Author: Nathalie Godet

It’s Christmas in July! The “Spread the Light!” Campaign is Back!

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Are you done with the heat?  Think Cool!   Think Snow!   Think Christmas!

St. Matthias will again celebrate the Christmas Season by illuminating our church and school property with beautiful, personalized, freshly-cut Christmas trees, decorated with white lights.  Each tree will also have a plaque that can be customized with a name or a message that you would like to include.  This can be a great way to memorialize a loved one or to celebrate your family.  Perhaps you are looking for a special Christmas gift for someone or would like to express your gratitude to a group of people.

For more information and to sponsor a tree visit: www.stmatthias.net/trees or click here

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”  We heard this twice last week: first during the Sunday Mass from Luke 10:1-2 and then at the weekday Mass on Tuesday from Matthew 9: 37-38. Jesus did not limit his mission only to the Twelve who were chosen and commissioned. Luke stated clearly in last Sunday’s gospel: “the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. (10:1-2).  Luke wants us to know that the mission of Jesus is not restricted just to the 12 Apostles, but also to a much larger group. The 72 thus represents us all who are baptized Christians whose duty it is to pass on our Faith, as Pope Francis wrote in his first Encyclical ‘The Light of faith’ (Lumen Fidei): “… from one person to another, just as one candle is lighted from another. … It is through an unbroken chain of witnesses that we come to see the face of Jesus.”

As Jesus instructed, we do pray for more workers for the harvest in the vineyard of the Lord. We do pray for more vocations to priesthood, diaconate, and religious life. But we need to expand that to include the so many non-ordained or non-consecrated lay men and women who do ministry in church – as paid ministers and as volunteers. In the U.S. Catholic Church, there are over 40, 000 lay ecclesial ministers working in paid positions. Additionally, there are over 2,000 volunteers who also work at least 20 hours per week in parishes.  The US Bishops’ Conference recognized these ministers as “Lay Ecclesial Ministers.”

But these do not include the countless men and women who volunteer for liturgical ministry, assisting the clergy and contributing to the liturgical celebrations. These roles include serving as lectors (readers), extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, musicians, ushers/hospitality, sacristans, and other tasks that support the smooth and reverent celebration of Mass. Here at St. Matthias, we are fortunate to have many such wonderful, committed parishioners helping in each of the above roles.

One ministry that is less visible is the one that brings Holy Communion to the Homebound. These Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC) who regularly visit persons in Nursing Homes, Assisted Living facilities or Homes, are acting as a bridge between our parish and the homebound. You may remember reading some of their testimonies that were serialized in our bulletin for a few weeks. Inspired by those touching stories, some of our parishioners showed interest in joining this ministry and they were officially mandated by our Bishop Checchio. They are: Edna Yumang, Marianne Viaud, Johanna Martielli, Kathy Johnson, Beverly Gilliam and Miles London.

This ministry is coordinated by Doreen Panick, assisted by Joe Percoco – both of whom are very passionate about this ministry. As I congratulate the new EMHCs, I wish to thank all who are bringing Holy Communion to the Homebound for their dedication and commitment. I also wish to thank all other ministers who are giving their time to make our Mass – every Mass – a meaningful experience for us all. I hope others will be inspired to follow their good example and become ministers.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Happy July 4th weekend to all! On this anniversary of the publication of the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain in 1776, we celebrate the freedom we cherish. It was interesting for me to read that the first description of how Independence Day would be celebrated was in a letter from John Adams to his wife, Abigail, on July 3, 1776. He described “pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations” throughout the United States. As we celebrate the positive aspects of the United States on this patriotic holiday, let this also be a time for us to express and give thanks for the freedom and liberties fought for and won by the first generation Americans.

America is often referred to as a land of diversity and welcome. This diversity is celebrated as a source of strength and enrichment, with a long-standing tradition of welcoming those seeking freedom and opportunity. This attitude of welcoming all with a universalist outlook is an echo of Jesus sending out 72 disciples on a mission in today’s gospel. That begs the question: Did Jesus send out 12 or 72 disciples? Luke, the only gospel writer who mentions this, has a universalist outlook. He wants us to know that the mission of Jesus was not restricted just to the 12 Apostles, but also to a much larger group. The 72 thus represents us all who are baptized Christians whose duty it is to pass on our Faith, “… from one person to another, just as one candle is lit from another. … It is through an unbroken chain of witnesses that we come to see the face of Jesus” as Pope Francis wrote in his first Encyclical.

We are part of that beautiful chain of witnesses, binding us, all the way back to Christ and the first 72 he sent out. Whether others become part of that chain depends on whether we do our part like those ahead of us have. It is wonderful to see some of our parishioners doing precisely that. Some have told me that they joined St. Matthias because someone invited them. That’s a beautiful example for the rest of us. If more of us were to do that…. well, you know the result!

But there are difficulties too. Some parishioners have shared with me their struggle to answer some of the questions people put to them about our faith, our church, our doctrine, and about the Bible in general. We feel less confident to share or speak about faith matters. How do we equip ourselves? The many small groups of Bible sharing we have are one such program that has helped many people speak about the Bible. The GIFT is another wonderful program that anyone can attend. Debbie Schurko and her dedicated team of catechists are very welcoming: even if you have no kids in the GIFT program, you are most welcome to join the adult segment which will be beneficial for anyone who wishes to educate himself/herself about what we believe. It will enable you to engage other adult acquaintances and friends on religious topics.

It is good to be reminded that the Lord sends out each one of us with a mission to bring His love to our own people.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

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