Author: Nathalie Godet

A Message from Debbie Schurko

Dear Friends,

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation, also known as Candlemas—one of my favorite Feast Days in the Church. It holds so much: the Holy Family, the prophet Simeon, and Anna. This feast marks a significant moment in the life of the Holy Family, with the public recognition of Jesus as the Messiah and His role as the light that guides us—hence, the title Candlemas. It is during this time that Jesus’ name, “Jesus,” meaning “God saves,” would be recorded. His name reflects both His identity and His mission.

This Feast is a pivotal moment in the life of the Church, as it is also the 4th Joyful Mystery of the Rosary. Simeon and Anna waited in joyful hope for the Messiah, and when the Holy Family entered the Temple, Simeon took Jesus in his arms and blessed God. This was the central moment of Simeon’s life. However, this joyful occasion is tempered with the anticipation of future sorrow, as Simeon prophesied that Mary’s heart would be pierced with grief. Salvation comes at a cost, as Jesus will one day give His life for us.

Simeon and Anna offer us an example—showing us that we, too, can rewire our hearts and minds to be in God’s presence in our daily lives. In the ordinariness of our daily “temples”—our homes, workplaces, schools, and churches—we can listen for God’s Spirit, perceive His presence in the mundane, and live in constant expectation of God coming into our lives. We can experience the power of Christ’s presence daily and share it with others: a candle never loses its light when it lights another. Let’s keep the light shining.

Jesus Christ is God’s light to the world.

Fun Fact 

February 2nd is also a day that celebrates a secular news event known as “Groundhog Day”.  Many do not realize Groundhog Day, the folklore of rodents’ shadows and weather predictions has its roots in the tradition of Candlemas Day in Europe and the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.

Candlelmas Poem

If Candlemas be fair and bright, Come, Winter, have another flight; If Candlemas brings clouds and rain, Go Winter, and come not again.

Our Catholic Christian Takeaway

No matter what the groundhog sees, let your light shine for all to see that we may always reflect the light of Christ to the world around us.

Debbie Schurko

Dear Friends,

As you read this, I should be home – God willing – to spend some time with my family, especially with my mother. I will be away for three weeks, but you all will certainly be in my prayers and thoughts. I wish to reflect on three important events occurring this week.

First: We are already in the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity,” which began yesterday. The theme this year is based on a text from the Gospel of John: “Do you believe this?” (John 11:26). The year 2025 marks the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. (Remember the Nicene Creed?) This commemoration provides a unique opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the common faith of various Christian churches as expressed in the Creed formulated at that Council. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025 is an invitation to draw on this common heritage and to enter more deeply into the faith that unites all Christians.

We know that Jesus prayed for unity: “Father, may they all be one” (John 17:21). But this unity is not realized as an organizational unity. Instead, I believe that it is possible to have a unity based on loving service, the fundamental mark of Christianity. Such a unity is possible if we accept what St. Paul asked us to do: “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3).

Second: Tomorrow is MLK Day in honor of Martin Luther King Jr– the Baptist minister and civil-rights activist, who had a seismic impact on race relations in the United States, beginning in the mid-1950s. The King holiday is seen as a day to promote equal rights for all Americans, regardless of their background. The King Center has this to say about the theme for this year: “Our strategic theme for 2025 is ‘Mission Possible: Protecting Freedom, Justice, and Democracy in the Spirit of Nonviolence365’” 

Treating all with our God-given dignity and respect is still a challenge for us. That’s why the US Bishops Conference established an Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism. Here’s what the Bishops said: “Racism has rightly been called America’s original sin. It remains a blot on our national life and continues to cause acts and attitudes of hatred, as recent events have made evident. The need to condemn, and combat, the demonic ideologies of white supremacy, neo-Nazism and racism has become especially urgent at this time. Our efforts must be constantly led and accompanied by prayer – but they must also include concrete action.”

Third:  The National March for Life takes place this Friday, January 24 in Washington D.C. about which you have been reading in our recent bulletin issues. Over the past 52 years, the March for Life has collectively united millions of pro-life Americans from every age, background, and faith with a common purpose: to witness the inherent dignity and worth of every single human life, especially those endangered by abortion. As a pro-life Church, we support this largest annual human rights demonstration in the world, especially with our prayers.

We thank God that St. Matthias is a life giving community that welcomes and accepts all. Are we perfect? No. There is always room for improvement. Let us continue our efforts to eradicate any form of discrimination or prejudice in our thoughts and actions and promote life and unity.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

Dear Friends,

We know that the Jubilee Year 2025 was officially inaugurated by Pope Francis by opening the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica, on December 24. There are four other Holy Doors in Rome: the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, the Basilica of St. Mary Major, the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, and the door located at the Rebibbia Prison in Rome.

Bishop James Checchio designated the following sacred places within our Diocese as places where the faithful may obtain the Jubilee Indulgence:

1. Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen, NJ
2. Shrine Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, Raritan, NJ
3. National Blue Army Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, Washington, NJ
4. National Shrine of St. Lucy Filippini (inside St. Mary of Mount Virgin Church, New Brunswick, NJ.

The Bishop’s decree states (as you can see it on our website) “These sacred spaces have been carefully chosen to reflect the spiritual significance of pilgrimage and to foster deeper conversion and reconciliation among the people of God. The visit is not merely an outward action but a reflection of the soul’s pilgrimage towards God, with conversion, reconciliation, and renewal at its heart.”

Here in our parish, we inaugurate the Jubilee Year 2025 today, focusing on the meaning of this Jubilee year at all the Masses. The theme of this Jubilee Year, proposed by Pope Francis, is “Pilgrims of Hope.”  As he so beautifully expressed it: “We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us, and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision.”

There will be many resources coming from our Diocese as well as from the USCCB (US Conference of Catholic Bishops) that we can make use of for our spiritual enrichment. I like to mention two easily accessible resources that we can start with immediately:

1)      Catholic Brain:  This is a faith formation program for individuals and families, with lots of informative and fun stuff for growing in our faith. Our Parish has already a subscription and we use it for the GIFT program. But I do encourage all of us to use it for our own spiritual benefit. See page 8 in today’s bulletin for accessing it through Debbie Schurko, our Director of Religious Education.

2)      Rosary In A Year Podcasts:  This is for practicing one of the timeless devotional prayers of our Church – the Holy Rosary. See the blurb on page 7 in today’s bulletin about accessing these daily podcasts. You can use them at your convenience.

We will also be praying the Jubilee Prayer, penned by Pope Francis, at all our Masses. It concludes with these words: “May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the  treasures of heaven. May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth. To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever, Amen.”

Let us joyfully and prayerfully participate in this Jubilee Year 2025!

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal