Author: Nathalie Godet

The Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. It is rare that the designated date of this feast – June 29- falls on a Sunday. Usually when a feast falls on a Sunday, the feast gets skipped. But not for Peter and Paul whose feast is taking precedence over a Sunday. By giving this feast such prominence the Church is telling us something about Peter and Paul and their importance in our lives and in the lives of the entire Church. Both Peter and Paul are considered apostles, Peter because he was called by Jesus at the Sea of Galilee (Mt 4:18-20; Mk 1:16-18; Lk 5:10) and commissioned with the keys to the kingdom (Mt 16:19) and as the shepherd of the sheep (John 21:15-17); and Paul because he was called by Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:4-6) and commissioned “to be an apostle and set apart to proclaim the gospel” (Rom 1:1). Peter is known as the “Prince of Apostles” and the first Pope, and Paul is known as the “Apostle to the Gentiles.” Both are revered as the founders of the Church of Rome and are honored for their contributions to spreading the Christian faith. Both apostles were martyred in Rome, with Peter reportedly crucified upside down and Paul beheaded, symbolizing their ultimate sacrifice for their faith.

The feast emphasizes the unity of the Church despite the diverse backgrounds and experiences of its members, mirroring the unique roles and journeys of Peter and Paul. This diversity is very clear in the differing personalities of Peter and Paul. It may come as a surprise to many of us to know that Peter and Paul had quite a bit of conflict. The biggest conflict they had is narrated by St. Luke in the Acts of the Apostles. It revolved around whether or not people needed to convert to Judaism before they could become Christians. Becoming Jews first would mean that the men would have to be circumcised and they would have to follow the Jewish dietary laws, including not eating pork, among other things. Paul insisted that people could become Christian without becoming Jewish first; Peter and a whole group of traditionalist Jewish Christians disagreed.

Paul seems to have had a stronger personality. He publicly confronted Peter on this matter. Listen to Paul’s own words in Galatians 2:11-15:  “When Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.  For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?”

In the end, Luke describes, in Acts 15, the Jerusalem Council where Peter, listening to the elders and to the Holy Spirit, decided that the non-Jews could become Christians simply by being baptized and not by following Jewish laws.

The great lesson we can all take from these great pillars of the Church is that no matter how different we may be in personalities, ideologies or ethnicity, we can work together for the Kingdom of God as long as we know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is to live in charity and fellowship with all.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Today is the feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (more commonly known by its former name: Corpus Christi Feast). It is a powerful reminder of the why of our Sunday Eucharistic gathering: celebration of the Real Presence of Christ in our midst! It is very easy to think of the presence of Christ limiting it to Holy Communion primarily. But the Church teaches us clearly that there are four ways in which Christ is present in the Eucharist.  They are:

1)    in the gathering of the people, because “where two or three are gathered in my name, I am in their midst;”

2)    in the presider of the Mass because every priest is acting “in persona Christi” or in the person of Christ;

3)    in the Word proclaimed during Mass because it is God speaking to us about His saving message;

4)    and in the Holy Communion because it is the real Presence of Jesus in the sacred species of bread and wine.

May this Feast make us more conscious of His manifold Presence at every Eucharistic celebration and appreciate it more, to participate more consciously.

Corpus Christi feast is also an invitation to reflect on the social dimensions of the Eucharist. It calls on the faithful to recognize Christ in the marginalized and needy and to be nourished by Christ’s body and blood to serve them effectively. This echoes the Vatican II document “Lumen Gentium,” which describes the Eucharist as the “source and summit of the Christian life.” Our Community of St. Matthias is particularly known for our attentiveness to this social dimension of the Eucharist. Our Vincent De Paul Society is the visible face of our commitment and concern for the less fortunate in our midst.

Last week, our parish hosted the annual gathering of all the Social Ministers of various parishes of our Diocese of Metuchen. Maria Hunter, the Diocesan Director of the Office of Parish Social Ministry, organized this as she has been doing for some 25 years. Social ministers from different parishes came for getting to know each other, sharing a meal and their experiences, and for exploring ways and means to help the poor more easily and efficiently. I found that this gathering provided “nourishment” for mind, body, spirit, and ministry!

Bishop Checchio and Mr. Tony Kearns, the Chancellor of the Diocese, were with us to share their thoughts and give us encouragement. It was very encouraging for us all to hear the stories that many social ministers shared about so many individuals receiving help during challenging circumstances in their lives. Our own Vincent De Paul Society leaders shared very touching stories of helping those in need in our area. I wish to thank our Vincent De Paul Society for their very hard work to care for those in desperate need for our help. Thanks to our parishioners who give so generously to this important ministry of social concerns. We are truly living out the social dimension of the Holy Eucharist. We become the Body of Christ, not only when we say Amen while receiving Holy Communion, but also when we accept and care for the larger Body of Christ – the least of our brothers and sisters around us. 

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

A Letter To The Parish Community From The Incoming Pastor

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear St. Matthias Parish and School Community,

Grace and peace to you!

It is with great joy that I introduce myself to you as the new pastor of St. Matthias Parish and School, beginning on August 1, 2025.  My name is Fr. Tom Lanza, and I am incredibly honored to be joining this vibrant and faith-filled community.

When the diocese announced that St. Matthias was going to be in need of a new pastor, I immediately felt in my heart that this would be a good fit.  Most of my childhood I spent as your neighbor.  I grew up in Kendall Park and went to church at St. Augustine’s.  Upon finishing High School, I went to Ramapo College for my undergraduate studies in business and sociology.  During my early 20’s I worked for a few different companies, mostly in sales, management, and logistics.  Prior to entering the seminary, I taught middle-school religion for a year at St. Augustine’s School.  When I applied to the Priestly Formation Program for the Diocese of Metuchen in my late 20’s, I was sent to do my philosophy and theology studies at St. Mary’s Seminary and University, Roland Park, Baltimore, MD.

Unfortunately, the COVID pandemic was roaring when I finished seminary, so my ordination was postponed from June to August 2020.  During my priestly ministry, I have had so many great opportunities.  My first assignment sent me to OLPH in Bernardsville to minister to both the Spanish and English-speaking communities.  During which I taught theology at Immaculata High School as well.  After two years, Bishop sent me to serve as Chaplain at Rutgers University, while Chaplain to St. Joe’s HS, and Vocations Director for the Diocese of Metuchen.

From the moment I learned I would be coming to St. Matthias, I began praying for each of you and the diverse community that has been cultivated.  I believe that God has called us together for a purpose, and I am eager to walk this journey of faith with you, as we strive to grow in love, service, and holiness.

As your new pastor, my deepest desire is to be a shepherd who listens, encourages, and builds connections.  Whether you are a longtime member of the parish or a new face in the school hallways, know that you are valued and appreciated.  I look forward to getting to know you all—hearing your stories, celebrating the sacraments together, and continuing the beautiful work that has been done here for generations.

To the faculty, staff, students, and families of St. Matthias School: I am especially excited to support you in forming young hearts and minds rooted in Christ.  Catholic education is a precious gift, and I am committed to helping our children grow, not only in knowledge but also in faith, compassion, and character.

Let us move forward together, trusting in the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  May this new chapter be marked by renewal, unity, and a deepening of our shared mission to proclaim the Good News and make disciples of all people we encounter!

Please pray for me, I look forward to meeting all of you.

In Christ’s love,
Fr. Tom Lanza
Pastor-elect (term begins Aug 1, 2025)

St. Matthias Parish and School

Most Holy Trinity Sunday

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Happy Father’s Day to all fathers and grandfathers. Coming a month after Mother’s Day, it is only natural for some to compare these two wonderful events. You may have heard the response of a child when asked to describe Father’s Day: “Father’s Day is like Mother’s Day, except the gift is cheaper.” If that is true, then it is a sad truth, because it is not easy being a dad. There are many fine Dads in our congregation, and we want to honor them today. Many fathers are role models like St. Thomas More and St. Louis Martin (the father of the Little Flower), heroes of our Faith.

Even in these days when mothers are doing so much for the family, fathers are expected to be the providers for and the protectors of the family.  They are also supposed to be attuned emotionally and spiritually to their wives and children and to be able to balance careers with family life.  Fathers struggle to overcome temptation and conflict.  They make sacrifices day after day for their families.  They try to give their youngsters the kind of model that surely they deserve above all else, a model of goodness, holiness, faith, trust in God, and fidelity to the teachings of the Church.  This is what Father’s Day should remind us of.   This is a time for all fathers to reflect upon their duties as responsible and well-integrated men.  True fatherhood demands commitment.  Commitment demands maturity, sacrifice, and love.  Fatherhood also demands responsibility.  Every true father will take responsibility for all of his actions.  Our nation has an urgent need for good fathers.

But while the idea of fatherhood is a good one, the reality we see on earth is sometimes quite different.  Some fathers abandon their children, beat them, ridicule or ignore them, abuse them, and damage them psychologically for life. Even good fathers have their limits.  Unfortunately, we unduly sentimentalize fatherhood, the media often ridicule and make fun of it, and some treat it with contempt.  We are reminded time after time of the number of children growing up fatherless because their fathers have abandoned them or their fathers have been unfaithful. This day is a reminder of what all fathers should be.

Yet, the very term ‘Father’ is what we use both for earthly fathers and for our heavenly Father. A favorite gift for Father’s Day is the cap emblazoned with the words “World’s Greatest Dad.”  You may see more of them on the heads of proud fathers everywhere.  There is one dad, however, who doesn’t always get a lot of honor on Father’s Day.  That is the “World’s Greatest Dad,” OUR HEAVENLY FATHER (Rom. 8:15, Gal. 4:6).

William Wordsworth said: “Father! – to God himself we cannot give a holier name.” God is our spiritual Daddy, actively involved in all areas of our lives.  It is He on Whom we lean in times of pain and hurt; it is He on Whom we call in times of need; it is He Who provides for us in all ways — practical, emotional, and spiritual.  He wants us to think of Him as “Dad.”  This being so, let us take this Father’s Day to honor Him, the REAL “World’s Greatest Dad.”  Many of us pray the “Our Father” day after day, without paying attention to, or experiencing, the love and providence of our Heavenly Father.  Let us pray the Our Father always realizing the meaning of each clause and experiencing the love of our Heavenly Father for us.  May all earthly fathers draw strength from their Heavenly Father!

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

ROME/ITALY, POLAND, and CZECH REPUBLIC PILGRIMAGE

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

ROME/ITALY, POLAND, and CZECH REPUBLIC 

September 15th-28th

This pilgrimage was planned before Fr. Tom Lanza was appointed to St. Matthias.

The cost is reduced from its publicized cost of $5299 to $4999 – a saving of $300!

R/T Airfare from Newark Int’l.  Deluxe Hotels.

Daily Breakfast/ Dinner. Modern Coach. Guided Tours, Medical Travel Insurance & more.

FR. TOM LANZA, Tour Chaplain

Questions?  Call or email  JULIET HOBSON  732-439-2835, Yetjcb@icloud.com

For a copy of the brochure, click here.

St. Matthias School Has a New Principal!

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

I had expressed my gratitude to Mrs. Mary Lynch, the outgoing Principal of our St. Matthias School, in my column last Sunday, and today I have the pleasure to announce Mr. Eric Harper as our new Principal.

Mr. Harper has been the Principal of Our Lady of Grace Catholic School in Penndel, PA, for the past four years. During his term there, he had initiated a strategic plan and increased enrollment. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in political science, with minors in history and Latin, from the University of Tulsa, and a Master’s in education from Notre Dame. He was a participant in the Alliance for Catholic Education program, which sustains and strengthens Catholic schools through leadership formation, research, and professional service. Hearty welcome to Mr. Harper to St. Matthias Community.

I wish to take this chance to thank the Search Committee – Pat Chorazak, Sr. Maria Derecola, Peter Kostik, Fr. Lancelot McGrath, Santina Spinella, Sheila Tartaglia, and Aureen Williamson – for their hard work by giving so much of their time and talent so graciously to do the interviews and recommend to me the best candidates to choose from.

God bless.

Fr. Abraham

 

Pentecost Sunday

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Happy Feast of Pentecost! Pentecost is considered the watershed event in Christianity. The Acts of the Apostles recounts the story of the original Pentecost when the Apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary, gathered in the Upper Room, were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in different tongues (Acts 2). Peter’s speech that day brought about three thousand people to the way of Jesus. (Acts 2:41).  A small body of believers was empowered to be evangelizers as the Holy Spirit filled them. And the Church began to grow.

During my homily last Sunday, I mentioned a group of Jesus Youth who had asked me for permission to use our Church today for prayer and worship time to celebrate Pentecost. Some of our parishioners asked me about this group. So I thought of writing briefly about them.

“Jesus Youth” (JY) is an international Catholic movement that challenges young people to live a meaningful, creative, and fulfilling life. This life begins with a personal, loving encounter with Jesus and continues as they grow in a joyful spirituality within a community of like-minded friends. It had its beginnings in Kerala, India, and evolved as an active part of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal of the state in the late 1970s. In 1985, the International Year of Youth, a number of youth groups came together under a single name, Jesus Youth. Jesus Youth is approved by the Vatican and is present in over 40 countries.

JY is known for its spirituality that promotes an active Catholic lifestyle that is relevant to a young layperson facing the challenges of life. The movement follows a lifestyle modelled on the life of Jesus Christ, based on the Six Pillars of Spirituality:

  • Prayer: At the heart of the movement is a daily ‘quiet time’ with the Lord that leads to an experience of a loving friendship with Jesus and fosters a joyful attitude to life.
  • Word of God: A regular time for a meditative reading of the Sacred Scripture helps to shape one’s life according to God’s will.
  • Sacramental Life: Frequent and active participation in the seven Sacraments, with emphasis on the Eucharist and Confession
  • Fellowship: Christian life is a call to live the life of the Trinity in communion with one’s brothers and sisters in Christ through mutual support, encouragement and gentle correction.
  • Evangelization: Fruit of an active life with Jesus is a joyful commitment to witnessing, sharing the person and message of Jesus with others. This commitment to evangelization is central to the life of every member of Jesus Youth.
  • Option for the Poor: Willingness to serve those in need and a preferential option for the poor are the signs of a true disciple of Jesus Christ.

I have personally known many JY members some of whom are members of our own parish. They are like leaven in the bread that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 13:33 and Luke 13:20–21. I have always been edified by these youth and young adults who live a life of discipleship in their families and work place. In the name of the parish community of St. Matthias, I’m very happy to welcome the Jesus Youth of New Jersey to use our church for their Pentecost celebration of prayer, praise and fellowship.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

Seventh Sunday of Easter – Ascension

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Hearty congratulations to our St. Matthias Graduates of the Class of 2025! Each year as we celebrate graduation, we all–parents, school administration, faculty, staff, the Principal, and the priests-go through mixed feelings. Joy and pride at the successful school life completion of these young boys and girls, whose holistic formation was entrusted to us. Sadness and even grief at missing their constant presence as they leave us for their next phase of life’s journey. But we wish them God’s blessings and pray that each of them will become the best version of what God wants them to be.

As we know, this is the graduation season for hundreds of thousands of students all over our country.  But many of them will not have the unique way of celebrating graduation as our 8th graders had here at St. Matthias School: celebrating it with the Holy Mass, followed by the graduation ceremony. The involvement and participation of the graduates in reading, singing, and leading the prayer of petitions brought joy and pride to their families, the faculty, and the administration of the school. The Pre-K and Kindergarten graduation ceremonies also will have the unique Catholic touch, though without Mass. This way of celebrating the graduation gives a distinct identity and message to our children and parents. The catholic identity makes us realize that we continue to further the mission of Jesus Christ through Catholic education. St. Matthias School’s motto, “Faith, Caring and Excellence,” puts our Catholic faith first without diminishing the importance given to caring for the person and striving for excellence in all aspects of school education. Many students received awards for academics and for various other achievements. St. John Paul II rightly said: “The mission of the Catholic school is the integral formation of students…”

We are also aware, as mentioned in earlier editions of the bulletin, that Mrs. Mary Lynch, our Principal, who has been nurturing these graduates as well as all the students of St. Matthias, will be leaving us. Though I had requested her to reconsider her decision to resign, I respect her decision and I wish to thank her, in the name of all, for her dedication to St. Matthias School. She has been associated with this school for over a decade in various capacities. After a beautiful surprise farewell party for her, she wrote to the faculty and parish staff: “The last 12 years being a part of St. Matthias has been a blessing for me.  I will always attribute my life being changed by Sister Jean when she called and asked if I wanted to be HSA president.  Who would have thought that would have led to me subbing here, teaching here, and then becoming principal.  I love giving my all to everyone here at St. Matthias School… I will definitely miss being here every day….” Thank you Mrs. Lynch, and may God’s grace continue to accompany you.

It is also well known that my own transition was announced as I will take up my next assignment at Our Lady of Peace parish, Fords, on August 1st. Hence I too experience the mixed feelings of joy of fulfilment in the pastoral ministry, and sadness at leaving this beautiful community of St. Matthias. But no matter where we all will move to, we are all part of the People of God and so we will carry our Catholic faith and heritage as well as keep the flag of St. Matthias flying high.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Tomorrow is the feast of Philip Neri, who is the patron saint of joy and laughter. I wish to reflect with you on this important theme. On May 14, the Feast of our patron Saint Matthias, the gospel reading had this line from Jesus: “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be full.” (John 15: 11). In the following chapter, Jesus said, “I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you” (John 16:22). Jesus was a joyful person (though this topic is not often highlighted nor preached about sufficiently) and Philip Neri followed that joyful spirit in his own life. So let us look at each:

Do the gospels contain indications that Jesus was joyful or humorous? Yes. The verse I quoted above (John 15:11) was said by Jesus at the last supper, just before his agony in the garden, all the while aware of his impending betrayal, torture, and crucifixion. He was conscious of the personal joy in his heart, and he wanted to pass it on to his disciples and to us.

Gospels testifies that during his years of ministry, little children came to Jesus, and mothers brought their babies to him, and he took to them easily. If Jesus were to be a serious person, children would not have gone to him. Years ago I read a book titled “The humor of Jesus,” where the author showed how Jesus used the kind of humor prevalent in the Jewish society of that time, which was exaggerated comparison. Things like a “camel going through the eye of a needle,” “a blind leading a blind and both falling down,” or a “log in your neighbor’s eye” were very humorous to his audiences, and we can assume that they roared in laughter.

St. Philip Neri realized that Jesus was truly anointed with the oil of gladness and so wanted to make this joy of Jesus his own. St. Philip Neri was known as the “Second Apostle of Rome” for his extraordinary evangelical work in 16th-century Rome. He was well known to have had a remarkable sense of humor and a great love for laughter. He used to show up to important events with half his beard shaved or give incorrect walking directions to his disciples to have a laugh at their expense. He would read a book of jokes to enjoy himself as well as regale others with laughter. He believed that these behaviors helped him to connect with other people through being present and humble.

St. Philip Neri founded the Confederation of Oratories of Saint Philip Neri (Latin: Confoederatio Oratorii Sancti Philippi Nerii), abbreviated C.O. and commonly known as the Oratorians. Theirs is a Catholic society of apostolic life of pontifical right for men (priests and religious brothers), living in community. In our own diocese we are privileged to have the Oratorians at St. Ann, St. Joseph, and Blessed Sacrament Shrine – all in Raritan, and at Holy Trinity in Bridgewater. We wish them a very happy feast of their patron. We can ask ourselves: How can we be apostles of joy today? St. Philip suggests, “Have all the fun you want, but just don’t offend God.” We can also keep in mind the words of St. Paul: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Phil 4:4-6).

We will have a picture of a smiling Jesus in our church so that we can be reminded to keep His  joy in our hearts and be joyful as Jesus was.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal