Education section highlights academic achievement, community service, pages 15 to 27
Spirit atholic C THE
THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF METUCHEN
OCTOBER 3, 2019 • VOL. 24 NO. 17 • $2.00
Bishop James F. Checchio walks with pilgrims in the “The Way of St. Juan Diego,” a nine-mile walk in Hunterdon County that included prayer and hymns. The walk ended at Immaculate Conception Parish, Annandale, where the bishop presided at an outdoor Mass. — Ed Koskey Jr. photo
Pilgrims walk ‘Way’ of saint as part of Year of Spiritual Awakening By Anthony Salamone Correspondent ANNANDALE — Tara Paccillo, who is a massage therapist, usually works Saturdays. However, on Sept. 21, she took the day off to join 700 other individuals on a
nine-mile walk through parts of Hunterdon County. She was not trying to meet new clients or network but wanted to be part of the diocese’s pilgrimage, “The Way of St. Juan Diego.” The walk reenacted that of St. Juan Diego, a 16th-century Mexican, who, after being visited by Mary, walked nine
miles from his home to his class where he was preparing to become a Catholic. The diocese sponsored the pilgrimage as part of its Year of Spiritual Awakening, which will culminate in the consecration of the diocese to Jesus through Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 12, her feast day. After completing the walk, a smiling
Paccillo, a member of Our Lady of Peace Parish, North Brunswick, said, “It was really quite moving.” She made the pilgrimage with her mother, Mary Paccillo, her sister, Melanie Paccillo, and her sister’s boyfriend, Anthony Valentino, Tara Paccillo said the event moved Continued on page 8
INSIDE Perspectives Our Faith
United in Faith
4 30-31
Around the Diocese
38
Diocesan Events
39
Classifieds
39
Catholics of Hispanic descent gather at annual Mass...3 This issue was mailed on October 1 Your next issue will be October 17