October 17, 2019 by The Catholic Spirit

Section highlights ministry of Pontifical Mission Society, pages 13 to 16

Spirit atholic C THE

THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF METUCHEN

OCTOBER 17, 2019 • VOL. 24 NO. 18 • $2.00

Some of the participants in the annual Life Chain are shown outside Immaculate Conception Church, Somerville, Oct. 6. Immaculate Conception was one of several sites in the diocese where participants gathered to show their support for life and to pray. On the first Sunday of October, National Life Chain invites churches in each city and town across North America to stand on a designated local sidewalk and pray for 90 minutes. More photos on pages 8 and 9. — Frank Wojciechowski photo

INSIDE Perspectives Our Faith

Final Vows

4 18-19

Around the Diocese

Diocesan Events

Classifieds

Former member of Hillsborough parish welcomed into religious community...3 This issue was mailed on October 15 Your next issue will be October 31

Generosity, devotion of faithful yields heartfelt gratitude

UP FRONT

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

Bishop James Checchio With a heart full of gratitude, I have some good news to share with you: we have exceeded our goal for the Bishop’s Annual Appeal. I am so grateful for your extraordinary generosity! It certainly is a testament to your faith and your actively trying to build a Civilization of Love here in our four New Jersey counties — Middlesex, Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren. You are a blessing to me and all those who will benefit from your generosity! Passing our 2019 Bishop’s Annual Appeal goal of $7.2 million is a remarkable accomplishment that we achieved together as a community of faith-filled disciples. Your generous support of the ministries of the Diocese of Metuchen is an inspiration to me and gives me great hope. Our 2019 Bishop’s Annual Appeal will have a significant impact on the lives of so many and will help provide the necessary resources as we redouble our efforts to be truly people on fire with God’s love. A full report will be shared with you as the appeal closes in the coming month, so you can see how these funds are being used. Please remember that the funds

raised in the Bishop’s Annual Appeal are being used exclusively for the ministries outlined in the Appeal materials. These funds are restricted to the many vital needs funded by our support for such things as the formation of our seminarians and deacons, programs to assist couples through marriage preparation, and outreach to our youth and young adults, especially through our diocesan sponsored Catholic Center at Rutgers University. The Center is a ministry of Saint Peter University and Community Parish, New Brunswick. The Appeal also enables us to continue our efforts in evangelization and catechesis, advocacy for human life and dignity, and effectively ministering to people of varied ethnicities and languages. We have dedicated funds to Catholic Charities which is committed to providing basic needs and counseling services for those struggling with the hardships of life. With 23 seminarians to support in their priestly formation, the needs keep growing in many areas of our ecclesial life. This is the most seminarians we have had in more than 25 years. We can accomplish all of these great things because of your generosity. I am blessed to be able to tithe my own income to this appeal which is truly worthy of our assistance. In other good news, as you well know, our Diocese of Metuchen has spent the last year on a Year of Spiritual Awakening in preparation of our consecration to Jesus, through the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It has been a time of

Bishop extends gratitude for storm relief donations

OCTOBER 17, 2019 THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Thank you to all who generously donated to the Diocese of Metuchen’s second collection and online collection in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian. Thanks to your support and generosity a total of $79,451.48 was collected and sent to Catholic Relief Services to aid the people of the Bahamas in their long recovery process. Thank you for standing in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the Bahamas and for your continued prayers.

Catholic Spirit THE

THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF METUCHEN

Serving the Catholic community in Middlesex, Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Counties

The Catholic Spirit P.O. Box 191 • Metuchen, NJ 08840 PHONE: (732) 562-2424 • FAX: (732) 562-0969 PUBLISHER Bishop James F. Checchio EDITOR Father Timothy A. Christy, V.G. MANAGING EDITOR Father Glenn J. Comandini, STD (732) 562-2461

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prayer, holiness, and a renewed commitment to living the Gospel message to the full. It is partly because of your sacrifices along with the dedication of our priests, deacons and those in consecrated life that God’s grace keeps flowing throughout our diocese through your prayers, talents and charitable giving. God’s kingdom is truly being built up in our midst, even amidst these challenging times we live in. I pray that in this Year of Awakening we all will have a renewed supernatural perspective. I pray that we grow in friendship with one another and Christ and remain enthusiastic for the Gospel message He has entrusted to us as His disciples in 2019 here in our diocese so that we can live our mission. I am humbled and grateful for the generosity witnessed in this year’s Bishop’s Annual Appeal. The success of our appeal combined with the spirituality of our Year of Awakening provides us the opportunity for reflection and discussion. God is trying to do something beautiful for us and through us. The pains we have experienced these past years have been difficult in so many ways, but we know God can make good come from all; He even did this from Calvary. I truly believe it is not a pain of death, but similar to the pain of childbirth, with God using all to provide us with something new for our Church. Jesus constantly tells us throughout the Scriptures to not be afraid; so we move forward, renewed and confident in

His love, praying for healing for those who need it most and insight into building a better way forward for us all. I am looking forward to and praying for the graces God will send us especially in the coming week as I and more than 100 pilgrims journey to Mexico to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. There we will have the opportunity to kneel in front of the “tilma,” where our Lady’s image was miraculously imprinted. I will be praying in gratitude for our grace ﬁlled Year of Spiritual Awakening, and for the outpouring of the spirit on each of us as I consecrate our diocese to Jesus through Our Lady of Guadalupe in December. Now, as we near the conclusion of our Year of Spiritual Awakening let us all continue to pray to Our Lady of Guadalupe. We need her powerful intercession so much in our day. Together, let us continue our mission and prepare to be consecrated under the maternal care of Our Virgin Mother of Guadalupe while we build a Civilization of Love right here in our midst. Know of my gratitude and love for you, and please continue to pray for me too! God bless you all.

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

The Bishop’s Schedule Oct. 17 10:30 a.m. Blue Mass at the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen Oct. 17 6 p.m. Champions for Catholic Charities at The Palace at Somerset Park, Somerset Oct. 18 10:30 a.m. Priest Personnel Meeting – private event Oct. 18 4 p.m. Confirmation at Immaculate Conception Parish, Spotswood Oct. 19 Noon Mass for the 100th Anniversary of the Holy Redeemer Cemetery and Mausoleum, Holy Redeemer Mausoleum Chapel, South Plainfield Oct. 20-24 Diocesan Pilgrimage to Mexico Oct. 21 Mass at the Shrine (Basilica) of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico City Oct. 22 Mass at the National Cathedral, Mexico City Oct. 23 Mass at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, Puebla Oct. 26 10 a.m. Baptism at Epiphany of our Lord Parish, Philadelphia – private event Oct. 27 Noon Mass for 100th Anniversary of Parish at Our Lady of Peace Parish, Fords Oct. 27 4 p.m. Silver and Gold Wedding Anniversary Prayer Service at Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen Oct. 29 4 p.m. Confirmation at St. Ambrose Parish, Old Bridge Oct. 30 6 p.m. Mass with Priests at the Consolata Mission, Somerset – private event Nov. 1 10 a.m. Mass with Immaculate Conception School and Immaculata High School, Somerville Nov. 2 8:30 a.m. Mass for Choices Matter – A Critical Life Issues Conference at St. Peter the Apostle University and Community Parish, New Brunswick Nov. 2 5:30 p.m. Mass of Installation of Pastor at Our Lady of Peace Parish, North Brunswick Nov. 3 11 a.m. Ordination of Brother Ignacio Nayao Cogollodo to the Transitional Diaconate at St. Cecelia Parish, Iselin For updates on Bishop Checchio's schedule visit: http://diometuchen.org/bishop/schedule

Image Week

of the

Last issue's image...

Top of page, Saint Joseph Sister Colleen Gibson is shown during final profession of vows ceremony as a Sister of Saint Joseph of Philadelphia Sept. 15 at Mass at Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart Chapel, Mount Saint Joseph Convent, in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia. Above, Sister Colleen signs documents assisted by (from left) Saint Joseph Sister Maureen G. Erdlen, congregational president; and Saint Joseph Sister Marcella Springer, formation director. — photos courtesy of Sisters of Saint

Joseph of Philadelphia

service agencies for those in need. She is the author of the blog “Wandering in Wonder,” a columnist for the “Global Sisters Report,” and has been published in various periodicals including “America,” “Commonweal” and “Give Us This Day.” Sister Colleen was a 2018 Catholic Press Award recipient for her work as one of the writers of the “Young Voices” blog for the “National Catholic Reporter.” Sister Colleen and team won ﬁrst place for “Best Blog: layperson.” The Catholic Press Awards Committee commended the blog for its “focus on issues facing America’s youth” including topics such as “racism, women’s rights issues and drug addiction.” The Sisters of Saint Joseph Chestnut Hill — Philadelphia’s mission is “to live and work so that all people may be united with God and with one another.” They are a congregation of approximately 665 women religious who minister in 14 states.

The image, which was featured on page 3 of the October 3 issue of The Catholic Spirit, can be found at Corpus Christi Parish, South River.

The winner is...

Joan Dudas, parishioner at Corpus Christi, South River. To be a winner, you must call (732) 562-2424 after 9 a.m. Monday. The first caller to correctly identify the image and its location will receive a one year subscription, renewal or gift subscription to The Catholic Spirit. Those who correctly identify an image are not eligible to take another guess for 90 days.

OCTOBER 17, 2019

to this community of faithful women with whom I journey. Today, I commit myself not only to God but to this Congregation. “Thank you, sisters, for your presence, your faithfulness, and your example. I give thanks to God for this day and for my life. May all that I am and all that I do depend solely on God; may I live out this ‘yes’ each day, making my life an Amen to the love of God that has called me to be exactly who I was created to be. And may the God who has begun this good work in me see it to completion.” Several days after the ceremony, Sister Colleen told “The Catholic Spirit,” “My parish certainly had an influence on my vocation as a Sister of Saint Joseph — my earliest formation, the love of my faith, the call to service — all were part of the foundation laid by the parish community of St. Joseph. “While the St. Joseph connection wasn’t part of the initial attraction, I do have a deep devotion to Joseph that surely began because I grew up at St. Joe’s,” she continued. “Joseph’s model of humble service and selfless care for Jesus and Mary are an inspiration and his role as a just man certainly is reflected in my life as a SSJ and part of what I love about our congregation. Joseph loved God and neighbor, he did what needed to be done, and he embraced God's call wherever it took him — that’ s what I try to do each day as a Sister of Saint Joseph.” Sister Colleen attended public elementary and high school in Hillsborough. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Fairfield University (Conn.) in 2009 and was the class valedictorian. Sister Colleen ministers at the Sisters of Saint Joseph Neighborhood Center in Camden. The Center provides a place to foster community, create space for relationship between neighbors inside and outside Camden, and provides basic services, including English classes, a food pantry, handicraft classes, and networking with other social

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

PHILADELPHIA — Sister Colleen Michelle Gibson, who was raised in St. Joseph Parish, Hillsborough, professed ﬁnal vows as a Sister of Saint Joseph of Philadelphia Sept. 15 during a Mass at Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart Chapel, Mount Saint Joseph Convent, according to a release from the congregation. Hundreds of sisters, family members, associates, partners in mission and friends gathered for the liturgy celebrated by Augustinian Father Kevin DePrinzio. Saint Joseph Sister Eileen Marnien, congregational vice president, welcomed the guests. Sister Colleen was accompanied by Saint Joseph Sister Maureen G. Erdlen, congregational president; and Saint Joseph Sister Marcella Springer, formation director. Sister Colleen vowed to live her life in chastity, poverty and obedience according to the Constitutions of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Philadelphia. “Today, I rejoice as I make my perpetual profession as a Sister of Saint Joseph,” said Sister Colleen. “This is all I ever wanted — to be in union with God — ‘One in Love,’ as our Congregational ring is inscribed. And with this ring, I give to God and to this Congregation the cycle of my days. How good it is to be ‘One in Love!’” “It was truly a joy-ﬁlled day for all of us as we participated in the vow celebration of Sister Colleen Gibson,” said Sister Maureen. “Her courageous commitment inspires each one of us to recall and rekindle the desire to follow and respond to God’s call within our own hearts. She gives us hope for the future and reminds us that we are ‘…consecrated and sent forth among all people as Sisters of Saint Joseph.’” “Today, especially, I give thanks for my parents who by their love and tender care have fostered in me a love of God and neighbor without distinction,” said Sister Colleen. “I offer my immense gratitude

SPECIAL FEATURE

Where in the diocese can it be found?

Missionaries in our parishes, an appeal for vocations

PERSPECTIVES

Whoever thought that when we were saving our coins to help the missionaries in far-off lands, 30 or 40 or 50 years later, these missionaries would be working in our parishes? Yes, we, the wealthiest, most powerful country in the world, have become one of those “missions” that we envisioned only in third world nations of Africa, Asia and South America. How did this happen?

are studying for the priesthood. Now children’s success? By how much monthat there is political stability in Poland, ey they earn when they land a job. We do only a handful of men are studying for not evaluate success in terms of intrinsic fulfillment. Rather, sucthe priesthood. This cess is defined by finansame pattern reappears As long as our throughout the U.S., much cial status, the zip code where we live, the type of of Europe and Australia. pastoral needs How does the economy home we occupy, the type of vehicle we drive, etc.! influence vocations? With are met, we What good are all these economic stability, career are fine with things if our children, possibilities are endless. That, however, is only one at this point, adults, feel the status quo. explanation for the priest unfulfilled? According to However, the St. Thomas Aquinas, “we shortage. will only be most happy As long as our pasday may come or, better, fulfilled, when toral needs are being met, we are fine with the status we do God’s will for us.” when there is quo. However, the day For some, God’s will for no priest to fill them is the priesthood. may come when there is I am convinced that no priest to fill the vacancy the vacancy of God is still calling men left by one who has died, one who has to the priesthood but his been reassigned or retired. Secondly, as we live in an voice is mute. Why? Bedied... affluent nation, American cause God often speaks through people like you society, at large, has conand me, and we are not ditioned us to believe that we must send our sons and daughters giving voice to God’s will, are we? to the finest schools and universities. Thus, our sons are not hearing the call. Why? Because we want them to succeed. If they did, they might actually listen and Nevertheless, how do we measure our possibly consider this lifestyle. Another

reason why our young men are not hearing the “call” is, frankly, they are too distracted by the “things” which money can buy. While all of these things are good, they can cloud our judgment. Encourage your sons to spend time alone with the Lord — even if it is in the dining room, away from the noise of the other rooms, just to spend some time in quiet prayer with their God. October 20 is Mission Sunday this year. I implore you, mothers and fathers, to discuss vocations at the dinner table, especially with your sons — because the missionaries are not coming to replace deacons, they’re here to celebrate the Mass, to hear Confessions, to anoint the sick, to counsel those who are troubled or are preparing for marriage, to administer our parishes. I beg you to pray for vocations to the priesthood! Meanwhile, young men, please, consider whether God might be calling you to a life of service to the Church. It is a good life. Yes, God may be calling you to the priesthood. Please, give him your ear! Who knows, maybe, one day, you will give him your life! Fr. Comandini is managing editor of “The Catholic Spirit”

young and the old – he believes the to respect their elders, the pope adds that they don’t have to agree with very future of society depends on it! “Today more than ever, the fu- everything older people say. He tells them they should have ture generates anxiety, a critical spirit, only acinsecurity, mistrust and cepting what is good in fear. Only the testimony Persevering in the words and example of their elders will help faith through of their elders. young people look “Pay attention to above the horizon to see good times the stars,” he recently your elders … they are our roots,” he recently wrote. “Just learning and bad, told a gathering of that it was worth fightBy Sister Constance Veit, l.s.p. in season young people in Moing for something will zambique. But then he Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, chair- help young people face and out of added, “Older generaman of the USCCB Committee on Pro- the future with hope.” season, this tions have much to tell Contemporary sociLife Activities, suggests that although you and offer you. True, attacks against human life seem to be ety tends to marginalize is something sometimes we elderly growing more numerous and more cal- our elders, and in doing people can be overbearlous by the day, “through our Christian so, the pope says, we the elderly can ing and nagging, or we hope in the Resurrection, we are given lose the chance to learn teach us a lot can try to make you the grace to persevere in faith.” the secret that has alact, speak and live the Persevering in faith through good lowed them to navigate about! same way we do. That is times and bad, in season and out of their way through life’s wrong. You will have to season – this is something the elderly ups and downs. We miss can teach us a lot about! In what has out on the wisdom of find your own way but by listening to and apbecome a trademark of his pontificate, people who have stayed preciating those who have gone before wherever he goes, Pope Francis shares the course over time. But even as he tells young people you.” his desire for an alliance between the The pope’s words to youth in Mozambique are refreshingly honest – and they give me pause as I realize that I am closer to my own golden If you were sexually abused by a member of the clergy or anyone representing years than to the days of my youth. the Catholic Church, or you know of someone who was, you are encouraged Our Holy Father expects a lot of us! to report that abuse to law enforcement and/or by contacting the Diocesan He is calling upon elders – and I include those well on their way to beResponse Officer at (908) 930-4558 (24 hours/7 days a week). coming the elder generation – to rise For more information on how to report abuse, visit our diocesan up and teach young people how to set website: https://diometuchen.org/report-a-suspected-abuse. their gaze above the horizon and to

persevere in faith. To do this we must be truly wise. But here is the catch: wisdom – the realization that we come from God and are going to God – does not come automatically with age. The experiences of a lifetime sow the seeds of wisdom, but they must be cultivated by prayer and reflection on those experiences in light of the Gospel. So, for those of us soon-to-beseniors, let’s ask ourselves – while we still have time – if we seek wisdom and eternal values. Let’s ask ourselves if we believe that anxiety about the future can be overcome. Let’s ask ourselves if we are more focused on others than ourselves, if we believe that there is more joy in giving than in receiving, and if we try to show love not only in words but in actions. These are the lessons that millennials and Gen Z are waiting for us to teach them, even if they don’t know it. While we still have time let’s follow the advice of Pope Francis: “Growing older means preserving and cherishing the most precious things about our youth, but it also involves having to purify those things that are not good and receiving new gifts from God so that we can develop the things that really matter.” This is how we will teach the young to face the future with hope! Sister Constance Veit is director of communications for the Little Sisters of the Poor

Body & Soul By Father Glenn J. Comandini, STD First, we cannot speak about the “mission” status of the Church in the United States without tying this to the priestly vocation shortage. History has shown, repeatedly, that vocations ﬂourish in poverty, in war-torn, diseaseridden, strife-ﬁlled, persecuted countries of the globe. Vocations diminish greatly in nations that are economically and socially sound. Now that the economy is strong in Ireland, only a handful of men

Teach young to overcome anxiety about future with hope For American Catholics, October is Respect Life Month and this year’s theme is “Christ Our Hope: In Every Season of Life.” In his letter introducing this theme

OCTOBER 17, 2019

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Year of Consecrated Life

How to report abuse

Pope Francis leads the rite of commendation during the funeral Mass of U.S. Cardinal William J. Levada in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Sept. 27, 2019. Cardinal Levada, the former head of the Vatican’s doctrinal congregation and retired archbishop of San Francisco and Portland, Oregon, died Sept. 26 in Rome. He was 83.

— CNS photo/Paul Haring

WASHINGTON — U.S. Cardinal William J. Levada, who died Sept. 26 in Rome, is well-known as the retired head of the Vatican’s doctrinal congregation, but his experience leading major U.S. dioceses prepared him for this role. “I firmly believe that what I have experienced in my ministry among God’s people here in the Archdiocese of San Francisco has been a great grace for me and has enriched me for the new service to the universal church to which our Holy Father, Pope Benedict, has called me now,” he said during a Mass attended by more than 3,000 people at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco, just before he left the archdiocese in 2005. He also told the congregation that his 10 years as archbishop there had been “a significant

part of my life as a man, a priest and a bishop.” When Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected Pope Benedict XVI in 2005, he named then-Archbishop Levada to replace him as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican agency charged with protecting and promoting the church’s teachings on faith and morals. It was the first time a U.S. prelate had led the congregation. The Vatican appointment did not come as a surprise to many of then-Archbishop Levada’s friends and fellow U.S. prelates at the time. Archbishop John G. Vlazny, now retired archbishop of Portland, Oregon, said: “His intelligence was obvious, but his affability and goodness were equally evident.” Cardinal Levada served as archbishop of Portland from 1986 to 1995.

Pope dedicates annual Sunday to word of God

Pope Francis holds up a Bible as he promotes reading of the Bible during his Angelus delivered from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Oct. 5, 2014. To help the church grow in love and faithful witness to God, Pope Francis has declared the third Sunday in ordinary time to be dedicated to the word of God. —CNS photo/Paul Haring

China-Vatican accord promotes pastoral work ROME — The provisional agreement signed in 2018 by the Holy See and the Chinese government has “opened the way to the two most important things: pastoral activity and dialogue,” said Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli. The agreement also meant that, for the first time in 70 years, all of the Catholic bishops in China are in communion with the pope and with their brother bishops throughout the world, the archbishop said Sept. 26 at the presentation in Rome of a book on the agreement, its historical roots and the future of Catholicism in China. Archbishop Celli, who retired in 2016 as president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, was a key partner in the negotiations that led to the signing of the agreement. He had spent 35 years as part of a team of Vatican officials reaching out to the Chinese government on behalf of popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis. “A door has been opened,” he said. “It’s a door that would be difficult to close again.” The provisional agreement, signed Sept. 22, 2018, set out procedures for the nomination of bishops acceptable to both the Vatican and the Chinese government, ending decades of Chinese insistence that allowing the Vatican to name bishops would amount to foreign interference in China’s internal affairs. Vatican officials consistently had said that giving up full control over the nomina-

This is the cover of the Italian book “The Accord Between the Holy See and China,” which was presented in Rome Sept. 26, 2019. The book discusses the 2018 provisional agreement between the Vatican and China, its historical roots and the future of Catholicism in China. —CNS photo/courtesy Marco Pavani, Community of Sant’Egidi

tion of bishops would not be what it hoped for, but that it could be an acceptable first step toward ensuring greater freedom and security for the Catholic community there.

After faith leaders’ border visit, they resolve to help HATCH, N.M. — A group of U.S. Catholic bishops, along with a Vatican representative and other priests, celebrated Mass Sept. 26 next to a field of chili peppers with farmworkers and their families and other immigrants. They blessed the workers’ hands. They blessed the water that nourishes the famous Hatch chili peppers for which the town, population 1,680, is known. And they blessed the fields where the migrants toil. The faith leaders’ visit came the same day the U.S. Department of State announced the Trump administration was capping refugee resettlement at a historic low of 18,000. The new limit only affects refugees applying for asylum in the U.S. from overseas, not at the border, but immigration advocates took it as another sign the nation is closing its doors to newcomers. In New Mexico, the town’s citizens welcomed the bishops -- as well as the women religious and other lay members of the Catholic Church who traveled with them -- with smiles, songs, dances and great amounts of homemade food from their famous product. But they also shared the difficult moments they recently faced when a group of migrants arrived in a nearby town and some townsfolk stepped in to help. Not everyone in town was pleased and some parishioners at the local Catholic church spoke of being afraid of catching illnesses from them. Others worried about what their

Migrant farmworkers kneel in prayer during an outdoor Mass Sept. 26, 2019, in Hatch, N.M., part of a pastoral encounter by U.S. bishops with migrants at the border. The Sept. 23-27 pastoral visit, sponsored by various offices of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and other national organizations, aimed to highlight the church’s ministry to migrants, the border conditions and immigration laws affecting them, and their material and spiritual needs. — CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn

neighbors would think if they found out they were providing them with shelter. “We had them hiding in our homes,” Crystal Gonzales told the group, adding that it reminded her of what she had read as a sixth-grader in “The Diary of Anne Frank.”

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT OCTOBER 17, 2019

VATICAN CITY — To help the church grow in love and faithful witness to God, Pope Francis has declared the third Sunday in Ordinary Time to be dedicated to the word of God. Salvation, faith, unity and mercy all depend on knowing Christ and sacred Scripture, he said in a new document. Devoting a special day “to the celebration, study and dissemination of the word of God” will help the church “experience anew how the risen Lord opens up for us the treasury of his word and enables us to proclaim its unfathomable riches before the world,” the pope said. The declaration to have a “Sunday of the Word of God” was made in a new document, given “motu proprio,” on the pope’s own initiative. Its title, “Aperuit Illis,” is based on a verse from the Gospel of St. Luke, “Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” “The relationship between the risen Lord, the community of believers and sacred Scripture is essential to our identity as Christians,” the pope said in the apostolic letter

Compiled from the Catholic News Service

WORLD & NATION

Cardinal Levada took U.S. experience to Vatican

WORLD & NATION

6 OUR DIOCESE OCTOBER 17, 2019 THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

'Little Flower of Jesus' feast day celebrated at Carmelite monastery By Joanne Ward RARITAN TOWNSHIP — More than an hour before the Annual Solemn Pontifical Benediction and Blessing of Roses began at the Carmel Monastery Oct. 1, people arrived. They filled the pews of the small chapel, lined the walls and stood in the hallway just outside. They had come out of love for St. Thérèse of Lisieux, a French Discalced Carmelite Nun also known as “The Little Flower of Jesus,” to celebrate her feast day, to thank her for favors received and seek her help. In her autobiography, “Story of a Soul,” St. Thérèse wrote, “My mission — to make God loved — will begin after my death. I will spend my heaven doing good deeds on earth. I will let fall a shower of roses.” Today, the Little Flower is universally recognized as the saint who sends roses to those individuals who pray to her for help. The service began with the angelic voices of the Discalced Carmelite nuns singing their “Hymn to St. Thérèse of Carmel” as Bishop James F. Checchio processed to the altar. Preceding him were priests from the diocese and Auxiliary Bishop Manuel A. Cruz of the Archdiocese of Newark. The Discalced Carmelites follow the rule of life established by St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) — a Spanish Carmelite who reformed the order — to support the Church by their cloistered, contemplative lives of prayer. In his greeting, Bishop Checchio, who presided at the service, spoke about St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus. At the age of 15, she entered the Carmelite convent at Lisieux and died in 1897 at the age of 24. “She still inspires us by her example of childlike simplicity and her unbounded confidence in God’s merciful love,” the bishop said. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament followed with the bishop kneeling before the Eucharist as all silently prayed. Adoration included a reading from Scripture by Father Michael Fragoso, pastor, St. James the Less Parish, Jamesburg. Father Anthony M. Sirianni, pastor, St. Helena Parish, Edison, read the Gospel In his homily, Bishop Checchio spoke first about the Blessed Sacrament and how Christ is truly present in the Eucharist and how it is the way he fulfills his promise to be with us always. He said we can grow in our relationship, our friendship with Jesus by spending time with him in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament and that it also serves as the way we can become purified. Continuing, he shared some of St. Thérèse’s thoughts on love. She said, “My call is love. Love appeared to me to be the hinge of my vocation.” “Here before the Lord,” the bishop said, “we can hear anew what true love is and the cost of that love for our savior and what it will demand of us, too.” Bishop Checchio concluded his homily

recalling Pope Francis’ visit to a Carmel during his trip last month to Madagascar. “The Holy Father said to the nuns there and he says it here to our Sisters in Flemington, too, and all Carmelites devoted to Our Lord. The Church appreciates you and when she thinks of Carmel she thinks of a school of contemplation,” said the bishop. “Indeed, this evening, we thank God for this Flemington Carmel and for our dear Sisters who provide the blood to flow through our diocese by their prayers. It’s an oasis of prayer which leads us, anchors us and loves us,” he added. In closing the bishop prayed, “May the prayers and intentions that are brought to this house be heard by our loving Father through the intercession of St. Thérèse.” A short novena was then recited and the pontifical benediction took place. Next, the dozens of roses that surrounded a statue of the Little Flower of Jesus were sprinkled with holy water, incensed and distributed to all attendees who were also able to venerate a relic of St. Thérèse. Among the attendees at the prayer service was Ryan O’Shaughnessy. It was his first time at the Carmelite Monastery. He had come because one of his best friends, Kim Esguerra, had chosen the feast of St. Thérèse to enter the Carmelites. “We were missionaries together with Saint Paul’s Outreach, doing campus ministry at Rutgers,” he said. The tagline of Saint Paul’s Outreach is “Catholic Faith Alive on Campus.” According to its website Saint Paul’s Outreach (SPO) mission is “To build transformational communities that form missionary disciples for life.” Inside the monastery, O’Shaughnessy, a member of St. Peter the Apostle University and Community Parish, joined 13 other young adults who also worship at the New Brunswick parish. Some were or had been missionaries with Saint Paul’s Outreach at Rutgers University. Others were involved with Petros, the Young Adults at St. Peter’s where the ministry is part of the parish’s Faith Formation programs. All had come to show support for the Carmelites’ newest novice, Esguerra. Monica Butler, SPO Chapter Leader, noted that many left notes for their friend, telling her they were at the Blessing of the Roses. Many at the prayer service were devotees of St. Thérèse. One of them was Walter A. Starycki, a member of Immaculate Conception Parish, Somerville. More than 40 years ago, a friend of Starycki encouraged him to go to the Carmelite Monastery to pray for priests. He went, not only once but year after year has joined the Carmelite nuns at their monthly Holy Hour to pray for priests. “The priests need our prayers,” said Starycki, who prays to St. Thérèse, too, and said she has answered many of his requests for help. Reflecting on the evening’s prayer service, Starycki called it “very beneficial, very helpful and most of all very spiritual.” Jean Lyons, a member of the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi parish, Metuchen, started her devotion to St. Thérèse when

she was 14 and a student at Little Flower High School, Philadelphia. There was a statue of St. Thérèse on the school’s first floor and the students passed by her on their way to classes. “I’ve had a major devotion to St. Thérèse ever since then,” Lyons said,

noting that she has been a secular Carmelite for 20 years and her first daughter was named after the Little Flower of Jesus. “I can feel her [St. Thérèse] presence everywhere,” Lyons said, adding, “She is a very powerful saint.”

Above, Bishop James F. Checchio incenses the roses distributed after the prayer service in the Carmelite Monastery on St. Thérèse's feast day. Right, the bishop presents a blessed rose to an attendee. Each year siblings Terry Flynn and Jim Besch donate the roses in memory of their mother, Jacqueline Besch, who was devoted to St. Thérèse.

Kim Esguerra chose the feast day of St. Thérèse, Oct. 1, to enter the Carmelites. Above, posing with Bishop Checchio, are a group of Esguerra's friends who attended the Solemn Pontifical Benediction and Blessing of the Roses to show their support for her. All are members of St. Peter the Apostle University and Community Parish, New Brunswick. Left, is Ryan O'Shaughnessy, one of the group. He and Esguerra were missionaries with Saint Paul's Outreach, who did campus ministry at Rutgers University, New Brunswick. — Ed Koskey Jr. photos

7 OUR DIOCESE

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8 OUR DIOCESE

Life Signs Among the sites where the faithful, clergy and religious gathered for the annual Life Chain were: Sayreville, left and above, and Somerville, right. After the Life Chain in Somerville, the rosary was prayed at St. Ann Church, Raritan Borough. More than 80 people stood at two sites on Washington Road in Sayreville, including (left, from left), Sister Barbara O'Kane, Sister Theresa Kovacs and Father John J. "Jack" O'Kane. — Frank Wojciechowski, Janice O'Brien and Ted Tyszkiewicz photos

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9 OUR DIOCESE

Prayerful Protest Clockwise from above left, participants in the annual Life Chain and/or prayer protest are shown at Flemington, Hillsborough, Perth Amboy, Flemington, Washington, Flemington and Washington. According to the National Life Chain’s website, the day is “chiefly a demonstration, and its witness is not intended for the viewing public only. Instead, its first goal is to minister to its own participants — to those who call Christ their Lord and hold pro-life messages that declare abortion a grave evil that defames the name and holiness of God.” Life Chain was also held in Great Meadows and Phillipsburg, but photos from those sites were not available as of press time Oct. 10. — James Vargas, Father John M. Rozembajgier, Iluminada Corona, Mary Kovacs and Andy Kin photos

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT OCTOBER 17, 2019

10 OUR DIOCESE OCTOBER 17, 2019 THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Pillar of diocese, priest for 72 years mourned at funeral liturgies By Chris Donahue Associate Editor and Christina Leslie Correspondent MIDDLESEX — When the Diocese of Metuchen was established Nov. 19, 1981, it became the 24th largest diocese in the United States. Many sets of strong shoulders were needed to help carry it through its formative years and into a stable future. Among the clergy who did some of the early heavy lifting was Msgr. William Haughney, then pastor of St. Joseph Parish, North Plainfield. Within two years, Msgr. Haughney had been appointed to serve on several important committees or positions, all the while tending to the spiritual and pastoral needs of the members of St. Joseph’s and then, for 13 years, as pastor of Our Lady of Mount Virgin Parish until he retired in 1996. At a Mass of Commemoration Sept. 25 and funeral Mass Sept. 26 at Our Lady of the Mount Church, Msgr. Haughney’s family and scores of his former parishioners and friends came to say goodbye to the 98-year-old priest, who died Sept. 21, and pay homage to the many roles he played for the dioceses of Trenton and Metuchen and in parishes. At the Mass of Commemoration Sept. 25, Father Timothy A. Christy, diocesan vicar general and moderator of the curia, presided. Father Christy noted because the diocese lost such a good priest, the faithful should continue to pray for vocations and led the congregation in a “Hail Mary.” Father Daniel Cahill, a retired priest from the Diocese of Trenton, gave the homily. “He was my first pastor in St. Anthony of Padua Church, Hightstown, when I came out from seminary in Ireland as a 24-year-old in 1973,” Father Cahill said. “He was a humble priest who taught by example. He truly loved the priesthood and everything associated with it.” Father Cahill described Msgr. Haughney as a “people person” who loved to mingle with the faithful in the parking lot or parish hall after Mass and played golf weekly with three other members of the parish. Msgr. Haughney reached out to the community at large, and Hightstown was primarily Protestant back then. “When he left, the Episcopal pastor said, ‘His leaving was the talk of the town.’ ”Tomorrow,” Father Cahill added, “he will be laid to rest at St. Vincent Cemetery in Madison next to his mother and father. God will say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. Inherit the kingdom I have prepared for you.’” Bishop James F. Checchio presided at the funeral Mass. The bishop extended his condolences to Msgr. Haughney’s family and assured them he would keep

Bishop James F. Checchio presides at the funeral Mass for Msgr. William J. Haughney at Our Lady of Mount Virgin Church Sept. 26. Msgr. Haughney, who died Sept. 21, served as pastor of Our Lady of Mount Virgin Parish for 13 years. — John Batkowski and The Catholic Spirit photos

them in his prayers and asked that they pray for him. He also thanked the family for the gift of Msgr. Haughney’s priesthood, which lasted 72 years. “How many souls did he comfort during their life and assist into heaven? God bless and reward him and know of our prayers for you,” the bishop said. Msgr. Eugene Prus, who gave the homily, served on the first diocesan College of Consultors with Msgr. Haughney. “He was a powerful figure in the lives of all of us,” Msgr. Prus said. “He was a brother priest, a friend, a pastor. He baptized countless numbers of children, married people and prepared people for confirmation.” When the diocese was formed there were no priests with degrees in canon law so some were sent away to study canon law, Msgr. Prus noted. “We needed a judicial vicar [in the marriage tribunal] and Msgr. Haughney got that role and filled it beautifully,” he said. “The Archdiocese of Newark would send down a canon lawyer two or three times a week who would help, but it was Msgr. Haughney who put together the office, made it work, made it function and kept it going. We will always be indebted to him for that.” Bishop John C. Reiss of the Diocese of Trenton appointed then-Father Haughney to the position of “Chancellor of the Northern Counties” on Dec. 24, 1981 until Jan. 31, 1982, which cleared the way for Father Haughney to be one of four priests who would affix their signatures to the certificate of incorporation of the Diocese of Metuchen. He was still serving as pastor of St. Joseph Church, North Plainfield, when the diocese was established Nov. 19, 1981, and was one of four priests present at a press conference announcing the new diocese at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Metuchen, Nov. 24, 1981. It was also announced that St. Francis Church had been selected as the cathe-

dral church of the new diocese primarily for its accessibility to its members. Between 1981 and 1983, Father Haughney was given membership on The Bishop’s Liaison Committee for Transition and Diocesan Organization; served on the diocesan Expansion and Parish Boundaries Commission, and was appointed episcopal vicar of Middlesex County. While pastor of Our Lady of Mount Virgin Parish and episcopal vicar of Middlesex County, he chaired the Ad Hoc Committee on Hispanic Ministry, which was formed to consider ways of meeting the needs of the Hispanic community in the diocese. “We are indebted to him for all of the work he did, but his heart was always in the parish. That is what he loved doing He was the most comfortable and the happiest when he was with his people,” Msgr. Prus said. “He was a kind, gentle man and ran a wonderful school here. He was especially good to those who were hurting, who needed to confess their sins. They were never afraid to approach Msgr. Haughney. Jesus said if you want to follow me be a servant and he was very much a servant of God and his people.” Msgr. Haughney was born in Morristown, one of two children of William and Julia Cantwell Haughney. Life during the Great Depression became even more difficult when his father left home. When he was a fifth-grader at St. Vincent Martyr School, Madison, his mother took him and his sister, Alice McGuire (nee Haughney), to live with their maternal grandparents. In an article in “The Catholic Spirit” for one of his significant anniversaries in his priesthood, Msgr. Haughney said, “I benefitted from the wisdom of my farm-born grandparents. They were practical, and gave me everyday wisdom, like when my grandmother said, ‘Stop talking. You’ll never learn when

you are talking. Listen!’” His inspiration to become a priest was nurtured by the religious members of an abbey. “On my way to [Bayley] high school [in Morristown], I would bike past a house taken over by the Carmelites in nearby Convent Station,” Msgr. Haughney said. “The mother prioress saw me and asked if I could serve Mass [as an acolyte], and I did. The nuns and priest there encouraged me.” After high school, he earned a degree in philosophy at Seton Hall University, South Orange, and a Master’s Degree in sacred theology at Princeton Theological Seminary. Msgr. Haughney completed his formation training at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington, and was ordained to the priesthood May 31, 1947, by Bishop William Griffin in St. Mary Cathedral, Trenton. He celebrated his first Mass at the Carmelite Monastery in Morristown. Msgr. Haughney served as parochial vicar at the parishes of Holy Angels, Trenton; St. Joseph, Keyport; St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen; St. Mary, Perth Amboy, where he also taught high school; St. Bonaventure, Lavalette; St. Michael, West End, and Corpus Christi, Willingboro. He was elevated to prelate of honor with the title of monsignor by Pope John Paul II in 1984. He also served the diocese as a member of the Presbyteral Council. In addition to his sister, Msgr. Haughney is survived by his four nieces and two nephews: Kathleen (Scott), Patricia, Denise (Ken), Beth (James), John (Maria) and David. He is also survived by seven grand nieces and nephews and four great grand nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Msgr. Haughney’s name to your favorite charity. Arrangements were handled by Sheenan Funeral Home, Dunellen.

OUR DIOCESE

By Christina Leslie Correspondent

Above, Deacon Thomas C. Yondolino, who serves at St. Ambrose Parish, Old Bridge, preaches the homily at Our Lady of Czestchowa Church. Right, an undated photo of Deacon Richard A. Kenton, a diaconate classmate of Deacon Yondolino’s who served as parish catechetical leader for 10 years and sat on numerous committees. Deacon Kenton was also a Fourth Degree member of the South Plainfield Knights of Columbus Council 6203.

Above, Father J. Maciej Melaniuk, senior priest and former pastor of Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish, participates in the liturgy of the Eucharist. Father Peter Tran, pastor, presided at the Mass. In addition to Deacon Yondolino, other members of Deacon Kenton’s diaconate class who assisted at the Mass were Deacon William F. Lange, who exercises his ministry at St. James Parish, Woodbridge, and Deacon Robert J. Gerling, who exercises his ministry at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Milltown. Left, the body of Deacon Kenton rests in state prior to the prayers of final commendation. He was buried at Resurrection Cemetery, Piscataway. — Christina Leslie photos

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT OCTOBER 17, 2019

tion from Grand Army of the Republic Memorial High School, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., in 1960, he studied at Duquesne SOUTH PLAINFIELD — The griev- University, Pittsburgh, where he ing but hope-filled members of Our earned a bachelor’s degree and a masLady of Czestochowa Parish shared ter’s degree in history. Deacon Kenton settled in Piscatheir faith in resurrection Sept. 28 as they bid farewell to Deacon Richard taway with Marianne and had a long A. Kenton. The beloved deacon of career as a corporate security manager 15 years, a fixture at the church, died at the Warren-based Anadigics, Inc. Prior to his retirement, he earned the Sept. 25 at the age of 78. Father Peter Tran, pastor, pre- designation of certified protection sided at the funeral Mass. At the start professional. Deacon Kenton of the liturgy, he earned a certificate processed down the in diaconal ministry center aisle lined by “[Deacon Kenton] from The College faithful holding lit of St. Elizabeth, tapers. His concelwas the reason why Morristown, and ebrant, the parish’s my wife and I fell was ordained to senior priest, Father the diaconate June J. Maciej Melaniuk, in love with this 12, 2004 by Bishop had been Deacon church. We first met Paul G. Bootkoski Kenton’s vesting at the Cathedral of priest at his 2004 orhim 14 years ago as St. Francis of Asdination. sisi, Metuchen. His he greeted people Members of ministry at Our Lady the late deacon’s at the door. The way of Czestochowa indiaconate class also cluded serving as the played an active part he led the stations director of religious in the funeral liturgy, of the cross is one of education for 10 including Deacon years and as parish William F. Lange the reasons I catechetical leader. of St. James Parish, He trained altar loved him.” Woodbridge; Deacon servers and served Robert J. Gerling of —Michael Roman, on numerous parOur Lady of Lourdes parishioner ish committees. He Parish, Milltown, was a Fourth Degree and Deacon Thomas member of the South C. Yondolino of St. Plainfield Knights Ambrose Parish, Old of Columbus CounBridge, who gave the cil 6203. homily. Parishioner Michael Roman “We are deeply saddened,” said Deacon Yondolino. “Our hearts are served as reader of the New Testament troubled, and we begin to question ev- during the liturgy and gave a moving erything. But in our Gospel, we heard eulogy. “[Deacon Kenton] was the reason Jesus’ farewell: ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God and be- why my wife and I fell in love with this church. We first met him 14 years lieve also in me.’ [Jn 14:1-6] “It gives a meaning to his death.” ago as he greeted people at the door,” The deacon shared that he and his Roman said through tears. “The way wife, Lynn, had met the late deacon he led the stations of the cross is one and his wife, Marianne, as both men of the reasons I loved him.” Ann Marie Butrico, a member of attended a deacon discernment meeting, and “our lives became better, the parish’s Altar Rosary Society and one of the candle-bearers lining the more spiritual.” “He was a servant to his parish, aisle for the procession of the clergy always there when someone was need- and casket, later shared, “I worked ed,” Deacon Yondolino continued, with him in the CCD [religious edu“but this is the beginning of Rich’s cation] program, and the two of us ran the May crowning every year. He new life in paradise.” Evoking laughter from the con- was an amazing man and he will be gregation, the deacon concluded, “A missed.” Deacon Kenton was buried at Ressaying by Sir Winston Churchill fits Rich to a T: ‘I am ready to meet my urrection Burial Park, Piscataway. Memaker; whether my maker is prepared morial contributions may be made to the for the great ordeal of meeting me is South Plainfield Knight of Columbus or Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish. another matter.’” Arrangements were handled by Deacon Kenton was born to the McCriskin-Gustafson Home for Fulate Alexander and Lillian Simchik in Brooklyn, N.Y. After his gradua- nerals, South Plainfield.

Deacon Richard A. Kenton hailed as man of service

12 OUR DIOCESE

Rev. Canon Robert G. Lynam C O N G R AT U L AT IO N S

from all those whose lives you have touched over the past 25 years as our Beloved Pastor of St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish.

With love from All of us at St. Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

May the Lord bless and keep you. May the Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.

OCTOBER 17, 2019 THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

4 5 H e n d e r s o n R o a d , Ke n d a l l P a r k NJ

13 PONTIFICAL MISSION SOCIETY

O C T O B E R

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We Are Baptized and Sent land in question, more than 22,000 acres, to the local farmers whose cause Sister Dorothy had worked for so tirelessly. Today she is known as “the Angel of the Amazon.” Another example of this missionary spirit finds its expression in the person of the priest featured in this year’s World Mission Sunday poster — Father Robert Joel Cruz, a diocesan priest from the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux, LA photographed with children from Guatemala. (His brother, Father Alexander Cruz, is the pastor of Divine Mercy Parish in Rahway, N.J.) I invite you to respond to our missionary call by giving generously to the collection for the Society for the Propagation of the Faith on World Mission Sunday. Your gifts support and sustain priests, lay pastoral leaders and consecrated religious like Sister Dorothy Stang in more than 1,100 mission dioceses in Asia, Africa, the Pacific Islands, and parts of Latin America and Europe as they proclaim the Gospel, build up the Church, and serve the poor. You will find a

special stewardship envelope in your parish envelope packet marked “World Mission Sunday.” Please give generously. The message of World Mission Sunday ought to energize us to stand with Christ and lead the way with zeal and passion to proclaim the Good News of Jesus, a message that is as fresh and meaningful today as it was 100 years ago and, in fact, for people of every age. For more information on the missions, please go to www.missio.org/resources or call our office (732-243-4580) or email us (pontifical.mission.societies@diometuchen. org) for a special Bookmark Prayer Card so you can join us in praying the Prayer for Missionaries. I thank you for all you do on World Mission Sunday and throughout the year in helping “bring the Gospel to all” (Mark 16:15). Reverend John G. Hillier Director, Pontifical Mission Societies Diocese of Metuchen

OCTOBER 17, 2019

who God may place in our path. Throughout my life, I have always been inspired by the people who live the gospel message in an extraordinary way. In addition to my dad, another person I recently came to admire is Sister Dorothy Stang, a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur, who worked for more than 30 years in the Amazon rainforest of Brazil. Sister Dorothy worked with the excluded migrant farmers in their constant, futile search for a piece of land to call their own. She persistently pressured the government to help. She never gave up. She never lost hope. On February 12, 2005, while walking along a muddy Amazon jungle road attempting to halt illegal logging where land sharks had interests but no legal rights, she was shot and killed. Authorities believe that the murder was arranged by a consortium of loggers and ranchers who contributed to a bounty in an effort to silence Sister Dorothy. Her murder had the opposite effect. The President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, gave the

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, On World Mission Sunday (October 19-20, 2019), we commemorate the 100th anniversary of Pope Benedict XV’s 1919 Apostolic Letter Maximum Illud, in which he emphasized the missionary call found in Mark 16:15: “Go into the whole world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Then, as now, we are called to a personal encounter with Jesus. We are reminded that we are each “baptized and sent” as other Christs to be “Missionaries in the World”. We are called to show Christ to other people by the way we live as faithful followers of Christ. Acts of kindness, including a daily remembrance of others in prayer, ought to be the way we live our lives. In the days prior to his death this past July 26th, my own dad, Graham, a convert to the faith, whispered to me: “every second counts.” Sharing our time with people, including those less fortunate than ourselves, should also be part of our routine. We should use our personal gifts and talents as well to help bring joy to people

14 PONTIFICAL MISSION SOCIETY

Annual Report — Your Gifts to the Pontiﬁcal Missio Summary of Gifts from Donors

Society for the Propagation of the Faith Missionary Childhood Association The Society of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Near East Welfare Association

Diocesan Mission Commitments

Mass Stipends Foreign Missions (Visiting Missionaries) Diocesan Sharing (Local Missionaries Working Abroad) * Missionary Cooperation Plan (MCP) Liturgical Items (Sacred Vessels and Vestry)

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT OCTOBER 17, 2019

Parish

St. Mary Alpha Immaculate Conception Annandale St. Andrew Avenel Our Lady of Victories Baptistown St. James Basking Ridge St. Patrick Belvidere St. Rose of Lima, Oxford Belvidere Our Lady of Perpetual Help Bernardsville St. Jude Blairstown Annunciation Bloomsbury St. Joseph Bound Brook St. Mary of Czestochowa Bound Brook Holy Trinity Bridgewater St. Bernard of Clairvaux Bridgewater St. John Neumann Califon Divine Mercy Carteret St. Joseph Carteret St. John Vianney Colonia St. John the Evangelist Dunellen East Brunswick St. Bartholomew St. Helena Edison St. Matthew the Apostle Edison St. Magdalen de Pazzi Flemington Our Lady of Peace Fords Great Meadows Ss. Peter & Paul Assumption of Mary Hackettstown St. Ann Hampton Holy Trinity Helmetta St. Joseph High Bridge Highland Pk/Edison Transfiguration of the Lord Mary, Mother of God Hillsborough St. Joseph Hillsborough Good Shepherd Hopelawn St. Cecelia Iselin St. James the Less Jamesburg St. Augustine of Canterbury Kendall Park St. John the Evangelist Lambertville Laurence Harbor St. Lawrence Christ the Redeemer Manville Blessed Sacrament Martinsville Most Holy Redeemer Matawan Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi Metuchen Our Lady of Mount Virgin Middlesex St. Edward the Confessor Milford Our Lady of Lourdes Milltown Monmouth Jct. St. Cecilia Nativity of Our Lord Monroe Twp. New Brunswick Holy Family New Brunswick Our Lady of Mount Carmel New Brunswick Parish of the Visitation

Mission Sunday $ 1,757 3,977 2,021 255 6,412 1,297 607 3,911 1,616 684 1,414 1,095 1,278 4,188 1,379 758 1,395 2,554 1,214 3,042 1,882 2,775 2,946 1,930 1,181 1,209 721 634 1,099 2,221 2,632 3,386 1,976 2,032 1,905 7,880 1,066 1,096 2,344 3,260 1,570 10,666 3,212 536 1,597 2,886 2,446 682 1,935 1,130

Donations $

50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,395 65 0 0 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 50 0 0 0 250 50 0 0 0 0 0 0

Missionary Childhood Assn.

Masses $

Your prayers and sacrificial gift Sunday will support Priests, Co Brothers and Lay Pastoral Lead the Gospel, serve the poor and Christians half a wo

8,500 48,350 17,000 293,270 42 pieces

Propagation of the Faith

Parishes

Town

$ 272,890 48,526 39,105 17,576

0 0 0 0 1,350 0 0 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 720 0 2,185 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,250 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

School

M.C.P.*

CCD

(2018-2019 school year) $

0 0 0 0 951 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 300 500 0 0 6,589 2,347 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 387 0 0 0 0 0 3,471 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

$ 707 0 0 0 277 0 0 3,120 0 0 0 0 0 25 0 0 0 0 0 488 1,332 0 0 317 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,738 0 0 417 380 784 559 0 0 406 0 1,972 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Propagation of the Faith

Parishes

2019

Town

Parish

2,072 6,635 3,509 1,890 12,073 2,279 1,120 2,898 1,647 809 1,299 2,616 2,103 2,977 2,178 772 1,372 4,752 1,897 4,797 3,866 3,888 6,391 3,489 878 2,930 3,076 1,318 1,480 2,102 3,110 5,040 2,629 2,808 4,193 12,340 931 1,370 4,002 4,985 1,882 4,824 7,542 2,921 2,176 2,727 3,097 1,320 3,832 2,362

New Brunswick North Brunswick North Plainfield North Plainfield Old Bridge Old Bridge Parlin Peapack / Far Hills Perth Amboy Perth Amboy Perth Amboy Phillipsburg Piscataway Piscataway Pittstown Plainsboro Port Murray Port Reading Raritan Raritan Sayreville Sayreville Skillman So. Bound Brook Somerset Somerville South Amboy South Amboy South Plainfield South Plainfield South River South River South River Spotswood Three Bridges Warren Washington Watchung Whitehouse Station Woodbridge

St. Peter the Apostle Our Lady of Peace St. Joseph The Church of St. Luke St. Ambrose St. Thomas the Apostle St. Bernadette St. Elizabeth - St. Brigid Most Holy Name of Jesus Our Lady of Fatima St. John Paul II St. Philip & St. James Our Lady of Fatima St. Frances Cabrini St. Catherine of Siena Queenship of Mary St. Theodore St. Anthony of Padua St. Ann St. Joseph Our Lady of Victories St. Stanislaus Kostka St. Charles Borromeo Our Lady of Mercy St. Matthias Immaculate Conception Sacred Heart St. Mary Church of the Sacred Heart Our Lady of Czestochowa Corpus Christi St. Mary of Ostrabrama St. Stephen Protomartyr Immaculate Conception St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Our Lady of the Mount St. Joseph St. Mary-Stony Hill Our Lady of Lourdes St. James

Mission Sunday $

710 1,996 1,885 607 3,828 3,103 3,170 2,315 2,580 1,539 1,028 2,592 6,551 979 1,343 2,619 495 1,585 2,333 991 2,311 1,993 1,995 815 3,308 4,728 2,818 1,904 2,074 1,148 1,201 1,011 421 2,071 4,737 3,212 730 3,230 4,167 2,989

Donations $

0 0 150 0 0 0 25 1,350 50 0 0 0 0 1,900 0 0 0 25 0 500 0 0 0 0 0 300 0 0 100 0 50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 65

Mass $

1 3

SCHOOLS / INSTITUTES / OTHER Perth Amboy Metuchen Edison Somerville Watchung Flemington Somerset

Perth Amboy Catholic School Saint Joseph High School St. Thomas Aquinas High School Immaculata High School Mount Saint Mary Academy Carmelite Monastery Maria Regina Residence Other Donations

0 0 0 0 0 500 1,000 4,401

0 0 1,000 50 0 0 2,925 6,015

4,7

ses

0 0 0 0 0 2,265 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 181 0 1,397 1,446 0 0 740 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,000 757 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

2019

0 0 0 0 933 1,599 2,171 843 0 0 0 0 1,727 0 117 0 0 0 0 0 203 0 0 0 0 23 0 200 0 323 0 0 498 0 3,195 0 0 0 0 1,841

$ 1,458 2,528 2,137 794 4,832 3,693 1,460 3,419 2,507 3,963 1,636 3,917 8,807 2,185 4,137 2,767 749 735 2,447 1,600 3,006 995 3,718 6,233 10,308 7,155 2,401 1,957 2,171 2,725 1,873 1,808 1,430 1,253 5,268 1,929 1,557 7,992

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

—

Photos courtesy of the Missions Office

This year the theme for World Mission Sunday 2019 is “Missio Ad Gentes” –

Mission to the Nations – which serves as a reminder that we are each “baptized and sent” to be missionaries in our own lives and also to the nations. As you surrender your World Mission Sunday envelope into the collection basket, you ought to say a prayer for those whose lives will be changed thanks to your sacrificial gift.

5,501 5,015

In memory of all deceased missionaries from the Diocese of Metuchen

OCTOBER 17, 2019

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 777

CCD

(2018-2019 school year)

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

0 0 0 0 320 0 0 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 100 310 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

School

M.C.P.*

Pictured clockwise from top are Diocese of Bomadi, Nigeria: Bishop Hyacinth Oroko Egbebo, with Sr. Regina Mgbakor, Mission Director of Maranatha Caring Mission; Society for African Missions: Rev. Anthony Korir, SMA; Diocese of Nyahururu, Kenya: Rev. Joseph Kiragu; Servants of the Plan of God, Peru: Sisters Ximena and Sylvia.

PONTIFICAL MISSION SOCIETY

Visiting bishops, priests and sisters meet with Missions Office Director, Father John G. Hillier, to seek financial help though participation in the Missionary Cooperative Plan, Mass stipends, and funding for special projects in their Dioceses and other missions.

ts on World Mission onsecrated Sisters & aders who proclaim d support persecuted orld away. Missionary Childhood Assn.

Recent Visits from Missionaries

on Societies

16 PONTIFICAL MISSION SOCIETY

OUR WORLD ON MISSION

METUCHEN’S OWN MISSIONARIES DOING WORK ABROAD Deacon Enock Berluche Source de Vie, Beraud, Haiti

Mr. William Mosca Franciscans In Action Beraud, Haiti

Ms. Joanne Garcia

Family Missions Company, Camiguin Island, Philippines

Sr. Carol Vaccariello of the Anawim Community in Las Pinas, Philippines, works with community members to prepare and distribute food to the poor.

Father James R. Jackson MM Kusatsu Catholic Church, Kusatsu-Shi, Shiga-Ken, Japan

— Photo courtesy of Fr. Dennis Healy

Father Daniel Healy

Anawim Community, Metro Manila, Philippines

Ms. R. Carol Vaccariello Anawim Community, Metro Manila, Philippines

Ms. Mila Dionisio

Bukas Loob sa Diyos, Provinces in the Philippines

Mrs. Joanie Lynn St. Peters Missionary Health Project Diocese of Santa Rosa, Guatemala

Sister Mary Vertucci, MM Maryknoll Sisters, Anrusha, Tanzania

St. Francis of Assisi Parish serves the people of Béraud and surrounding villages, in the Diocese of Les Cayes, Haiti. The parishioners worshipped a under a dilapidated tent until about three years ago when they moved into a newly constructed church, thanks to the tireless efforts of the William Mosca (Franciscans In Action) and Deacon Enock Berluche (Source de Vie). — Photo courtesy of Deacon Enock

Fr. James Jackson lives and works at Kusatsu Catholic Church outside of Kyoto, Japan. He is also responsible for five other churches in the area and often travels hours by car to celebrate the Eucharist. —-Photo courtesy of Maryknoll Fathers

MISSION OFFICE FAMILY Joanne Garcia continues her missionary work through the Family Mission Corp in the Philippines, evangelizing and catechizing children in the poor city of Camiguin Island, Philippines.

Reverend John G. Hillier, Ph.D Director Mila Dionisio Associate Director

— Photo courtesy of Joanne Garcia

OCTOBER 17, 2019 THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Volunteers Patricia Murphy, Shannon White, Charlie Zammit, Barbara Murphy, Sue Ellen Bibby, Barbara Peterson, Clair Bautista, Joyce Lynch For more information about Catholic Missionaries, or to help the Mission Church, phone or write: Pontifical Mission Societies, P.O. Box 191, Metuchen, N.J. 08840 (732) 243-4580 • pontifical.mission.societies@diometuchen.org

Mila Dionisio, in one of her annual medical/dental mission trips to the Philippines, is pictured with the Bukas Loob Sa Diyos (“Open in Sprit to God”) Dental Team consisting of missionary dentists, nurses and auxiliary help. —Photo courtesy of Efren Cruz

SAVE THE DATE: OCTOBER 20, WORLD MISSION SUNDAY The annual World Mission Sunday family celebration will be held October 20 at the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen. The day will begin at 10:30 a.m. with Reverend John Hillier’s welcoming remarks and opening prayer followed by the “Extra Mile for Kids in Need of Jesus” walk-a-thon through the neighborhood surrounding the cathedral.

Mass will be celebrated at noon. Father Hillier will be the main celebrant and homilist. After Mass, a simple missionary-style lunch will be served in the Cathedral Community Room. Please plan to arrive early for registration. For more information or questions call (732) 243-4580 or email: pontifical.mission.societies@ diometuchen.org. — The Catholic Spirit file photo

EDISON — Festivities, family and prayer were the main ingredients for a joy-filled series of events to mark 50 years of faith-filled education on Tingley Lane. Hundreds of students and alumni, past and present teachers, and staff, clergy and benefactors gathered at St. Thomas Aquinas High School Sept. 27-28 to remember the past, rejoice in the present, and plan for the future of the secondary school that opened in 1969 on a 36-acre plot of land then in the Diocese of Trenton. Founded as St. Thomas Aquinas High School, it was renamed after the formation of the Diocese of Metuchen to Bishop George W. Ahr High School in 1984. A capital expansion in 2006 offered students new classrooms, two computer labs, a second gym, a weight room, a video studio and other facilities. The diverse student body hails from more than 60 districts, primarily from Middlesex, Monmouth, Somerset and Union Counties. In 2014, the school received full re-accreditation through AdvancEd, the parent organization of the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. The school returned to its original name, St. Thomas Aquinas High School, July 1. The anniversary celebration included pep rallies, performances by gymnasts and the school marching band, gala awards dinners and a Mass for students celebrated by Father Keith A. Cervine, school chaplain. Bishop James F. Checchio presided at a Mass of Thanksgiving in the school’s Catanzaro gymnasium Sept. 28. Representatives of the school carried forward five lit candles in the opening procession to signify the decades of its existence. The school crest was on prominent display, its symbols recalling its focus on the Eucharist; heritage of the

dioceses of Metuchen and Trenton, and the Franciscan Felician leadership. In his homily, Bishop Checchio reﬂected upon the story of Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), who in life was ignored by the rich man but in death sat at the side of Abraham. The sin of the rich man, he said, was that he didn’t recognize his neighbor in need. “We are called to reﬂect the Father’s goodness in our world,” the bishop continued. “Thanks be to God, we have been doing this at St. Thomas Aquinas, recognizing others’ needs for 50 years. It was founded for exactly this purpose.” Bishop Checchio noted the Catholic high school’s strongest attributes: its superior academics and athletics; a robust arts program; school spirit, and community outreach programs such as the Ahr Star Program and the Christian Social Action Club. “Each one of these illustrates our students loving one another and those in need,” he said, “living out the commandment of loving God and loving neighbor with all our heart, mind and strength.” The bishop thanked the Felician sisters, priests and dedicated teachers who had educated the students since it opened, including Felician Sister Donna Marie Trukowski, who had taught at the school for nine years then assumed her current role as principal for the following 37 years. “This Gospel today, on our 50th anniversary, rightly calls us to notice our neighbor in need,” Bishop Checchio concluded. “St. Thomas Aquinas has certainly done that, and I am grateful. You are a blessing to our Church and your neighborhoods. Never rest on your laurels. Help St. Thomas Aquinas High School to live our faith even more boldly and generously in the future.” Congregants looked back with fondness at the school’s roots. Felician Sister Cynthia Marie Babyak traded smiles, hugs and handshakes with many of the students and their parents before the Saturday liturgy.

OUR DIOCESE

By Christina Leslie Correspondent

School marks golden anniversary of faith-filled education

Bishop James F. Checchio, raising the host, presided at a Mass celebrating the 50th anniversary of St. Thomas Aquinas High School. — Marlo Williamson photo “Something special happened on One Tingley Lane in 1969, and it has continued because of the people here,” Sister Cynthia Marie said. “Not just the people in this auditorium, but the faculty, alumni, students and all involved.” Alumna Maureen Lynch MacArthur, Class of 1979, valued her Catholic education and enabled her daughter, Julie, ’12, and son, Bobby, ’16, to do the same. “The public schools are good in my area, but it’s because of that one extra subject they teach every day: religion,” she said. For more information about the school, visit the website stahs.net/visit.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2019 • 9:00 a.m.

Msgr. Joseph Curry, Celebrant

899 East Lincoln Avenue Piscataway, NJ 08854

For more information: CALL 1-800-943-8400 or VISIT DIOMETUCHEN.ORG/CEMETERIES

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT OCTOBER 17, 2019

Msgr. John Fell, Celebrant

840 Cranbury-South River Rd. Jamesburg, NJ 08831

OUR FAITH

Sacrament of sick/Offering both species Q

Pope Francis

AUDIENCE

October 9, 2019 Dear Brothers and Sisters: In our continuing catechesis on the Acts of the Apostles, we now consider Saint Paul’s conversion from fierce persecutor of the Church to fearless preacher of the Gospel. The pivotal moment in his life came when the Risen Lord appeared and asked him: “Why are you persecuting me?” This encounter with Jesus begins a journey that sees Saul transformed into Paul: God’s “chosen instrument” to bring the Lord’s name to all nations. Paul’s passage from blindness to sight symbolizes his passing from death to life and he begins to see the world in an entirely new way. Our immersion in the Paschal Mystery at baptism signifies, as it did for Paul, the start of a new life, a fresh way of viewing God and others. Let us pray that we may experience the full impact of God’s love, which alone can turn our stony hearts into hearts of flesh, capable of welcoming others in the same way as Jesus himself.

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Prayer to Saint John-Paul II (Oct. 22)

OCTOBER 17, 2019

I recently received the sacrament of the sick — prior to a cardioversion, which involves an electric shock to the heart. After the anointing, my wife mentioned to our pastor that we might be asking for the sacrament again, prior to some planned knee surgery.

Oh, St. John Paul, from the window of heaven, grant us your blessing! Bless the Church that you loved and served and guided, courageously leading it along the paths of the world in order to bring Jesus to everyone and everyone to Jesus. Bless the young, who were your great passion. Help them dream again, help them look up high again to ﬁnd the light that illuminates the paths of life here on earth. May you bless families, bless each family! You warned of Satan's assault against this precious and indispensable divine spark that God lit on earth. St. John Paul, with your prayer, may you protect the family and every life that blossoms from the family. Pray for the whole world, which is still marked by tensions, wars and injustice. You tackled war by invoking dialogue and planting the seeds of love: pray for us so that we may be tireless sowers of peace. Oh St. John Paul, from heaven's window, where we see you next to Mary, send God's blessing down upon us all. Amen.

Question Corner By Father Kenneth Doyle If we understood correctly, our pastor said that he only administered the sacrament for “serious" medical conditions — leading us to believe that we should not ask for it for “routine” knee surgery. My wife and I are both in our 70s. We are aware of the “consent" that must be signed at the hospital prior to surgery, and we believe this document is based on the possible effects of the anesthesia. Considering this, and the fact of our ages, are we wrong to ask to be anointed prior to such knee surgery? Who makes the call on whether we should have the sacrament — we or our pastor? (Richmond, Va.) Both the Code of Canon Law and the Catechism of the Catholic Church offer some guidance as to when the sacrament of the sick can be administered. Canon 1004.1 says that it is given “to a member of the faithful who,

having reached the use of reason, begins to be in danger due to sickness or old age.” The catechism highlights that this anointing is not meant to be limited to those who are right at the point of death (No. 1514). The pastoral judgement of the priest does determine when a person is eligible, but my experience has been that most priests tend to be permissive, especially when the person has asked for the sacrament. In your own situation, I ﬁnd your argument about anesthesia to be persuasive. In looking at parishes’ websites with regard to this sacrament I found, for example, that St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sandusky, Ohio, says that “you may ask to receive the sacrament any time that you are to undergo surgery under general anesthetic.” I consider this a reasonable guideline and if your pastor is unwilling, I would encourage you simply to ask a different priest.

In my new diocese, parishes do not seem to offer the precious blood at Communion time. Do certain dioceses restrict that as a “privilege,” when in fact it is a command from Jesus? Christ opted to offer the two species to us separately: “Unless you eat the ﬂesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood ...” I am a religious sister with great devotion to the Eucharist for nearly 60 years, and I am wondering if the faith of Catholics who no longer believe in the real presence might not be strengthened by a catechesis on receiving under both species. (Trenton)

For the ﬁrst 11 centuries of the Church’s history, the Eucharist was customarily received by the faithful under the forms of both bread and wine; but then that custom fell out of practice, in part because Catholics began to receive holy Communion less frequently. In 1963, the bishops of the Second Vatican Council restored the option for the faithful to receive also from the chalice. The “Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion under Both Kinds,” issued by the U.S. Catholic bishops in 2002, leave to local bishops the determination as to the occasions on which both species are to be made available; and in practice, most bishops have ceded that judgement to local pastors. However, there is a clear preference expressed — both in those “norms” and in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, which is the Church’s universal “guidebook” on liturgical directives — for the availability of both species. The general instruction says: “Holy Communion has a fuller form as a sign when it takes place under both kinds” (No. 281). (Both the general instruction and the norms do make it clear that distribution under both species is not mandatory and that Christ is fully present when either the consecrated bread or wine is received alone.) My own experience, in celebrating Mass at many churches in the U.S. is that most parishes make both species available at most liturgies. Questions may be sent to Father Kenneth Doyle at askfatherdoyle@gmail.com and 30 Columbia Circle Dr., Albany, NY 12203.

Take time to absorb God's presence I saw this headline recently on the website of a Catholic publication: “Where is the zeal in the U.S. Church?”

Mustard Seeds By Deacon Charles Paolino I immediately thought to myself, “I know at least one answer to that question. The zeal is up on West 7th Street in Plainﬁeld — speciﬁcally at the Rose of Sharon Community Church.” I was there last month for the funeral of a minister whose daughter is a professional colleague of mine. The church was full. The funeral lasted about two and a half hours and, because I was sitting in the next to last row, I could see that no one left early. In the sanctuary, there was a choir that appeared to comprise about 18 women, all dressed in white, and they were raising the roof with songs that spoke of the promise of salvation. Most of the congregation sang along, thundered along. Several times during that service someone at the lectern reminded us that “God is in this house,” and it was clear that most of the worshippers believed that to be true.

Of course, since everything in the universe exists only because it shares in God’s existence, God is present everywhere, but we also have more particular beliefs about the presence of God. We Catholics say we believe that God is present with us when we gather to worship. That is what Jesus promised, according to Matthew’s Gospel: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” And besides believing that God is present in the assembly, we say we believe that he is present in his word, which is proclaimed at every Mass. And, of course, we say that he is present — not ﬁguratively but truly present — in the Eucharist that is consecrated on the altar and reserved in the tabernacle. God is present in this house. For generations, the principle way of expressing belief in that idea was by being solemn, being discreet in your movements, keeping your voice down. When I was a teenaged usher at my home parish, I was being indiscreet before a Sunday Mass and felt a heavy hand on my shoulder. “Remember,” the senior usher said, “you’re in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.” I froze in place. I believed in that presence; it was palpable to me. That, I suppose, was the “fear of the Lord” that we read about in the Scriptures — not “fear” as in

“afraid” but “fear” as in “awestruck.” But I found that the presence of God was also palpable to me at Rose of Sharon, and the zeal of the people gathered there felt like an appropriate way to affirm it — maybe even a necessary way to affirm it. Many factors have contributed to the decline in Sunday Mass attendance in the United States over the past five decades. The column that was under the headline I mentioned earlier compared that condition to the exuberance of the Church in Africa. In some cases, people have left the American Church or become indifferent to it because they have been seriously harmed or they have been scandalized. I believe, though, that many others who come only occasionally or not at all have not absorbed the reality or the implications of God’s presence. I’m not an advocate for anything-goes liturgies, but I am an advocate for the kind of excitement that enlivens the Church in Africa, and that I witnessed among people who believed what they professed, excitement that compels them to stay there for hours instead of slinking out before the service ends. How can we murmur our prayers, clam up during the hymns, come and go as though we don’t want to attract attention, take a bye because going is just too much trouble, if we truly believe this astounding thing: God is in this house.

Prayer is always beneficial “Remain faithful to what you have learned and believed” (2 Tm 3:14). These opening words of our second reading serve well as an introduction to the message of the Liturgy of the Word this Sunday. Each of the Scripture readings is calling the believer to persistence, particularly in prayer. The readings assure us that the fruit of such perseverance is always God’s intervention on our behalf.

SCRIPTURE STUDY By Msgr. John N. Fell

WEEK IN SCRIPTURE Sun 20 Mon 21 Tues 22 Wed 23 Thurs 24 Fri 25 Sat 26 Sun 27 Mon 28 Tues 29 Wed 30 Thurs 31 Fri 1 Sat 2

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20 - SATURDAY,NOVEMBER 2

Ex 17:8-13 • Ps 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 • 2 Tm 3:14 – 4:2 • Lk 18:1-8 Rom 4:20-25 • Lk 1:69-70, 71-72, 73-75 • Lk 12:13-21 Rom 5:12, 15b, 17-19, 20b-21 • Ps 40:7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 17 • Lk 12:35-38 Rom 6:12-18 • Ps 124:1b-3, 4-6, 7-8 • Lk 12:39-48 Rom 6:19-23 • Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4, 6 • Lk 12:49-53 Rom 7:18-25a • Ps 119:66, 68, 76, 77, 93, 94 • Lk 12:54-59 Rom 8:1-11 • Ps 24:1b-2, 3-4ab, 5-6 • Lk 13:1-9 Sir 35:12-14, 16-18 • Ps 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23 • 2 Tm 4:6-8, 16-18 • Lk 18:9-14 Eph 2:19-22 • Ps 19:2-3, 4-5 • Lk 6:12-16 Rom 8:18-25 • Ps 126:1b-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6 • Lk 13:18-21 Rom 8:26-30 • Ps 13:4-5, 6 • Lk 13:22-30 Rom 8:31b-39 • Ps 109:21-22, 26-27, 30-31 • Lk 13:31-35 Rv 7:2-4, 9-14 • Ps 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6 • 1 Jn 3:1-3 Wis 3:1-9 • Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 • Rom 5:5-11

John Paul II 1920-2005 October 22

CNS

When this popular pope died, crowds in St. Peter’s Square chanted “santo subito” (“sainthood now”). The Vatican heard, and the sainthood cause for the jet-setting pontiff who helped bring down European communism was put on the fast track; he was beatified in 2011. A Pole and former actor shaped by World War II and the Cold War, Cardinal Karol Wojtyla of Krakow was the first non-Italian pope in 455 years. In his 26-year pontificate, he evangelized on trips to 129 countries, upheld traditional church doctrine against dissent, connected with the world’s youth, and named more than 450 new saints. He also modeled Christian values by forgiving his would-be assassin and living an increasingly frail old age in public. He was canonized in 2014.

Saints

SCRIPTURE SEARCH® Readings for October 20, 2019 2 Timothy 3:14-42 / Luke 18:1-8

Following is a word search based on the Second and Gospel readings for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C: how trusting God strengthens faith. Words can be found in all directions in the puzzle. SACRED TRAINING DEAD PRAY FEARED GOD DAY AND NIGHT HE FIND

SCRIPTURE GOOD THE WORD JUDGE A WIDOW SPEEDILY FAITH

INSPIRED WORK PATIENCE NEITHER LORD COMES ON EARTH

TEACHINGS T

J O E C N E

H T

T A P E

A F G O O D E A D

E R H E G D U J R C S F W A E G A W I O

R N

D O W P E

O M L K E A

R N U A D N E

T H E R

S P D E

N P A A P J N

L G

T N D S D I

C D

L Y A A L G

J O R W O R K P

Y Y O

S E C O N E A R T H A D D R S J

F D N

F E H D

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT OCTOBER 17, 2019

This Sunday’s Gospel reading is excerpted from St. Luke’s account of Jesus’ journey toward Jerusalem. Having just finished speaking rather soberly about the end of time, Jesus tells this parable which speaks of the need for persistence, even in the face of discouragement. His story is about a widow (widows were commonly used to represent the poor and disenfranchised; at that time, a woman without a man to rely upon survived only on the fringes of society). This widow, facing some oppression, took her case to the local judge. The judge, “who neither feared God nor respected any human being” (Lk 18:4b), dismissed the woman without even considering the matter. In the face of this rejection, the woman did not give up, but time and time again brought her case back to the judge. Eventually the judge, not caring at all about the justice of the matter, decided to settle in the widow’s favor simply so that she would stop bothering him. After telling the story, Jesus turns to the crowd and asks, if this unjust judge finally gave in to the woman simply because she kept asking, “will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night . . . I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily” (Lk 18:7-8a). If the unjust judge who did not care for the woman eventually favored her, how much more likely is God, who deeply cares for his people, to defend their rights? St. Luke’s text, sometimes referred to as the Gospel of Prayer, encourages Christians to pray always, relying on God’s loving goodness, even when times are most difficult. Most people, of course, will have experienced the desperation of the woman when prayers are not answered as quickly, or in the way desired. Inherent to our belief that God always responds to prayer, and that intercessory prayer is indeed important and effective, is the caveat that God, in his infinite wisdom and goodness, sometimes grants exactly what is asked, sometimes grants something different or better, sometimes says no, and sometimes we just do not know what is go-

ing on (God’s wisdom is so much greater than ours, that we cannot always understand his plans). Prayer, even when it does not get us exactly what we want, is always beneficial — it focuses us on our need for God’s continual action in our lives and world, it helps us to further see and embrace God’s eternal will amid the transitory circumstances of our lives, and it is ultimately an act of faith in the God whom we believe has the power and inclination to save us. Our first reading this Sunday, taken from the Book of Exodus, presents the great Old Testament figure of Moses himself as such a tireless intercessor before the Lord. This section of the Book of Exodus recounts the journey of the Israelites through the Sinai Desert. Already suffering from a number of difficulties, the Hebrews encounter the Amalekites, a war-like nomadic tribe. The People of Israel are forced to battle with them, and we get the sense that the battle is not going well. Moses pleads for God’s assistance, and, as long as Moses has his hands raised in supplication, the Israelites have the better of the battle. When Moses stopped praying and lowered his hands, Amalek began to recoup. Moses then struggled to keep his weary arms uplifted in prayer, even engaging assistants to hold his arms upright in a position of unceasing prayer. In light of this continual prayer in the face of oppression, the Book of Exodus records that God blessed the efforts of his Chosen People, and “Joshua mowed down Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword” (Ex 17:13). St. Luke ends this Sunday’s section of his Gospel with an ominous question, “But when the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on the earth?” (Lk 18:8b). By the time St. Luke’s Gospel was written, the Church knew well times of persecution. Remaining faithful and persistent in prayer despite the various tribulations that the Church was forced to undergo was certainly difficult. With this question, St. Luke is possibly offering a commentary on such difficulties, and the discouraging obstacles they could raise up for prayer without ceasing. His point remains that such difficulties, however long they last, will always be overcome by divine intervention. Our connection with God, through prayer and in all other ways, will always be the source of our hope and salvation. As the woman in today’s Gospel, and the people under Moses’ leadership found out, praying without ceasing, however desperate or fruitless it may seem at any given moment, is always a most powerful tool in overcoming evil, building up the Kingdom of God, and placing ourselves in the strong hands of God who loves us so. Msgr. Fell is a Scripture scholar and director, diocesan Office for Priest Personnel

OUR FAITH

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

McAULEY

EVANGELIZATION HERE & NOW

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Our Lady of Peace Parish

50th Anniversary Choir Concert Sunday, November 10 · 4 pm 1730 US Highway Rt. 130 North Brunswick, NJ 08902

Featuring Our Adult Choir Our Youth Choir

Evangelization HERE AND NOW

Coaches encouraged to get players to practice faith By Alex Lowe Correspondent PISCATAWAY — John Glynn, director, diocesan of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, addressed the athletic directors from schools throughout the diocese in advance of the upcoming CYM basketball season at the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center Oct. 1. Bob Berger, the CYM sports coordinator, also briefed the attendees. He discussed the new online registration process as well as the role coaches must play in the evangelization of student athletes through participation in sports. “I used to teach high school math in Houston and I was the head coach for freshman football and baseball,” said Glynn. “I coached under this guy named Danny and I asked him if he had ever been thrown out of a game. He told me that when he was a young hothead, he walked up to the umpire during a game and asked if he could be thrown out for something that he was thinking. The umpire said no. So he said that he thought the umpire was blind. The umpire immediately tossed him out of the game. It was a hilarious story, but looking at it from the point of virtue, it probably was not very virtuous to say that. There is a difference between saying something and thinking something.” Glynn stressed the need for coaches to act as both teachers and communicators when dealing with their young charges. “What happens to a fourth-grade basketball team is not going to make or break someone’s life. We need to teach our youth that success brings

Bob Berger, sports coordinator, Catholic Youth Ministry, speaks to basketball coaches at the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center. Among the topics Berger discussed was questions that athletic directors have concerning the rules that govern participation on school basketball teams. — Alex Lowe photo with it really cool consequences yet when we lose we can also learn from that. We need for them to know that hard work and dedication equals positive results. The result may just be that we got better. They need to know the why behind the things that we do.” Glynn is a firm believer that organized sports can be a valuable teaching tool about life and an important exercise in the development of virtue. “Saint Ignatius of Loyola taught a couple of things that I absolutely love. Ad maiorem Dei gloriam, which means for the greater glory of God. In everything we do we try to focus for God’s glory “The second was something he

OCTOBER 17, 2019

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Members of Philomusica Concert Choir Organist and Choir Director Joseph Suchocki

A Stained Glass Multi-Media Event Advanced Tickets $5 ($10 at the door) Students and Seniors free with advanced tickets For information and tickets contact Alicia M. DeFrange Office@OLoPNB.org 732-297-9680

Support Systems Joan Fasanello, director, Life Choices, Inc., Phillipsburg, recently presented a $500 check to Margory Bedoya for being selected as the recipient of the Bishop Edward T. Hughes Scholarship. Bedoya, holding her two-year-old son, Isaac, is a nursing student. Isaac participates in the childcare program at Life Choices St. Anne’s Center. — photo courtesy of Joan Fasanello

called spiritual exercises. Our faith life is similar to our athletic careers. This idea that we have to practice in order to get better at it. It is the same thing with our kids and prayer. In their journey towards Christ, they have to practice. If we can articulate that to our youth, it goes beyond fourth-grade basketball, eighth-grade basketball and beyond college. They say that basketball starts with a prayer and ends with a fight. I believe we should replace that saying with one that says basketball begins with a prayer and ends with a prayer. I think that puts the two bookends in place as far as glorifying the Lord with what we are doing with our bodies.” Berger addressed many questions that athletic directors had concerning the specific rules that govern participation on school basketball teams. There was concern over the policy of allowing kids from the diocese that do not attend a particular school to play for that team. “We have to remember that we are ultimately providing the opportunity for evangelization,” said Berger. “These are kids whose only experience with the Church may be through participation on these teams. We also have to realize that in some cases a team may be short by a player or two. Given the choice of having one or two kids from outside the school participating versus having six or seven kids from the school not being able to play because there aren’t enough players to field a team, I think you weigh those considerations.”

Journey of Faith

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some who make an informed decision, feeling called to the single state by God. Still others, due to a variety of personal reasons, have chosen the single state or it has been chosen for them. Then there are people who become widows or widowers, finding themselves as singles when their spouses pass away. There are multiple reasons why a person remains single. The challenge before us as members of the Church, is to recognize the reality of the single state and to offer our attentive support and kindness, as much as possible, to those who are single. In addition to our prayers, which are imperative, there are other ways we just might be able to offer our help to a single person, especially an elderly man or woman. Helping to shovel snow, mow the lawn, or make a quick run to the pharmacy or corner store might mean everything to someone who is lonely or otherwise living alone. “No one is without a family in this world” says the Catechism (ccc 1658). You just might be the “family member” most needed by the single person whom God has placed within your sight. Father Hillier serves as Director of the Office of the Pontifical Mission Societies, Censor Librorum and oversees the Office for Persons with Disabilities

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT OCTOBER 17, 2019

The Catechism points out that in the United States in the 1980s as one our world there are “single persons who, of the so-called boat people, chooses because of the particular circumstances to use his vacation time each year to in which they have to live – often not travel back to Vietnam to help people of their choosing – are especially close who live in the mountains. to Jesus’ heart and therefore deserve the Other single people I know give special affection and active solicitude of of themselves on a daily basis, serving the Church” (ccc 1658). This means that at soup kitchens, helping at St. Vincent the care and compassion of the Church de Paul facilities, and offering their ought to be directed in a professional and manual special way toward single labor to the Church as By Father John Gerard Hillier We all know persons. In fact, the comvolunteers. We have single people, Have you ever considered the fact that passion of priests, and single people who serve all priests, bishops and consecrated “especially of pastors” sacristans, parish office some of whom as religious men and women first lived as (ccc 1658) ought to be assistants, cantors, liturgimembers of the lay faithful, often as directed toward those who cal ministers, members of are quite busy teenagers seeking to discern the voca- remain single. Why? Bethe choir and in various working in the tion in life to which God was calling cause we believe that “No other roles. them, before they were ordained or one is without a family vineyard of Jesus. We all know single consecrated to God? The Catechism in this world: the Church people, some of whom are Others keep to (ccc 1656), quoting from the Second is a home and family for quite busy working in the Vatican Council, puts it this way: “It is everyone, especially those of Jesus. Others themselves or are vineyard in the bosom of the family that parents who ‘labor and are heavy keep to themselves or are are “by word and example. . .the first laden’” (ccc 1658). otherwise alone otherwise alone or lonely. heralds of the faith with regard to their In some parts of I have spoken with some or lonely. children. They should encourage them the world people remain single people who go to in the vocation which is proper to each single “due to conditions Mass on a regular basis child, fostering with special care any of poverty” (ccc 1658). and participate in many religious vocation” (Lumen Gentium, I know from my own conversations parish functions, especially liturgical 11). with priests and bishops from India ones, but, in their words, “receive little The Second Vatican Council calls that many young girls in their country or no support or gestures of kindness the family the “ecclesia domestica” remain single because they do not have from other parishioners.” or domestic church. “It is here,” the a dowry in order to get married. The Seldom do we consider the single Catechism explains, “that the father of same is true of many who grow up in life as a vocation. No doubt there are the family, the mother, children, and countries throughout Africa. all members of the family exercise the Of course, like young men and priesthood of the baptized in a privi- women in the United States, Canada, leged way” (ccc 1657). What is this Britain and elsewhere, “some live their privileged way? It is “by the reception situation in the spirit of the Beatitudes, of the sacraments, prayer and thanks- serving God and neighbor in exemplary giving, the witness of a holy life, and fashion” (ccc 1658). I continue to meet self-denial and active charity” (ccc countless women and men, young and 1657). Thus, the home is the first school old, from all parts of the world who of Christian life and it is also “a school live in this manner. With hearts overfor human enrichment” (ccc 1657). It flowing with generosity, these single is in the home where one should learn people seek only to fulfill God’s Will endurance and the joy of work, fra- through lives of love and service. One ternal love, generous forgiveness and, young woman I know quit her job in above all, divine worship in prayer and the United States so she could go to the offering of one’s life to God. The the Philippines and help the poorest phrase “priesthood of the baptized” de- of the poor. I know several others who notes the inner details of what occurred go to Haiti on a regular basis to help at moment of baptism when each of us children and young mothers who are was born again “through water and the poverty stricken. Still other singles I Holy Spirit” and received new, super- know (among them some widows and natural life from God. At that moment, widowers) go to the Philippines yearly we were officially counted among the to serve in a medical mission which children of God and set on Care the path to includes dental hygiene. One single Family Placement, eternal life with God in heaven. man I know, who received asylum in

FAITH ALIVE

Article 126 - Catechism of the Catholic Church Series Paragraphs 1655-1658

Offer attentive support, kindness to those who are single

22 OUR DIOCESE

Catholics urged to ‘open wide the church doors’ for migrants now than ever before,” he said. “There are an estimated one billion migrants in the world today, 258 million of them PORT READING — During a Sept. 29 internationally and 763 million of whom liturgy, the congregation in a suburban are eternally migrants. Think about that: Catholic church, many of them long- one billion of them means that one out of standing area residents, listened intently seven people in the world today are on the as their deacon shared sobering statistics move.” About 68 million miof persons who had no grants have been forcibly place to call their own. "Our challenge displaced due to poverty, St. Anthony of violence, war or religious Padua Church was the today, on this persecution, Deacon Barsite of a Mass for the cellona added. World Day of Migrants World Day for “We cannot forget and Refugees. Father WilMigrants and them. Pope Francis’ liam J. Smith, pastor, St. theme for this day, ‘It’s Anthony of Padua Parish, Refugees, is to not just about migrants,’ presided. listen to our is to show us our blind Instead of being spots and make sure no decorated with ﬂowers, poor brothers' one remains excluded the foot of the altar was from our society,” he said. adorned with empty water and sisters' “Today’s readings point bottles, worn out shoes cries for help." to one thing: God is on the and sombreros to signify —Deacon Peter E. side of the poor.” the meager possessions The deacon reof many migrants on the Barcellona minded the assembled move. about how poor Lazarus Deacon Peter E. Barcellona gave a moving homily on the ascended to the bosom of Abraham and Gospel of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke the rich man’s eternal damnation for not 16:19-31), drawing parallels to the plight aiding the poor. “We fail to encounter them as perof migrants and mankind’s responsibility sons, fellow children of God. We look to care for its most vulnerable. “There are more people on the move down on them and view them as the By Christina Leslie Correspondent

The Diocese of Metuchen’s Ofﬁce of Human Life and Dignity and the Catholic Community of Mary, Mother of God Parish will host a

Prayer Service

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OCTOBER 17, 2019 THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

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Above Father William J. Smith, pastor, St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Port Reading, distributes holy Communion at Mass for World Day for Migrants and Refugees. Right, Deacon Peter E. Barcellona, who exercises his ministry at the parish, holds a brochure on refugees and migrants. — Gerald Wutkowski Jr. photos

source of all society’s problems,” he said. “Pope Francis reminds us that they are not pawns on the chessboard of humanity, not a problem to be solved, but brothers and sisters who deserve to be welcomed, respected and loved.” Referring again to the rich man’s neglect of the poor beggar at his feet, Deacon Barcellona said, “The Gospel asks us to step out of our comfort zones and care for the Lazaruses of the world, those at our doorsteps, our gates and our walls, searching for a better way of life. They are an opportunity … to show concern for Jesus Christ in the person of our marginalized brothers and sisters. “Just like us, these people are moving because they want to have life and the safety of their children. What parent among us would not do this? The child Jesus was a refugee who fled along with the holy family to Egypt. The Holy Family’s journey is being taken today by families who are fleeing their own country. “It’s not about the migrants but about building the city of God and the city of man. It is about our call to act with and for justice. The highest form of charity is that offered to those who cannot reciprocate, or even love us in return.” Helping those in need is everyone’s responsibility, Deacon Barcellona said. “We are the Church, not just Father Smith or the deacons or those who work around here. It is our mission to reflect the teachings of Jesus Christ who has come to show us the way to the Father,” he asserted. “As Catholics, we really have no choice but to open the doors of the church wide to those who are on the move.” “I have traveled to Lebanon, Egypt

and the Texas-Mexico border,” said Deacon Barcellona, who serves as associate director for the Diocese of Metuchen’s Catholic Charities Solidarity Team. “I’ve seen the work of Catholic Relief Services, Catholic Charities and our Catholic Church to relieve the suffering of so many refugees, and they are doing such amazing work. Even with all the good works on the ground I have seen, there is so much more to be done.” Governments must act as well, he added. “The bishops of the United States have been working for decades to get comprehensive immigration reform to pass with very minimal success,” the deacon declared. “Our challenge today, on this World Day for Migrants and Refugees, is to listen to our poor brothers’ and sisters’ cries for help.” An encounter with the poor is an encounter with Jesus Christ, he asserted, since the migrants and refugees are our brothers and sisters and we are their keepers. “This is not someone else’s work,” Deacon Barcellona concluded. “It is our work to do as faithful Catholics. May we be blessed and strengthened in our work to live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

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ACROSS 7 Liturgical season indicator 8 Auxiliary bishop with right to succession 10 Image for the “hope of salvation” 12 Declare a marriage invalid 13 French-speaking Canadian diocese 16 St. ___ Bertrand 18 Church seats 20 Samuel anointed Saul with this 21 Aaron was anointed to be this 22 An Eastern rite 25 “Our Father who ___…” 26 Exodus pest 27 Wife of 35A 28 Sins against the eighth Commandment 29 Twenty-six martyrs were crucified here in the 16th century 31 Saint of Avila 34 Biblical river 35 Abraham, in the beginning

Answers can be found on page 26

DOWN 1 Symbol of the Holy Spirit 2 The Upper ___ 3 Rerum ___ 4 Genesis plot 5 Papal order 6 Holy ___ 9 Sebastian is their patron saint 11 Seventh century pope 14 19th century Australian cardinal and advocate for justice 15 What the apostles did while Jesus prayed in the Garden 17 Vestry 18 ___ infallibility 19 One of 7A 23 Reuben or Gad, for example 24 St. ___ Cabrini 26 The Israelites settled here in Egypt 29 Biblical king who destroyed the worshipers of Baal 30 “___ for us” 32 Biblical epic starring Burton and Mature (with “The”) 33 “O, ___ of wonder…”

OCTOBER 17, 2019

Crossword Puzzle

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

OUR DIOCESE

DISCOVER MACKINAC ISLAND

Higher Learning

OUR DIOCESE

Dr. Robert A. Lockwood, diocesan Superintendent of Schools, seated on left, signs a document officially establishing a Project Acceleration partnership between Seton Hall University, South Orange, St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Edison, and Immaculata High School, Somerville, at the college Oct. 2. Also in photo, seated, Francesca Phillipy, assistant director, Project Acceleration, Seton Hall; standing from left, Harry Zeigler, associate principal, St. Thomas Aquinas; Dr. Christopher Kaiser, associate dean, College of Arts and Sciences, Seton Hall; Dr. Peter Shoemaker, dean, College of Arts and Sciences, Seton Hall; and Joan Silo, head of school, Immaculata. The project allows high school students to enroll concurrently within Seton Hall's College of Arts and Sciences. A student's regular high school class doubles as a Seton Hall college class earning the student three or four credits per course. Over the course of their high school career, students can earn up to 22 credits from Seton Hall for approved courses taken in their high schools. College credits earned through the project are accepted at more than 200 colleges and universities. St. Thomas Aquinas and Immaculata join 175 high schools and about 3,000 students around the country who participate in Project Acceleration each year. — Dr. Robert A. Lockwood photo

Mass of remembrance scheduled The monthly Mass of Remembrance Nov. 2 at 9 a.m. in the Mausoleum Chapel at Holy Cross Burial Park, East Brunswick. Father Alexander Carles will preside at the same time in the Mausoleum Chapel at Resurrection Burial

Park, Piscataway. All are invited to participate at either site. These Masses are offered for all the deceased in the cemeteries. For more information, contact the diocesan Cemetery Ofﬁce at (732) 463-1424.

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Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem to teach the people. When he taught them, he often used stories about things the people would be familiar with. These stories had a special name: parables. Sometimes Jesus used parables to let the people know important information about God and heaven. And other times, he used parables as a way to answer questions or respond to the wrong things people were saying or doing. One day, Jesus decided to tell a parable in response to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. “Two people went up to the Temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee

and the other was a tax collector,” Jesus began. The Pharisees were members of a very influential religious party. Many times, Jesus chastised them for not practicing what they preached to the people. In turn, the Pharisees did not like Jesus very much and were always trying to find ways to make him look bad in the eyes of the people. Tax collectors were people who worked for the hated Roman Empire. They collected tax money from the people and often cheated them. In turn, tax collectors were considered to be sinners, and the people did not like them and wanted nothing to do with them. Jesus said that the Pharisee took up his position and said a silent prayer. “O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity — greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector,” the Pharisee prayed. “I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.” Jesus said that the tax collector prayed to God in a very different way. He stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven. He

beat his chest as he began his prayer. “O God, be merciful to me a sinner,” the tax collector prayed. Jesus looked at the people as he finished his parable.

“I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted,” Jesus said.

READ MORE ABOUT IT: LUKE 18 Q&A:

OUR DIOCESE

By Jennifer Ficcaglia Catholic News Service

Jesus tells a story about being truly humble

1. What parable did Jesus tell? 2. Which man went home justified?

PUZZLE: Unscramble each word and arrange them to form a quotation from the children’s story.

entw raea wot het ot epploe ot pu plemte yarp

“O God, be merciful to me a sinner,” the tax collector prayed.

— CNS Artwork

Puzzle Answer: went, area, two, the, to, people, to, up, Temple, pray Two people went up to the Temple area to pray.

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Prayer and Worship

The Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament, Raritan, will celebrate a sung Mass every Sunday at 11 a.m. in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite in Latin. The Mass is celebrated according to the 1962 Missal in compliance with the “Summorum Pontiﬁcum.” For details, call the Shrine Rectory Ofﬁce, (908) 300-8167. Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Piscataway, will hold a Holy Hour of Prayer for the Dying every Thursday from 3 to 4 p.m. in the church. Come and pray for those who are

Crossword Puzzle Answers D R C O L O R V O H E L M E E A M O S O I L P R I E S A P G N A T O S J A H E E U P H R U N

A T H L E T E S P R A Y

N E C O A D V E A N N R O U I S M A C F R A R A I A S A N T C Y T E S S

dying, especially those who die suddenly and unprepared to enter eternal life. For information, call (732) 968-5555. Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Piscataway, will hold a Holy Hour for Religious Freedom and Persecuted Christians every Sunday at 7 p.m., in the Eucharistic Adoration Chapel, 50 Van Winkle Place, Piscataway. Participants are invited to silently pray the Rosary and special prayers for the intentions of Christians worldwide who are being persecuted for their faith. For information, call Becky, (703) 625-5388. Parish of the Visitation, St. Mary of Mount Virgin Worship Site, New Brunswick, invites all to come and recite The Scriptural Rosary, every Sunday, 7 to 7:30 p.m. in Visitation Chapel. The Scriptural Rosary is a modern version of the way the Rosary was prayed throughout Western Christendom in the late Middle Ages. Materials will be provided. For information, call (732) 545-5090.

deceased Sisters, relatives, friends and benefactors of the Sisters. To attend and to have names of the recently deceased recorded in a Book of Remembrance, contact Linda Cavallo, (908) 756-0994 ext. 4006 or email lcavallo@mercymidatlantic.org by Oct. 30. Nov. 7, 7:30 p.m. — Cathedral of St. Francis Body of Christ Prayer Group, Metuchen, will offer a Mass followed by prayers for healing. The celebrant will be Father Bill Habling. Members of the Body of Christ Prayer Group will be available to pray. For information, call Pam, (732) 492-6042 or email pzgendlek@comcast.net.

Fun and Food

amo, m2574a@yahoo.com or Lou Colella, Louc74@aol.com. Nov. 24, 3:30 p.m. — St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Port Reading, is sponsoring its annual Queen for a Day Tricky Tray Auction in the Father Milos Hall. Prizes will include a $1500 vacation voucher, NASCAR tickets, designer purses, appliances, a TV and more. Advance tickets are $12. Tickets will be sold at the door for $15, if available. To purchase tickets, visit the parish ofﬁce or call (732) 634-1403.

Concerts

Nov. 16, 7:30 p.m. — St. Bartholomew Music Ministry, East Brunswick, will present a concert by Hector Olivera in the church. Admission is $15. Tickets are available in the parish ofﬁce, the religious shop and at the door. For information, call (732) 257-7722 or visit http://www/stbartseb.com.

Oct. 26, 5:30 to 8 p.m. — Our Lady of Lourdes Council 7250, Knights of Columbus, Milltown, is hosting a Spaghetti Dinner Night at Lourdes Hall. Proceeds beneﬁt the B O local Knights of Columbus “Coats for Kids” J U T O R program. Tickets are $10 per adult, $5 per L D child. Menu includes spaghetti with meat- Special Programs U L E balls or sausage, bread, salad and dessert; Nov. 9, noon to 2 p.m. — St. Thomas the R P E W S Nov. 3, 4 p.m. — All are invited to attend a chicken nuggets and plain noodles avail- Apostle Parish, Old Bridge, is offering a A H Holy Hour with Rosary and Benediction to able for children. Bring your own beer and monthly soup kitchen in the school auditoO P T I C pray for priests and vocations on the ﬁrst Sun- wine only. Registration forms are available rium. For information contact, Mary Anne A R T or call, Will Young, (732) 565-1312. tdmaatwest@optonline.net day of the month at theJersey Carmelite Monastery, Masses New Chinese Apostolate NewDonoghue, Jersey Chinese Catholic Apostolateor L I E S New Jersey Chinese CatholicCatholic Apostolate New Jersey Chinese Catholic Apostolate Chris Doyle, cdoyle167@optimum.net. 26 Harmony School Rd., Flemington. B New Jersey Chinese Catholic Apostolate New Jersey Chinese Catholic Apostolate New Jersey Chinese Catholic New Jersey Chinese Catholic Apostolate 新澤西華人天主教會新澤西華人天主教會 Oct.Apostolate 27, 3 to 5 p.m. — St. Magdalen de New Jersey Chinese Catholic Apostolate New Jersey Chinese Catholic Apostolate E R E S A 新澤西華人天主教會新澤西華人天主教會 New Jersey Chinese Catholic Apostolate New Jersey Chinese Catholic Apostolate 新澤西華人天主教會中區 OurThe Lady of Mtof Virgin Church 650 Parish, Harris Ave, 中區新澤西華人天主教會 Our Lady of MtConception Virgin Church 650Somerville, Harris Ave, O T Pazzi will sponsor Trunk Treat Immaculate Parish, Nov. 3, 2:30 p.m. — Sisters Mercy, 中區 Our Lady of Mt新澤西華人天主教會 Virgin Church 650 Harris Ave, 中區or Our Lady of新澤西華人天主教會 Mt Virgin Church 650 Harris Ave, 新澤西華人天主教會新澤西華人天主教會 Middlesex NJ 08846 Every 2nd Sunday Middlesex NJLady 08846 Every 2nderect 3:30pm Chinese Mass Sunday 3:30pm Chinese Mass A B R A M 中區 Our Lady of Mt Virgin Church 650 Harris Ave, 中區 Our Lady of Mt Virgin Church 650 Harris Ave, 新澤西華人天主教會新澤西華人天主教會 in the parking lot. Participants are asked to nd nd 中區 Our Lady of Mt Virgin Church 650 Harris Ave, 中區 Our of Mt Virgin Church 650 Harris Ave, will once again fresh cut Christmas Watchung, invites all to attend a Mass of Middlesex NJ 08846 Every 2 Middlesex NJ 08846 Every 2 Sunday 3:30pm Chinese Mass Sunday 3:30pm Chinese Mass 中區 Our Lady ofSt. MtEvery Virgin 650 Harris Ave, 中區 OurNJ Lady ofEvery Mt Virgin Church 650 Harris Ave, nd Church nd Sunday E R 北區 Andrew Kim Church 280 Parker Ave, 北區 St. Andrew Kim Church 280 Parker Ave, nd nd Middlesex NJ 08846 2 Middlesex 08846 2 Sunday 3:30pm Chinese Mass 3:30pm Chinese Mass Middlesex NJ 08846 Every 2 Middlesex NJ 08846 Every 2 Sunday 3:30pm Chinese Mass Sunday 3:30pm Chinese Mass bring 2 bags of candy. For details or if you trees decorated with clear lights and a plaque 中區 St. Our of Mt Virgin Church 650 Harris Ave, 中區 Our Lady of Mt Virgin Church 650 Harris Ave, Remembrance inLady the Chapel of the Immac北區 Andrew Kim Church 280 Parker Ave, 北區 St. Andrew Kim Church 280 Parker Ave, nd Sunday 3:30pm Chinese Mass Middlesex NJSt. 08846 Every 207040 Middlesex NJ 08846 Every 2nd Sunday 3:30pm Chinese Mass New Jersey Chinese Catholic Apostolate Catholic Apostolate Maplewood NJKim Every Sunday 2pmParker Chinese MassNew Maplewood NJKim 07040 Every Sunday 2pm Chinese Mass 北區 Andrew Church 280 Parker Ave, 北區AdSt. Andrew 280 Parker Ave, 北區 St. Andrew Kim Church 280 Ave, 北區 St.Every Andrew Kim Church 280 Parker plan toMass decorate your Jersey car, emailChinese Mike Middlesex NJ 08846 Every 2ndSunday Middlesex NJ 08846 2ndChurch Sunday 3:30pm Chinese Sunday 3:30pm Chinese Mass Continued on nextAve, page ulateMaplewood Conception, Mount Saint Mary, forChinese NJ 07040 Every 2pm Mass Maplewood NJ 07040 Every Sunday 2pm Chinese Mass

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Eucharistic Adoration is now being held in the chapel at the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center, Piscataway. Adorers and intercessors are needed Monday through Friday 9 to 11:45 a.m. Daily Mass is held at 11:45 a.m. For information or to volunteer, call Laura Ferreras (732) 529-7932. To submit a prayer request, call (732) 765-6445. The Pontifical Mission Office offers Mass Cards, Perpetual Masses and Gregorian Mass for the Living and Deceased. The suggested offering is from $5 to $300. To purchase a card, contact (732) 2434580 or email pontifical.mission.societies@diometuchen.org. On December 12th Bishop Checchio inaugurated a year of preparation for the consecration of the Diocese of Metuchen to Our Lady of Guadalupe. His intention for this year is that we each open our heart wide to God’s grace so that authentic spiritual renewal can take place. In light of this you are invited to come to an evening of prayer, preaching and reflection on the message and meaning of Our Lady of Guadalupe’s apparitions on our continent in 1531. Discover how The Blessed Mother led nine million indigenous Mexican people into a life changing encounter with her Son, Jesus, and how she desires to lead you into a deep and vibrant relationship with Him as well. For information, visit www.LightingHeartsOnFire.org. 10/23

World Mission Sunday Family Celebration, Office of the Pontifical Mission Society, 10:30 a.m., Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen. “Going the Extra Mile for Kids in Need of Jesus” a one-mile walk, will begin St. Francis CYO building. Mass will be celebrated at noon by Father John G. Hillier. A light reception will follow Mass. For a registration form, call (732) 243-4583.

10/23

Adult Enrichment Classes, Office of Adult Faith Formation, 10 to 11:30 a.m., St. John Neumann Pastoral Center, Piscataway. The classes will be held on Wednesdays. The 8 lFaith. i n”eFather s : Glenn Comandini, S.T.D. will serve topic will be “Apologetics of the Catholic as instructor. 1 i Reading n s e rassignments t i o n will @be from 3 . “The 5 0Catechism / l i n eof:the$Catholic 2 8 .Church. 0 0 ”The program is free. Registration is required. To register, call Angela, (732) 562-1543 or to n shttp://diometuchen.org/ongoing-faith-formation. ertions @ $3.25: $52.00 register on2lineivisit,

10/24

10/27

CUSTODIANS

Prayer Service for Those Touched by the Pain of Addiction, 7 p.m., Mary, Mother of God Parish, Hillsborough. All those who have been touched by addiction in some way or have suffered a loss of a loved are invited to attend. Pastoral ministers will be present to listen and speak with participants and to offer healing resources. Refreshments and fellowship will follow. For information, call (732) 243-4574. Silver and Gold Wedding Anniversary Celebration, Diocese of Metuchen, 4 p.m., Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen. Bishop James F. Checchio will be the presider at the prayer service. For information, call (732) 562-1543.

November 11/2

A Catholic Prayer and Support for Families Affected by Mental Health Issues, Office for Persons with Disabilities, 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., St. Patrick Parish, Belvidere. The support group will offer spiritual support and tips on how to cope with mental health issues. The program will also be held through Dec. on the first Wednesday of the month. For details, call (732) 765-6432 or email catholicswithdisabilities@gmail.com.

December 12/4

A Catholic Prayer and Support for Families Affected by Mental Health Issues, Office for Persons with Disabilities, 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., St. Patrick Parish, Belvidere. The support group will offer spiritual support and tips on how to cope with mental health issues. For details, call (732) 765-6432 or email catholicswithdisabilities@gmail.com.

Outside the Diocese

Nov. 1-3 — St. Joseph by the Sea Retreat House, South Mantoloking, will present a weekend based on the movie entitled “The Shack.” The weekend will consist of viewing the movie, discussing its meaning and unlocking its graces. The cost is $225. To register, call (732) 892-8494 or visit www. sjbsea.org.

CLASSIFIED For information call: (732 )529-7934 • Fax: (732) 562-0969 HELP WANTED

SCHOOL BUS DRIVER - Bus Driver wanted with valid CDL-B License with both P and S endorsements, updated medicals and d r i ve r histor y ex trac t. Spotswood area. If interested please contact Mark Sahli at 732-251-3110. CUSTODIANS - Immaculate Conception School, Annandale, will be hiring four (4) part time custodians during the Christmas break. For additional details please call the parish office: (908) 735-7319. POSITION WANTED

C A R E G I V E R - 20 years experience. Will take care of older persons. Live in. Call Natly: (917) 716-2008 CAREGIVER - Experienced care for the elderly including Dementia and Alzheimers. Good companion; responsible and reliable; will live in. References available. Call Beca: 1-908-9920511or (908) 240-6100. REAL ESTATE

SELLING YOUR HOME? Call George Pantozzi, Broker/Sales Associate, Berkshire Hathaway NJ Properties for a complimentary market analysis. I also buy homes. Cell: 908.392.2677; Office: 908.874.3400 ext 324.

HELP WANTED

PRO-LIFE NURSE MANAGER PART-TIME

Life Choices Resource Center, a pro-life pregnancy center in Middlesex County is seeking a part-time (10 hours) Nurse Manager. A paid position; volunteers welcome. Duties include: review patient records, chaperone exams, offer patient counsel, education & referrals. Reply to Rosanda Grau at

lifechoices@optonline.net Or call 732-516-0911 (24/7) • www.LifeChoicesRC.com

NEED PRO - LIFE HOUSEMOTHERS SHIFTS AVAILABLE - 7-3:30, 3-11:30, 11-7 Several Sources Shelters, a non-profit nonsectarian shelter for pregnant women is seeking kind, compassionate individuals, willing to serve God through those we help. Drivers License required Reply to : Susan Harper - Lloyd, Email: susanharperlloyd@aol.com Or call: 201-819-4699 (M-F 9-5)

VOLUNTEERS The Diocesan O ffice of Stewardship and Development wants your . . . • Superb organizational skills • Ability to do detailed work • Love for data management . . . to build Catholic school alumni databases. Database builders should enjoy data entr y and be available for a minimum of 3 hours per week, any weekday between 9 am and 2 pm. Training will be provided. For more information or to join the Database Building Team.

Call: 732.562.2452 or Email: themingway@diometuchen.org

PER LINE CHARGES:

• 24 characters/line (approx)

$ 3.50 per line - 1 insertion

• 5 line minimum

$ 3.25 per line - 2 insertions

• All ads must be pre-paid

$ 3.00 per line - 3 insertions

• Credit cards accepted

$ 2.50per line - 4 or more insertions • Display classifieds quote upon request

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT OCTOBER 17, 2019

11/6

2019 Choices Matter – A Critical Life Conference, Catholic Student Association, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Rutgers Student Center, 126 College Ave., New Brunswick. Mass will be celebrated at 8:30 a.m. by Bishop James F. Checchio at St. Peter’s University and Community Parish. The keynote speaker will be Leah Darrow. General registration is $25. College and high school students are $10. Lunch is included. To register online, visit www.rutgerscatholic.org.

Oct. 20, 7 p.m. — The EnCourage Support Group will be held at Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Piscataway, in the parish center. If you have a loved one who is dealing with same sex attraction issues please consider joining the group. The support group is conﬁdential. For details, call (732) 562-2476 or email couragecnj@gmail.com.

RATES

October

Support Groups

Oct. 22, 7 to 9 p.m. — Mount Saint Mary HELP WANTED House of Prayer, Watchung, will present a men’s group entitled “Man to Man.” The evening will feature life afﬁrming discussion and prayer to ﬁnd God in your life and how to make a difference in the world. A free-will offering will be collected. For information, call (908) 753-2091 or visit www.msmhope.org.

OUR DIOCESE

DIOCESAN EVENTS

to memorialize someone living or deceased or with a greeting from your family. The tree lighting will take place after a Mass of Blessing on Dec. 7 at 5 p.m. The cost to memorialize a tree is $200. Tree are limited. To reserve a tree, call (908) 725-1112 or visit the parish ofﬁce.

AROUND THE DIOCESE

Gift of friendship to parish of ex-Soviet republic ‘speaks volumes’

OUR DIOCESE

By Archbishop Jose Bettencourt A decade ago, I met Father Robert Lynam in Rome when I was asked to take a group he was leading from his parish, St. Augustine of Canterbury (Kendall Park), on a tour of the Vatican. Looking back, little did I know that the happy encounter would last all these years, that the parish would be so willing to help others who suffered natural disasters or assist in ecumenical relations with our Orthodox Christian brethren in far off countries. Father Lynam’s friendship has also been enriching to me. His perennial visits to the Vatican, always accompanied by a different group of pilgrims, allowed me to see the Vatican through their eyes of faith and service. The inevitable bureaucratic work that goes with an ofﬁce in the Vatican found respite in Father Bob’s ‘interruptions’ and were a real gift from God. The friendship Father Bob and I shared grew over the years and on Sept. 12 his parishioners’ generosity enabled me, now Apostolic Nuncio to Georgia and Armenia, to publish another edition of Catechism books to help educate the youth in Georgia. One of the great challenges in the ex-Soviet republic is providing educational material. The Biblical catechesis has numerous coloured pictures, one on each page.

Below each picture is a Biblical caption in Georgian. The book — produced jointly by Archbishop Gugerotti, one of my predecessors who is now Apostolic Nuncio in the Ukraine, and I — was a great success. There were only a handful of copies left. Through the years, I have kept in touch with Father Bob. He even came to Rome when Pope Francis elevated me to a bishop on March 19, 2018, and named me Apostolic Nuncio to Georgia and Armenia. At that time Father Bob told me that he and his parish were ready to assist in helping others. After being named Nuncio, I realized that relating with my Orthodox brethren had to be an important part of my ministry. I set out to meet the Orthodox bishops in their dioceses and in the course of the encounters friendly relations were fostered and needs identified. When I shared my experience with Father Bob in an e-mail, he quickly responded saying St. Augustine Parish would be interested in being part of my ‘adventure.’ The Patriarch of Georgia had requested $10,000 for a new edition of the Catechism books. Father Bob appealed to the parishioners of St. Augustine to help fulfill the Patriarch’s request. He told them as Christians they were followers of the way – the way of love and their finan-

cial support would be their expression of love to those in the Orthodox Church. On Sept. 9, the Apostolic Nunciature in Georgia received a donation in the amount of $12,097 from St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish. Of that amount, $10,000 was allocated to the Orthodox Church and $2,097 was distributed by me to some Roman Catholic parishes. Three days later, Sept. 12, on the feast day of the Most The Holy Name of Mary, the Apostolic Nuncio together with a longtime missionary in Georgia, Father Witold Szulszynski, SDB, and me travelled the two-and-a-half hour rout to the residence of Metropolitan Sergi of Nekresi to personally present the donation that would assist in the publication of the catechetical Bible in Georgian. I presented the Metropolitan with a small gift bag and proceeded to explain what it contained. First was a gift of ‘manna’ from St. Nicholas of Bari (Italy). Then I pointed to an envelope in the gift bag indicating that it was a gift from St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish in the U.S. and that it would help to publish another edition of his biblical catechesis book. As enormously generous was the donation from St. Augustine, the gesture of solidarity spoke even greater volumes.

Metropolitan Sergi Chekurishvili of Nekresi, left, Orthodox Church of Georgia, holds a copy of a Bible catechesis with Salesians of St. John Bosco Father Witold Szulszynski (center), a longtime missionary in Georgia, as Archbishop Jose Bettencourt, Apostolic Nuncio to Georgia and Armenia watches at the metropolitan’s residence Sept. 12. The Patriarch of Georgia had requested $10,000 for a new edition of the Catechism books. St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish, Kendall Park, raised $12,097: $10,000 was allocated to the Orthodox Church and $2,097 was distributed by the apostolic nuncio to some Roman Catholic parishes.

19 19 — photo courtesy of Archbishop Jose Bettencourt

OCTOBER 17, 2019 THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

8:30 AM Mass

Leah Darrow Keynote

Choices

Matter

A CRITICAL LIFE CONFERENCE

Nov. 02

2019

at Rutgers University 8:30am - 3:30 m Rutgers Student Center 126 College Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 This event is sponsored by the CatholicStudentAssociation, a ministry of the Diocese of Metuchen.

Celebrated by Most Rev. James F. Checchio, JCD, MBA

in the Church at St. Peter's University and Community Parish

Choices

Matter

10:00 AM -3:30 PM

Choices Matter Conference

at Rutgers Student Center, New Brunswick, NJ

A CRITICAL LIFE CONFERENCE https://rutgerscatholic.org

Nov. 02

The Choices Matter Conference is open to ALL!

Patricia Sandoval

2019

Rutgers University Tony andat Ceil Levatino 8:30am - 3:30 m Rutgers Student Center 126 College Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

This MBA event is sponsored by the 8:30AM Mass Celebrated by Most Rev. James F. Checchio, JCD, CatholicStudentAssociation, in the Church at St. Peter's University and Community Parish

10:00AM -3:30PM Choices Matter Conference at Rutgers Student Center, New Brunswick, NJ

a ministry of the Diocese of Metuchen.

8:30AM Mass Celebrated by Most Rev. James F. Checchio, JCD, MBA in the Church at St. Peter's University and Community Parish 10:00AM -3:30PM Choices Matter Conference at Rutgers Student Center, New Brunswick, NJ