News - September 2023 RSS Feed

St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta once said that “holiness is not the luxury of a few, but a simple duty for me and for you. So let us be holy and through holiness, love one another as God loves us.”

Private confession in the West became the only form of penance and no one questioned its validity until the time of the Reformation. According to Luther and Calvin, only Baptism and Eucharist were true Sacraments whose roots are in Scripture. Although Luther liked the dynamics of confession, because he felt that it might be good therapy for people to talk over their sins, he did not see this as a sacrament. Calvin did not like the notion of penance at all because it seemed to imply to him that one could attain justification by oneself. He feared that this bordered on semi-Pelagianism.  In the face of this crisis, the Council of Trent made it a point to define not only the Canon of Scripture but also the seven Sacraments as instituted by Christ.

Next year, our Community of the Carmel of Mary Immaculate and St. Mary Magdalen will celebrate the 75th anniversary of our Foundation. On Oct. 14, 1949, six nuns from the Morristown Carmel moved into a large old house in New Brunswick.

In recognition and appreciation of the dedication and sacrifices of Catholic school educators, the Diocese of Metuchen officially began the new academic year with the celebration of Mass Aug. 31 for those who have made, and continue to make, significant differences in the lives of students and families across the Diocese.

The Old Testament Passover meal proclaimed the salvation of the Israelite people from slavery in Egypt and made them partakers in the covenant of Sinai. That is through their Passover celebration they entered into the singular historical event of the Passover and so also the covenant’s effects which were given in the Passover. This covenant was then handed on to the succeeding generations through their solemn (that is annual) commemorative celebration of Passover.

ORLANDO, Fla. (OSV News) – With more than two million members, the Knights of Columbus are more intentionally becoming a spiritual vanguard of the Catholic Church, deepening their faith in Jesus Christ and evangelizing through charity.

“We are always here to help and serve you,” said Knights of Columbus N.J. State Deputy Raymond Sands to more than 300 clergy and Knights in the Imperia banquet hall, Somerset, Sept. 7 for the Knights’ annual “Pride in Our Priests” dinner. Sponsored by the Knights’ Metuchen Diocese Chapter, the gala event was an opportunity for both groups to break bread and reflect upon the integral roles they fulfill in the four counties of the Diocese.

“This is what the Church needs so desperately now … your intercession, your consecration,” said Bishop James F. Checchio to 23 religious sisters celebrating significant anniversaries this year.

Echoing the words of the prophet Samuel when he discerned the call of Christ, a jubilant young woman stood before a church of believers and uttered eight life-changing words.

The new director of the Office of Discipleship Formation for Children takes to heart Jesus’ words to His disciples: “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 18:3).”

Since 1964, the Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award, created by the Davenport, Iowa, Interracial Council, has been presented to persons of outstanding achievement in peace and justice, not only in their own country but in the world. Former recipients have included Dorothy Day, President John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr.; Dorothy Day; St. Teresa of Kolkata; Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and the Dalai Lama.

What people often miss when reading or reflecting on the Priestly Prayer of Christ in Saint John’s Gospel (17:1-26) is the fact that it contains, unlike the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus’ longest recorded prayer. Highlighted by scholars as one of the most profound theological and spiritual documents in the entire New Testament, Jesus prays this prayer after He finishes His final instructions to the disciples and before He is betrayed, arrested, and crucified.

On Saturday, Oct. 14, the Diocese of Metuchen will host a “Feminine Genius Brunch” from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center, Piscataway. The event, which is open to women of all ages, is modeled after events recently hosted by the Archdiocese of New York and the Sisters of Life in various parts of New York. The morning includes prayer, fellowship, good food, music and guest speakers.

A state-of-the-art marriage prep program with God as its center is engaging couples in the Diocese of Metuchen. “God’s Plan for a Joy-Filled Marriage,” based upon Pope St. John Paul II’s “Theology of the Body,” aims to provide couples a more complete understanding of God’s plan for marriage and the gift of human sexuality.

Providing a welcoming atmosphere for mothers to gather in prayer and fellowship, Life Choices Resource Center, Metuchen, recently welcomed six moms and their children to the new “Upper Room” for their Mom’s Group.

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – August 17, 2023 – Saint Peter’s University Hospital, a member of Saint Peter’s Healthcare System, is pleased to announce that Dr. Nayan K. Kothari, chief academic officer, has received the Presidential Medal for Excellence in Medical Education from The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE). RCPE facilitates the professional development of physicians by establishing independent quality standards for healthcare delivery with its main goal to improve patient care.

On Sunday, Aug. 27, Bishop James F. Checchio celebrated a special Mass of Thanksgiving for Filippini Sister Dolores Toscano, in the Church of St. Ann in Raritan.

Anticipating a milestone anniversary, and in an effort to build interest in vocations, the Discalced Carmelite Sisters of Flemington will host two livestreamed celebrations this October.

The beginning of a new school year is filled with anticipation and excitement for students, teachers, administrators and families. We in the Diocese of Metuchen look forward to opening our doors on the first day of school and continuing our ministerial mission for our students.

Although she said she will miss teaching, Lisa Dell’ Aquila is looking forward to her first principal position at Holy Savior Academy, South Plainfield, a pre-kindergarten to grade 8 school with a student population of 140 and a staff of 15.