth. Through his suffering and death, Jesus had won the salvation of God’s people, opening the gates to eternal life forever. The love of Christ has defeated forever the power of sin and death; the redemption that Christ has wrought is a perpetual offer to all those who believe in him — the final word this Holy Week will not be sin, but love — not death, but life!

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

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ers were setting up their telehealth gardless of their affiliation with the processes and stopped accepting new Church. “Our out-patient services are When Catholic Charities’ Child Care “A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who referrals because they just didn't have self-referral,” Booth said. “If you’re Tues., Wed. & Thurs.: 10 am – 3pm Nearly Site84fiSupervisor Jenelle read the ability to manage the technology. struggling with depression, anxiety, percent of adults in theClauson finds one nds a treasure.”

(Sir 6:14) Friday: 10 am – 2 pm We decided we or another issue, United States are feeling at least one a The Facebook post about a 104-year-old Connections Program at Catholic Saturday: 9:30 am – 12 noon couldn't do that. call the number emotion associated with prolonged “People have been strugCharities, Diocesespecial of Metuchen, Marine’s pleawhich foris Valentine’s We wanted to in the county in such as anxiety, sadness, and Closed Sunday, Monday & Holidays stress supported by the Bishop's Annual Appeal, wishes, she her colleagues gling with the uncertainty everybody which you live to anger, according to gathered theconnecting “Stress menin serve takes this verse to heart by Rt. 22 & Terrill Road, Watchung, NJ 07069 America: that was in need.” start the process January 2021 Stress SnapElementary School, torsatwithHatchery youth who canHill use a friend.

What of the pandemic and the Many of of receiving sershot” survey conducted by The Harris participants have found is and that what starts out Hackettstown, organized a project these sessions vices.”

Poll on behalf of the American Psychanges that have ocas a way to give youth a helping hand, often for the children in the Catholic ChariIndividuals chological Association. creates friendships that are treasured by the have been lifecurred as a result of feeling should call and changing to for ties’theafter care While feelingschool some stress a program youths, mentors and their child families is alike.

(732) 324-8200 normal reaction, many people areProgram overSince 1994,to thethe Connections disconnected from family respond oldest livingpatients, Marine’s said clinician Carla in Middlesex whelmed as a result of a difficult year has paired adult volunteers with youth in request. and friends, dealing with Mueller, who County; (908) dominated by illness, loss of life, isolaMiddlesex County from ages 5 to 17. It Maj. Bill White, World worksWarin II the 782-7905 in tion, work and school started from pairing 14 disruptions, matches to asalost many the pressures of trying to Hunterdon Counwages, and more. noweach more as 65 mentors paired with youth year. Somerset veteran andPerhaps Purple Heart recipient, and facility; (908) 722than ever,inthe Counseling and Wellness educate kids in the home, Youth thehis program are more likely to Hunterdon shared wish during an interview with 2400 B Cooper Street ties.

For instance, 1881 in Somerset Services provided by Catholic Charidevelop positive behaviors and continue as well as financial instabil- County; KTXL-TV in Sacramento, Calif., and after doing couple and ties Diocese of Metuchen (CCDOM) schooling, which changes their lives.

The Piscataway, NJ 08854 therapy, Mueller (908) 454-2074 arefriendship athe critical resource for thousands of told between the youth and theHe menrequest went viral. the teleity and food insecurity Our in Warren Counsays a husband families and individuals. www.ourladyoftenderness.com local torsvision tends to hosts form quickly, but over time an that one of his favorite hobcounselors are there to ty.

“People struggling with even deeperhave bondbeen is established and they and wife she bies is scrapbooking, which has helped through not theoften uncertainty the pandemic and the helped become aof second family to the child. support people through all only CCDOM a rocky period offers inAccording to the program’s website, changes that have occurred as a result him to keep track of his extensive life.

Your prayer requests are welcomed and learned how to person appointto get a mentor are: experiencing these stressors as well as of criteria feeling disconnected from family Now he wanted to adddiffisome Valentine encouraged. They shall be placed before the andsignifi commuments, but also cant and/or terminal cul- better friends, dealing with medical the pressures chronic mental health issues. cards collection of mementos.

Jeanette Cullen, of St. Bartholomew Parish, East ”Brunswick, has served for which ahis positive relationship nicate with eacha member telehealth, which of ties trying to to educate kidsadult in the home, Blessed Sacrament and lifted daily in prayer. as from as supervisor of the Connections Program at Catholic Charities, Diocese —Marci Booth, LCSW outside of the family would be helpful; otherWhite’s and saved has truly been of a Once word gotand out about well as financial instability food Metuchen, since 2000. The 26-year-old program pairs adult volunteers finding themselves serious situational/ blessingwith for youth some their marriage. insecurity Our counselors are there to from request, staffin and children BeneCounty from ages 5 to 18. loss crisis (i.e., through but not limited to divorce The ministry of this Hermitage is God’s gift, support patients, Booth “I have other people all these stress-or in Middlesex — Joanne Kleinle photo dict A. Cucinella Elementary School, is dying/just deceased) a help- patients experi-Children in the Catholic Charities' said. orsa parent as well as chronic mentalandhealth after“Telehealth school child c a life of prayer, freely given to our diocese issues,” fulLong adultsaid relationship is needed.

Valley, andLCSW, Willow Grovehigh El-levels of anxiety,” Muel- makes the services more accessible for Marci Booth, as- encing Hill Elementary Hackettstown, shareHatchery aImeal. advicepeople. or School, support. program also hosts Westaccept MainthisSt.free Suite Kathy McCrystal saidatshe startedwith as lerbasketball some It’sThe more convenient to send t noted, or“and use motivational executive director CCDOM. for you.95 Please gift.5-106 It is a sociate ementary School joined Hatchery McCrystal spends about four hours quarterly mentor support nights. a mentor when her twin boys were teenMajor Bill White, a World War II veteran and Purple Heart add therapy to an already busy day, so interviewing and cognitive behavioral To help, CCDOM, which receives HillShesupport and together sent NJ 07930 a weeklarge with thethem. boys depending what we definitely Jeanette Cullen, memberinofappointSt. — Bar-photo co privilegeChester, to be united with you in prayer. financial agers. was paired withtheathey boy close in three saw anauptick therapy to help They learnongreat from Bishop’s activities theyI plan. forward tholomew East in Brunswick, ageenvelopes to Appeal, her sons because she short-term, thought men- coping full of hand-made Valentine and Parish, a decrease no-showswhere and skills. even She had looks a patient deal-to ments provides www.ourladyoftenderness.com Annual her time with them and loves watching she serves as an extraordinary minister of toring would be a great way to engage her cancellations.” ing with substance abuse that made outpatient counseling and treatment and wishes to honor White Be still and know that I am God. - Psalm 46:10 owncards themand grow to and mature in into They holyCCDOM Communionaccepts and in itsmajor Societyinsurof St. boys. She families, got much and morecouples than she tremendous progress sixteenagers. weeks with to individuals, child care fo support toabout Maj. White anddewe are all rebring love and joy to the retired Marine. often talk to her their Vincent Paul chapter, has been superviexpected.

The boy became ance plans, including Medicaid and experiencing marriage difficulties, these methods.”

Prayer Request: issues and she gives them sor of the Connections Program since 2000. school minded of how important it is to provide close to her whole family, “We are so thrilled the cases, response CCDOM makes it easy for mem- Medicare. For those that don't have distric depression, anxiety, the loss of about a“In loved Your prayer requests are welcomed and many whatever guidance she Shewho sees thehave impactserved it has not only on the participating indifficulties, traditions Somerset and recognition tocan.those _______________________________ one, insurance, the organization charges a of the community to receive parenting be- bers we received from child the we school district,” Mentors must un- the youth, but on the mentors and families. put the like her in-laws annual New encouraged. They shall be placed before the havior sliding scale based on income. services for outpatient programs, reproblems, and other common For more our rigorous country.” saidEveChild Care Service Area Director dergo screening “The program is not meant to replace the Year’s party, decorating _________________________ stressors.

Substance Use Disorder childhood back interview and background parents, but to give support,” she said.

“In Charities’ child Last year, Catholic Charities, DioBlessed Sacrament and lifted daily in prayer. life theKrista Christmas tree andingoGlynn.

“The staff and children Services are offered the Somerset checks before they receive many cases, we put the childhood back in ingwere on an Easter egg inlocathe child’s cese of Metuchen provided affordable ccdom.org/chil soMiddlesex excited to send their lovelifeand training County andannual County and continue to the child’s life by offering the fun activities hunt.

She even took him on If clients wish to bringbytheir The ministry of this Hermitage is God’s gift, tions. offering the receive training after they and support that his or her family cannot college tours with her own faith into their sessions, clinicians can give them.” sons.through They grew so close fun and activities and begingTheserving. a lifeTHE of prayer, freely given to our diocese assist prayer, meditation, program sponsors Cullen treasures witnessing the lifethat means. when he aged out of other monthly group activities — changing impact that the mentors have on support that their the program, she agreed to for you. Please accept this free gift. It is a “All told, we provided 39,000 usually in person, but they the youth. She said one child, whose parents mentor his younger brothers cannot have been held virtually be- were day laborers, came into the program hours of counseling services in families 2020,” privilege to be united with you in prayer. and they now participate in Booth said. cause of the coronavirus — wanting to be a day laborer. After spending McCrystal family traditions give them.”

LuAnn Dias, LCSW, CCDOM for mentors and the youth. time with his mentor, he realized other posjust like their brother did.

—Jeanette Cullen area director for Somerset Through these trainings and sibilities that were open to him. He started Be still and know that I am God. - Psalm 46:10 service Most of the activities County, said one reason why CCDOM activities, McCrystal has to plan to go to college and become a busithat she does with the boys saw an uptick in requests for services also formed close friendships with other nessman and travel. He also changed his are simple.

Because of the recent lockdown Prayer Request: is related that the group responded quickly mentors. diet to more healthy choices. to the coronavirus, she takes them for to a the pandemic.

“Especially from Case managers are in touch with menFor information about becoming a _______________________________ walk or buys them ice cream. They also May through lot of Someour tors two to five times each month and are mentor, contact Jeanette Cullen at jcullen@ share her loveSeptember, of biking anda hiking. services were only game in and town times they wantthe to visit at her house play available day or night by phone if they need ccdom.org or (732) 738-1323. _________________________ that were accepting new referrals,” Dias said. “Many other local provid-

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MARCH 25, 2021 THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT AUGUST 20, 2020 THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

CT E

McAULEY

“Come follow me” 10:21) atholic Spirit C(Mark

Is God calling you to serve as a priest, deacon, religious sister or brother?

If you think maybe...

Correspondent Correspondent

Journey of Faith

By Father John Gerard Hillier In the classic theological text “A Companion To The Summa,” author W. Farrell explains that there are Americans who hold strange and dangerous theories about the nature of religion. Some teach that religion was born of ignorance, and will disappear with the coming of knowledge. Others hold that “religion is a manifestation of fear, cowardice, and a desire to escape.” Still others look upon “religion as a sop for failure, an excuse for lack of accomplishment and drive, the opiate of the downtrodden keeping them satisfied with the unsatisfying things of life.” Some even belong to religious sects in which religion can be described as an emotional outburst, satisfying the side of human nature that escapes knowledge.

Yes, for some Americans today religion is merely a matter of feeling and as varied and independent as the emotions of each individual (Farrell, III, 297).

Those who engage in such ideas described above are proponents of the worst of charlatanry. The truth is that authentic religion involves the whole person, including the emotions, the mind, the will, the imagination and the senses.

In short, true religion involves our whole body and soul. When we hear it said that religion is born of ignorance or fear, or that it is the opiate of the poor and unfortunate, we can confidently say that such perspectives are erroneous. Those who cling to such opinions have missed the point completely. The greater point is that we are children of God, a God Who sustains us in our very existence; and because we are the best of God’s creation, we have an indestructible relationship with him. God is our creator and, in

justice we owe everything to him. As the opening paragraph in this section of the Catechism attests, “The theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity inform and give life to the moral virtues. Thus, charity leads us to render to God what we as creatures owe him in all justice. The virtue of religion disposes us to have this attitude” (ccc 2095).

We are told in the next section that adoration “is the first act of the virtue of religion” (ccc 2096). To adore God is to acknowledge him as “Master of everything that exists” (ccc 2096) and to acknowledge that we “would not exist but for God” (ccc 2097). Our adoration includes praising and exalting God in humility “as Mary did in the Magnificat, confessing with gratitude that he has done great things and holy is his name” (ccc 2097).

Lifting up the mind toward God is an expression of our adoration of God; prayer, an expression of praise and thanksgiving, intercession and petition.

Prayer is an indispensable condition for being able to obey God’s Commandments. “[We] ought always to pray and not lose heart” (ccc 2098). The Catechism explains further that regarding the offering of sacrifice to God: “it is right to offer sacrifice to God as a sign of adoration and gratitude, supplication and communion” (ccc 2099). Then there are promises and vows: “Baptism and Confirmation, Matrimony and Holy Orders always entail promises. Out of personal devotion, the Christian may also promise to God this action, that prayer, this almsgiving, that pilgrimage, and so forth” (ccc 2101). The next paragraph explains, “a vow is a deliberate and free promise made to God concerning a possible and better good which must be fulfilled by reason of the virtue of religion” (ccc 2102).

“The Church recognizes an exemplary value in the vows to practice the evangelical counsels: ...within [the Church] many men and women who pursue the Savior’s self-emptying more closely and show it forth more clearly, by undertaking poverty with the freedom of

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religious communities to religious freedom must be recognized and respected as well” (ccc 2107).

“The right to religious liberty is neither a moral license to adhere to error, nor a supposed right to error, but rather a natural right of the human person to civil liberty; i.e., immunity, within just limits, from external constraint in religious matters by political authorities.

This natural right ought to be acknowledged in the juridical order of society in such a way that it constitutes a civil right” (ccc 2108).

Presently in our culture “religious liberty” as a civil right remains on shaky ground. Why? Because, as I heard it stated recently: “Disdain for vigorous religious convictions, especially the Catholic kind, is a virus that’s going around.”

Whether considering outrageous claims leveled at faithful groups like the Knights of Columbus, or baseless accusations made toward a nominee for the Supreme Court, those who espouse authentic religion know that when correctly understood, it involves the whole person who is justified in proclaiming: “I enjoy every right under Heaven because I am a child of God.” Father Hillier is Director, Diocesan Office of the Pontifical Mission, the Office for Persons with Disabilities and Censor Luborum

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the children of God, and renouncing their own will: they submit themselves to man for the sake of God, thus going beyond what is of precept in the matter of perfection, so as to conform themselves more fully to the obedient Christ” (ccc 2103).

The final theme in this section deals with the social duty of religion and the right to religious freedom. In short, “the duty of offering God genuine worship concerns us both individually and socially” (ccc 2105). Explaining further, the Catechism teaches: “the social duty of Christians is to respect and awaken in each of us the love of the true and the good” (ccc 2105). Why? Because, “Christians are called to be the light of the world. Thus, the Church seeks to show the Kingship of Christ over all creation and in particular over human societies” (ccc 2105).

“This right [to religious freedom] is based on the very nature of the human person, whose dignity enables them to freely assent to the divine truth which transcends the temporal order. For this reason it ‘continues to exist even in those who do not live up to their obligation of seeking the truth and adhering to it’” (ccc 2106). “If because of the circumstances of a particular people special civil recognition is given to one religious community in the constitutional organization of a state, the right of all citizens and

FAITH ALIVE

Article 148 - Catechism of the Catholic Church Series Paragraphs 2095-2109

33

True religion involves whole body, soul of believer

34 OUR DIOCESE THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT MARCH 25, 2021

Pope praises Filipino Catholics as joyful witnesses of Gospel

By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The joy of the Gospel has been an integral part of the Filipino identity since the arrival of Christianity in the Southeast Asian country five centuries ago, Pope Francis said.

Commemorating the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines March 15, the pope told members of Rome’s Filipino community that evangelical zeal is a “part of your genes, a blessed ‘infectiousness’ that I urge you to preserve.”

“I have often said that here in Rome, Filipino women are ‘smugglers’ of faith!

Because wherever they go to work, they sow the faith,” he said.

Because of COVID-19 restrictions, fewer than 200 representatives of the city’s Filipino community could attend the Mass at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, president of Caritas Internationalis and prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, thanked the pope for the celebration.

The Christian faith, he told the pope, is a source of strength and comfort for countless Filipino men and women who work

abroad to support their families.

According to a survey conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority, 2.2 million Filipino citizens worked overseas and sent an estimated 211.9 billion pesos ($4.4 billion) to their families in 2019.

“We have left our families, not to abandon them, but to care for them and their future. For love of them, we endure the sorrow of separation,” Cardinal Tagle told the pope.

Holding back tears, the cardinal said that in the absence of their families, Filipino migrants find solace in their local parishes which they see as a “second home.”

“When there is no one to talk with, we pour our hearts to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and ponder his word,” he said. “We take care of the children under our charge as our own children, and the elderly as our own parents.”

In his homily, Pope Francis reflected on the Sunday Gospel reading from St. John in which Jesus tells Nicodemus that “God so loved the world that he gave his onlybegotten son.”

Christ’s words, he said, “help us to see the true face of God” who “always looked at us with love, and for the sake of love, he

came among us in the flesh of his son.”

“If hearing the Gospel and practicing our faith do not enlarge our hearts and make us grasp the immensity of God’s love — maybe because we prefer a glum, sorrowful and self-absorbed religiosity — then this is a sign that we need to stop and listen once more to the preaching of the Good News,” the pope said. “God loves you so much that he gave you his entire life.”

Christians, he added, are also called to make an act of selfless love that “offers itself, gives itself, expends itself” to others.

“That is the power of love: it shatters the shell of selfishness, breaks our carefully constructed security zones, tears down walls and overcomes fears so as to give freely of itself,” the pope said. “That is what loves does: it gives itself.”

Pope Francis encouraged Filipino Catholics to continue being witnesses of Gospel joy and thanked them for “the joy you bring to the whole world and to our Christian communities.”

The message of God’s love, he added, “cries out to be expressed in love” and is at the heart of the church’s mission “to care for those who are hurting and living on the

People participate in a procession as Pope Francis celebrates a Mass marking the 500th anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines, at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, March 14.

—CNS photo/Cristian Gennari, pool

fringes of life.”

“The Church is called not to judge but to welcome, not to make demands, but to sow seeds; not to condemn, but to bring Christ who is our salvation,” the pope said.

of professionalism and promoting improved patient outcomes. This strength in numbers is why CCI launched the CNOR Strong program; to recognize those facilities committed to making a difference for its patients both inside and outside of the OR. “The CNOR Strong designation tells our patients that the majority of nurses in the operating room achieve the highest level of skill in their practice,” said Roseann DiBrienza, MS, RN, NEBC, director, Perioperative Services at Saint Peter’s. “It is a constant goal at Saint Peter’s for our nurses to reach a level of excellence. We want to make sure we keep reaching for and exceeding the bar so we can continue to expertly care for our patients.”

Patient safety and positive surgical outcomes are of the utmost importance to a facility and supporting nurses as they exceed expectations to achieve their perioperative nursing certification shows Saint Peter’s commitment to its core values.

Established in 1979, CCI provides the CNOR® and CSSM® credentials to more than 40,000 registered nurses, making it one of the largest specialty

nursing credentialing organizations and the leading certification body for perioperative nurses. The mission of CCI is to lead competency credentialing that pro-

motes safe, quality patient care and that supports lifelong learning.

For more information about CCI, visit www.cc-institute.org

Families focus of free virtual health care lectures NEW BRUNSWICK — Saint Peter’s University Hospital, a member of Saint Peter’s Healthcare System, will host a series of free virtual lectures for families via Zoom.

Each lecture is scheduled to be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The list of upcoming lecture topics:

April 7: Recovery Coaches

Presented by Bonnie Nolan, PhD, Woodbridge Opioid Overdose Recovery Program (WOORP).

Registration link: https://SaintPetersHCS.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ dcB-NO7KQbCuOm1fhIIvqw April 21, 2021: Successful Recovery from Addiction Presented by Don Rogers, Community Outreach Director at The Recovery Village Cherry Hill at Cooper.

Registration link: https://SaintPetersHCS.zoom.us/webinar/register/

WN_5QCvDKsbSk-JkDa2sAna3w

May 5: Trauma, Adverse Childhood Experiences and Self Care Strategies

OUR DIOCESE

NEW BRUNSWICK — Saint Peter’s University Hospital, a member of Saint Peter’s Healthcare System, recently earned the CNOR® Strong designation from the Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI).

The CNOR Strong designation is given to facilities having at least 50 percent of its operating room (OR) nursing staff CNOR certified and provides programs that reward and recognize its certified nurses.

The CNOR® certification program is for perioperative nurses interested in improving and validating their knowledge and skills and providing the highest quality care to their patients.

Certification also recognizes a nurse’s commitment to professional development. It is an objective, measurable way of acknowledging the achievement of specialty knowledge beyond basic nursing preparation and RN licensure.

Research shows that nurses who earn the CNOR credential have greater confidence in their clinical practice.

Thus, a team of certified nurses who have mastered the standards of perioperative practice provides even more empowerment, further advancing a culture

35

Diocesan-sponsored hospital recognized for knowledge, skills of nurses

Presented by Laurie Herrick, BS, and Heather Ward, MSW, LSW, CPS, Wellspring Center for Prevention Registration link: https://SaintPetersHCS.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2vnCAeHTjKFFjTCrqHLCg

June 2: The HPV Vaccine’s Role in Cancer Prevention for Your Adolescent

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THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT MARCH 25, 2021

36 OUR DIOCESE THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

donkey” (Zee 9:9), tethered at a gate outside on the street. As they untied the colt, some bystanders questioned Jesus and the apostles were traveling them.

“What are you doing, untying the to Jerusalem so they could celebrate colt?” they demanded to know. the Passover feast.

The apostles answered the byAs they traveled along, Jesus told his friends what was about to happen standers exactly as Jesus had instructed, and the bystanders did not give to him. them any trouble as they led The Son of Man will be “Hosanna! the colt away. handed over to the chief priests They brought the colt to and the scribes, and they will Blessed is he Jesus and placed their cloaks condemn him to death and hand him over to the gentiles, who comes upon the animal. Jesus then sat on the colt. who will mock him, spit upon As Jesus rode the colt tohim, scourge him and put him in the name ward Jerusalem, people who to death, but after three days he of the Lord! saw him along the way recogwill rise,” Jesus said.

When the men reached Blessed is the nized him. They spread their Bethphage and Bethany at the kingdom of cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that Mount of Olives, not far from our father they had cut from the fields.

Jerusalem, Jesus sent two of The people who precedthe apostles on an errand.

“Go into the village op- David that is ed Jesus repeatedly cried out: “Hosanna! Blessed is he posite you, and immediately to come!” who comes in the name of the on entering it, you will find a Lord! Blessed is the kingdom colt tethered on which no one has ever sat,” Jesus said. “Untie it and of our father David that is to come! bring it here. If anyone should say to Hosanna in the highest!”

Jesus entered Jerusalem and you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ reply, ‘The Master has need of it and will went into the Temple area. He looked around at everything and, since it was send it back here at once.’”

The two apostles went to the vil- already late, went out to Bethany with lage and found the colt, “the foal of a the apostles.

By Jennifer Ficcaglia Catholic News Service

— CNS photo

Read more about it: Mark 10 & 11

Q&A 1. Where did Jesus and the apostles stop just before entering Jerusalem?

2. What animal did Jesus tell two of his apostles to get for him?

TRIVIA: On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus healed a blind man. What was his name? (Hint: Mark 10:46) PUZZLE: Using the hints provided from Mark 11, put a T next to the sentences that are true and an F next to the ones that “are false.

1. ___ Jesus cursed a pomegranate tree. (verse 13) 2. ___ Jesus drove out those selling and buying in the Temple area. (verse 15) 3. ___ Jesus told the apostles that when they prayed, they should forgive others. (verse 25) 4. ___ Jesus asked if John’s baptism was of heavenly or human origin. (verse 30)

Answers: Trivia: Bartimaeus Puzzle Answers: 1. F; 2. T; 3. T; 4.

MARCH 25, 2021

Kids Corner: Jesus triumphantly enters Jerusalem riding a donkey

Class Project Daniel Nigro, left, and Helen Askelson, both third-graders at St. Bartholomew School, East Brunswick, hold Lenten crosses they and their classmates made of toothpicks and wrote what they gave up for Lent on them.

— Ann Wierzbicki photo

History Lesson Madeline S., an eighth-grader at St. Bartholomew School, East Brunswick, gives a presentation on Maya Angelou during her class’ celebration of Black History Month, which was in February.

— Ann Wierzbicki photo

for others.

Referring to St. John’s Gospel account of Jesus IRBIL, Iraq (CNS) — Having witnessed or even ex- cleansing the temple, Pope Francis said Jesus did perienced persecution for their faith, the Christians not want his Father’s house to be a marketplace, and of Iraq must be careful not to harbor thoughts of “neither does he want our hearts to be places of turmoil, disorder and confusion.” revenge, Pope Francis told them.

“Our heart must be cleansed, put in order and After a full morning paying tribute to the victims of Islamic State violence, Pope Francis reached purified,” the pope said.

Anything that leads a person the last major event of his trip to Iraq: away from God or causes them to igMass March 7 with some 10,000 peo“The temptation nore the suffering of others must be ple at Irbi’s Franso Hariri Stadium. is to react to these cleansed, he said. “We need the baneMany ignored the social distancing temptations of power and money measures put in place, and few wore [wounds of war and ful to be swept from our hearts and from the masks they were required to have because of the COVID-19 pandemic. violence] and other the Church.”

But, the pope told them, “to Irbil, capital of the Kurdistan painful experiences cleanse our hearts, we need to dirty autonomous region in northern Iraq, hosts Syrian refugees and hundreds with human power, our hands, to feel accountable and not to simply look on as our brothers and of thousands of displaced people, particularly Christians, from Mosul, human wisdom,” but sisters are suffering.” his own suffering, death Qaraqosh and other towns that had the path of Jesus was and Through resurrection Jesus “liberates us been under the thumb of Islamic State militants in 2014-2017. to serve, to heal, to from the narrow and divisive notions of family, faith and community that After blessing the altar with incense, Pope Francis blessed a par- love and to offer his divide, oppose and exclude, so that we can build a Church and a society tially restored statue of Mary from a life for others. open to everyone and concerned for parish in Karmless. The Islamic State —Pope Francis our brothers and sisters in greatest militants decapitated the statue and need.” cut off its hands. The restoration re“At the same time,” the pope said, “he strengthattached the head, but left the hands dangling.

“Here in Iraq, how many of your brothers and ens us to resist the temptation to seek revenge, which sisters, friends and fellow citizens bear the wounds only plunges us into a spiral of endless retaliation.”

With faith in Jesus and the experiences of the of war and violence, wounds both visible and invisible,” the pope told the crowd. “The temptation is past decade, Pope Francis told them, “the Holy Spirto react to these and other painful experiences with it sends them forth as missionary disciples, men and human power, human wisdom,” but the path of Je- women called to testify to the life-changing power sus was to serve, to heal, to love and to offer his life of the Gospel.”

OUR DIOCESE

By Cindy Wooden

Pope Francis swings a censer near a partially restored statue of Mary from a parish in Karmless. The Islamic State militants decapitated the statue and cut off its hands. The restoration re-attached the head, but left the hands dangling.

— CNS photo/Vatican Media

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Pope ends trip to Middle East nation by celebrating Mass in stadium

34 38 OUR DIOCESE

Remains OBITUARY of heroic military chaplain, once POW, identified Joseph Nursing Center, Woodbridge.

She had been a member of the Sister M. Aurelia Jackiewicz, 85, a community at the Provincialate, he was buried in the town behindCherone

By Christopher Riggs devoted religious of the Little Servant of ry Hill, since the huts in 2013. kind of a lean-to,” said Sisters of theKan. Immaculate Conception Baptized Halina, she entered the WICHITA, (CNS) — William Carter. for 66 years who served as a teacher congregation in 1955, professed As a result, it wasand more likely Hansen kept his silence for over 50 and principal at Our Lady of Lourdes her perpetual vows in 1962.

She beena years about being one of the prisoners that Father Kapaun’s remains hadwas School, Milltown, died Feb. 8 at St. dedicated trained religious educator in of war who buried Father Emil Ka- transferred when the remains of about 4,000 prisoners were exchanged as part paun’s body after the priest died May of the 1953 Korean Armistice Agree23, 1951.

In 2005, Hansen was in his doc- ment, Carter said. Over 800 of those tor’s office at a VA Hospital in Florida were unidentified.

The identification of Father Kawhen he read an article about the U.S. Army chaplain who died a hero in a paun’s remains was announced March North Korean POW camp in Pyong- 4, when the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, or DPAA, stated that yang.

Department of Defense investigators Scott Carter, coordinator of the Estate Planning Father Kapaun Guild for the Diocese had identified them among the un□ Lastsaid Will and told Testament Income Only known Korean WarTrust soldiers buried at of Wichita, Hansen his doctor □ □ Power of Attorney □ Asset Protection that Father Kapaun was a fellow POW the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii. and he the priest. □ helped Livingbury Will “I heard that they had made a lot Hansen said he had never talked of progress recently in their ability to about his connection to Father Kapaun, Elder Law Carter added, because he said he was extract DNA from the bones to identify □ Medicaid □ Estate Planning sworn to secrecy about the matter by these men,” Carter said. “In the last □ Guardianships □ Asset Sheltering three years, they developed a new techthe U.S. Army. nique to extract the DNA.” “His doctor told Hansen that he □ Social Security He added the agency hopes to have felt it was OK with the Army now and that he definitely needed to contact all of the remaining unknown soldiers Estate Administration them,” Carter told The Catholic Ad- identified in the next five or six years. □ Probate □ Will “TheContests DPAA contacted Ray Kavance, Wichita’s diocesan newspaper.

Asset ofDistribution □ Accounting Father Kapaun’s nephew,” he A□native Pilsen, Kan., Father paun, Kapaun was ordained for the Diocese said. “Thankfully we’ve got a great □ Taxes of Wichita June 9, 1940, and was a U.S. relationship with Ray and he contacted families theto share the great news.

Father in Hotze Army chaplain in WorldHelping War II and the He quickly the bishop and Korean War.Metuchen area for more thancontacted 15 years!

Although he could have avoided then told me as well.”

Father John Hotze is the postulator capture by the North Koreans, he alFreehimself parking CHASE Handicap Kapaun’s Accessible sainthood cause. lowed to beintaken prisonerlotfor Father with his fellow soldiers. He heroically The postulator is the official who presserved his flock in the camp where he ents a plea for beatification or canonization. died.

Carter said when he got the call “Hansen explained that Father Ka732-548-5400 • www.WolfeOssaLaw.com paun wasn’t buried in a mass grave like March 4 from Father Hotze, he thought it mightBldg. be a minor update from Rome. most of Main the POWS 475 St.had2ndassumed.

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Poland. Beginning in 1972, she served as a teacher and principal at three elementary schools in New Jersey. prethe remains, but we still weren’t served superior at St. paredShe to also receive the as good news,” he John Retreat House, Atlantic City. said.

Sister Aurelia was ofcommitted to About 95 percent Father Kaprayer and to her community.

Open to paun’s skeletal remains were identified people, her ministry in Poland was in by the DPAA. “That is quite remarkthe time of communism. able because a lot of the other remains In her worldonofrecently New Jersey, they’ve beennew working were she endeared herself to her students just fragments from the battlefield,” and had the gift of hospitality. She Carter said. lovedThe helping and gardening. familytheispoor responsible for deA funeral Mass was celebrated termining where the remains will be Ciechanowski Funeral Home, Runnemede. for SisterheAurelia Feb. 13 at the Memorial contributions in Sister interred, said, adding they alsoProare vincialate in Chapel. interested discussing the matter with Aurelia’s memory may be sent to the Interment was at St. Joseph’s Little Servant Sisters, Provincialate, the Diocese of Wichita.

Cemetery, Chews Landing.

“Even when he was alive, Father 1000 Cropwell Road, Cherry Hill, NJ Arrangements were by 08003 Kapaun gave his life to the handled Church and he became a man for all,” Carter said. Father Emil Joseph Kapaun, a Kansas priest and a military “Now that his cause for sainthood is chaplain, who died May 23, 1951, in a North Korean under consideration, he’s much bigger prisoner of war camp, is pictured circa 1943. A candidate for sainthood, he died ministering to the prisoners of war than the diocese.”

Bishop Mark K. Carroll, Wichita’s during the Korean War. —CNS photo/U.S. Army courtesy The Catholic Advance bishop from 1947 to 1967, celebrated a memorial Mass in 1953 for Father Kapaun, he said, “but we’ve never been have been identified, many other deable to have an actual funeral or an tails regarding the status of his cause and Father Kapaun’s remains will be actual burial.”

During that Mass, celebrated discussed.

“When I heard that his remains July 29, 1953, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Wichita, were coming I was super-excited, but Bishop Carroll said the faithful must at the same time the thought about be like soldiers that Christ died for the Father Kapaun’s last words to his feltruth. “Not in all history can we find low prisoners: ‘Hey guys, don’t worry anything to equal the heroism of Christ about me. I’m going to where I always wanted to go. And when I get there, the soldier.”

A priest is the vicar of Christ, he I’ll say a prayer for you. And tell my said. “The work of a priest is the same bishop I died a happy death.’”

Editor’s Note: For details about as that of Christ. He is to be an apostle of love and the ambassador of peace, Father Emil Kapaun’s life and his cause F. Checchio visited the Recollect Nuns at their for Augustinian canonization, visit www.frkapaun. andBishop at theJames same time he is torecently be preemimonastery in Belvidere. with the org. are Mother Beatriz (left), superior; nently a soldier of Christ,Posing the captain of bishop Mother Rosita, general superior of the Federation of Mexico whoof lives in Mexico Riggs is editor The Catholic souls … fighting error and superstition Mother secretary andAdvance, former general superior. newspaper of the Diocese of andCity; theand sinful spiritGuadalupe, of the world.”

— photo courtesy of Bishop James F. Checchio Wichita.

Carter said now that the remains

Pastoral Visit

MARCH 3/25

Mass Honoring Seniors, 5 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Bishop Checchio will preside at the Mass which will be Livestreamed on the Cathedral website. . Seating is limited so registration is required. Please email evangelization@diometuchen.org

APRIL 4/17, 4/24 Life-Giving Wounds Retreat for adult children of divorce or separation, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The retreat will be virtual with an in-person Mass on May 1. It will provide a better understanding of the wounds caused by a family’s breakdown, and how to heal from them. For more information, contact cdaverso@diometuchen.org. Register at: diometuchen.org/adult-children-ofdivorce.

26 & 27

LIVE ZOOM Catechist courses, 7 p.m. Facilitated by Carol Mascola, Director, diocesan Office of Discipleship Formation for Children and Candi Gonzalez Parish Catechetical Leader Our Lady of Peace Fords.

Choices Matter – All Presentations of the diocese’s Choices Matter Virtual Conference Series are available for viewing by visiting: https://www.diometuchen.org/choicesmatter. Presentations delivered at the diocese’s Choices Matter Conference included: Integrity, God’s Plan for sexuality, defending life in the black community, and fighting the legalization of assisted suicide. Each session will challenge you to reflect on why, in each of these areas, our choices matter if we want to build a culture of life and love.

April 9, 10 -- First Friday/First Saturday of Reparation at the Blue Army Shrine, Asbury. Join us in this Year of St. Joseph, the Greatest Consoler of the Immaculate Heart. First Friday of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus (requested by Our Lord to St. Margaret Mary). Confessions 10:00 a.m.; rosary 11:30; Mass 12 p.m. First Saturday of Reparation to the Immaculate Heart (requested by Our Lord and Our Lady to Sister Lucia).

Confessions: 10 a.m. Virtual presentation at 11 a.m. with guest speaker Devin Schagt in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel and online at BlueArmy.com/YearofSt. Joseph. Holy Rosary: 11:30 w/15 min. meditation. Mass: 12:15 p.m. Brown Scapular enrollment. For information, call (908) 689-1700, extension 210, or visit the website www.bluearmy.com.

The Blue Army Staff is following all directions per New Jersey State health officials.

April 15, 22, 29 – 7 to 8 p.m. Mount Saint Mary House of Prayer, Watchung, will host a series of meetings via Zoom on the topic “Foundations of Mindfulness Meditation.” Learn to practice

DIOCESAN PROGRAMS

WOMEN’S LENTEN JOURNEY virtual Lenten spirituality group beginning on Sunday, Feb. 21 on Zoom. The group will meet next on Palm Sunday at 2:30 p.m. using the Ascension Press “Lenten Companion” book. For more details or to join, please contact Cristina, director of Family Life at cdaverso@diometuchen.org WEEKLY PODCAST – Am I Not Here?

Produced by the staff of the Office of Communications, “Am I Not Here?” – a weekly podcast – highlights the good news within our local Church and those working to minister to the people of the Diocese of Metuchen. New episodes are released each Monday and once aired they are archived.

To listen to any episode, or to learn more, please click the links on the diocesan Facebook page or lighting hearts on fire website

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“Come, Follow me.”

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MARCH 25, 2021

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

Applications are being accepted for the Ann Marie Izzo Memorial Scholarship to the 2021 National Association of Pastoral Musicians convention, which will be held virtually and in-person in New Orleans July 27 to 30. The scholarship, established in memory of NPM Metuchen board member Ann Marie Izzo, provides funds to attend the National NPM Convention. Applications should be sent by e-mail to NPMMetuchen@gmail.com by May 1. The annual National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM) Convention provides educational, spiritual, and communitybuilding opportunities uniquely suited to Catholic liturgical music ministry.

Information on the convention can be found at npm.org

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

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

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MEDITATING TOGETHER IN LENT Virtual Group which began Feb. 23 and will meet on Zoom on Tuesdays in Lent at 7 p.m. using the Agustin Institute “The Tears of Christ” book. To register and receive a free book, contact Allan Caballero, director, Office of Evangelization at acaballero@diometuchen.org or Megan Vantslot, director, Youth Evangelization at mvantslot@diometuchen.org

mindfulness of the breath, body, emotions, self-compassion and loving kindness. Cost is $20 per session or $50 for all three. Facilitator: Isabel Gachko, a certified yoga instructor who has been practicing Mindfulness Meditation for more than 10 years. Registration is required. Call (908) 753-2091 or visit the website www.msmhope.org.

OUR DIOCESE

DIOCESAN EVENTS

Prayer and Spirituality

39

AROUND THE DICOESE

MARCH 25, 2021

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

C atholic Spirit THE

OUR DIOCESE

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