Cathedral Family,
This is one of my favorite weeks in the Church’s liturgical year because of the saints that we celebrate this week. I feel surrounded by a great circle of heavenly friends to encourage me. Tuesday September 30 we celebrate St. Jerome, an ancient Father of the Church, one of the Four Great Latin Fathers. He is responsible for the first translation of all of the Scripture into Latin. It became foundational in all subsequent translations. He is also my personal protector in my role as pastor—on September 30, 2021 Bishop Checchio installed me as the Fifth Rector of St. Francis Cathedral. I am so grateful to have Bishop place his confidence in me to lead this beautiful community. It is the greatest joy and challenge of my life and I am happy to be on the journey to heaven with all of you!
On Wednesday October 1, we celebrate St. Therese of the Child Jesus, also known as “the Little Flower.” She perhaps more than any modern saint teaches us that while becoming a saint is not easy, it is simple. WE don’t have to be discouraged about anything---weakness, failure, sin, or suffering. We can trust that God will make us a saint if we choose to take one small step forward, every day. Its sometimes called “the little way.” She counsels us to do small things but with intentional love. So, if we take out the garbage for the family---its an occasion in our heart to say I do this with love for my family and God. We can virtually turn every small inconvenience or big, into an occasion to intend it for love. WE then begin to lose the resentment that can come upon us for always doing so much for others. We can also take the opportunity to offer up to God small prayer for the people in line at the grocery store. We can offer a prayer for someone who passes us on the Turnpike or 287—in a wreck less way. Perhaps they need our offering them to God—more than our curse words. St. Therese is the most practical of saints getting us to view heaven as her opportunity to do more good on earth. She wanted to spend heaven helping us get there!
On Thursday Oct 2 we celebrate the Holy Guardian Angels. We know that God creates all that is visible and invisible. The Angels were created as pure spirit to first of all praise God forever around His heavenly throne--- but also “special, unique” angels for each one us. We all have our own dedicated Holy Guardian! This commemoration in the liturgy reminds us not forget them and all they constantly do to get us to heaven. They protect us from would be peril and tragedy all day long. They fight evil for us and behold the face of God offering intercession for us when we are busy with our lives. Remember to pray to your Angel: “Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light to guard, to rule and guide. Amen”
And finally on Saturday and Sunday we will celebrate St. Francis of Assisi! We are blessed to have his protection, example and spiritual legacy to point us always to “rebuild my Church.” Francis tirelessly worked for the Kingdom of God. He was joyful in the midst of many sufferings. He loved Jesus crucified and himself experienced in his own body the wounds of Christ known as the stigmata. Since his death in 1226 his spirituality and inspiration have impacted millions of people, including many protestant and non-Christian people. It was so many spiritual gifts that he developed so well in his life. Lord make me a means of your peace.
Finally, on October 5th we will welcome Father Jan Magcawas, to celebrate a Mass of thanksgiving at 12.Noon. He served so well here for over a year when he first arrived from the Philippines. Gratefully he was ordained this past May by Bishop Checchio and he serves as parochial vicar at St. Joseph-St. Luke in North Plainfield. Father Jan will celebrate the Mass and then be present at the beginning of our parish picnic by the statue of Our Lady Queen to offer his first blessing. P
lease plan to attend daily mass this week. There are so many special graces we can ask from these great saints. Keep our parish, priests and staff in prayer as we seek to serve the community. And may these days bring us all renewed energy to love and serve God with all our heart.
In Jesus,
Father Christy