Author: Nathalie Godet

The Epiphany of the Lord

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas, as we keep the feast of the Epiphany today. It is good to know that our Orthodox brethren in the USA and the rest of the world keep Christmas on January 7 as their churches follow the Julian calendar.

The story of the three kings (though the Bible speaks of them not as kings but as the wise men from the east or the Magi) has fascinated us all. Liturgically, Epiphany is when the birth of the Messiah is manifested to the world in and through the three kings (number three is concluded from the number of gifts offered to Baby Jesus). Equally fascinating is the story of a fourth king immortalized by Henry van Dyke in his story “The Other Wise Man” written in 1895.

The fourth wise man is not mentioned in the Gospels but his name is Artaban. In the story version, our hero was late and missed the caravan as the other three left without him. He got to Bethlehem too late to see the Baby Jesus. But Artaban did make it in time to save one of the Holy Innocents by bribing a soldier. For the next 33 years Artaban searched for Jesus. He did not find Jesus, but all the while the Fourth wise man fed the hungry and helped the poor. Then one day in Jerusalem Artaban saw the “King of the Jews” being crucified. He started to offer a pearl as ransom. But then he saw a girl being sold into slavery to pay family debts. Artaban gave his pearl to buy freedom for the girl. Suddenly the earth quaked as Jesus died on the cross and a stone struck Artaban. Dying, he heard a Voice saying: “When you helped the least of my children, you helped me. Meet me in Heaven!” Artaban, the fourth Wise Man, had been making God present in his community for years by helping others. God asks each of us on the feast of Epiphany to be a fourth Wise Man by becoming God’s epiphanies, making His love present in the world around us by our acts of love and kindness.

This story can teach us something about making New Year resolution. Do you believe in making a New Year resolution? I believe everyone should have a New Year resolution because we all need personal growth. If so, why do some studies show that only about 20% persevere in practicing their resolutions while the vast majority’s resolutions crash by February? There are many reasons like lack of specificity, overdue expectations, poor will power, etc. Still, making a resolution gives us an impetus to become better and improve areas where we need growth.

This is especially true for us Christians in living the values of our faith. Whether our resolution is of a secular nature (better money management, stop a bad habit like drinking, eating more healthily, etc.) or of a spiritual nature, (to pray more, to read the Bible daily, attend church more regularly, etc.), we need to practice perseverance in implementing these – as did Artaban, the fourth wise man. In order to have the discipline of perseverance, we need to be very conscious of the Word of God that tells us: “I can do everything through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).In other words, if we rely on God as the center of our New Year resolution, then we have a far better chance of success. It is a great help to have an accountability partner who will gently remind us or lovingly challenge us to stay the course.

As Proverbs 16:3 asks us, “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” Happy New Year Blessings!

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

The Most Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas! In this Christmas week, are you having a breather after the hectic time leading to the Christmas Day? How do you feel after December 25th? A cartoon in the New Yorker magazine says it all. In the middle of the floor is a dried up, withered, Christmas tree. The calendar on the wall reads December 26. Dad is sitting in his chair with an ice pack on his head. Mom is in a bathrobe and her hair in rollers. The floor is a virtual mountain of torn wrappings, boxes, and bows. Junior is reaching in his stocking to be sure that there is no more candy. In the background we see a table with a thoroughly picked turkey still sitting there. The caption on the cartoon reads simply: The morning after. This is normal family life. It is precisely to highlight this normalcy that we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family today!

The Holy Family too was very normal with the ups and downs like in any ordinary family. How consoling it is to realize that the Holy Family was not exempted from difficulties, trials and suffering. Mary was pregnant out of wedlock. Jesus was born in the manger because there was no room in the inn. Joseph led his family to flee to Egypt because of the murderous plan of King Herod to kill the baby Jesus. Mary saw her Son crucified on the Cross. How did they survive? The Holy Family was God centered. That made all the difference.

Recent researches have reaffirmed the importance of family making a significant difference in nurturing the faith of children and adolescents with faith practices at home. John Roberto, a prominent youth minister who founded what is now known as Center for Ministry Development, has an article on the USCCB website titled “Partnering with Parents to Nurture Family Faith – Insights from Research.” Here are some of the most important practices he lists:

  • Reading the Bible as a family and encouraging young people to read the Bible regularly
  • Praying together as a family and encouraging young people to pray personally
  • Serving people in need as a family and supporting service activities by young people
  • Eating together as a family
  • Having family conversations about faith
  • Talking about faith, religious issues, and questions and doubts
  • Ritualizing important family moments and milestone experiences
  • Celebrating holidays and church year seasons at home
  • Providing moral instruction
  • Being involved in a faith community and participating regularly in Sunday worship as a family

This is why the Church consistently reminds us that the family is the “domestic church.” I wish to thank as well as support our parish families who make valiant efforts to live the gospel values despite huge challenges. This New Year gives us an opportunity to introduce some of these practices – if we are not already doing these – in our families. As a first step, why not begin this New Year, the Jubilee Year, by attending our 10 am Mass with family?

May the Christmas blessings stay with you and your family for the whole of 2025!

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

4th Sunday of Advent

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas!

Yes, even though today is the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Christmas is getting close…and it is here in just two days… Although we can’t control its suddenness, and how our culture celebrates it, we can keep the spirit of Christmas in our own home by teaching our children the value of delayed gratification. Wait for the party, wait to open a present. Read the Christmas story as a family. Matthew and Luke are the Evangelists we can depend on for the birth and infancy narratives of Jesus. The first two chapters from each of these gospels are ideal for this purpose. Read at least one chapter each day starting today.

This Christmas is very special because the Jubilee Year (celebrated every 25 years) will begin on December 24, 2024 (Christmas Eve) and conclude on January 6, 2026 (Feast of the Epiphany). This was officially proclaimed by Pope Francis in his papal bull titled Spes Non Confundit  which means “Hope Does Not Disappoint”.

It is customary that holy doors will be designated to enter through during this Jubilee Year, first in Rome and then in each diocese throughout the world. Holy Doors of the 2025 Jubilee of Hope in Rome will be located at the four papal basilicas as well as at a prison. The first Holy Door will be opened by Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Basilica on this Christmas Eve to usher in the beginning of the Jubilee Year worldwide.

What is the significance? The Holy Doors are sacred portals. These doors are ceremonially opened during Jubilee Years, symbolizing the spiritual journey from sin to grace. For pilgrims, crossing these doors is a profound act of faith, offering an opportunity for renewal, forgiveness, and a deeper connection with the divine. The act of physically crossing the threshold signifies a renewal of faith and a desire for spiritual transformation. As Pope St. John Paul II stated, “To pass through that door means to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord; it is to strengthen faith in him in order to live the new life which he has given us.”

Let us all enter the Jubilee Year of Hope. The Christmas story is truly a story of hope. May our Christmas be filled with the wonder of “Emmanuel” (Matthew.1:23: God-with-us). May His peace and joy illumine our hearts and our homes.

Christmas Blessings!

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

Christmas Season Mass Schedule 2024-2025

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Tuesday, December 24

Christmas Eve   

4:00 pm (church)

4:00 pm (cafeteria)

6:30 pm (church)

11:15 pm Christmas Carols (church)

12:00 Midnight (church)

 

 

Wednesday, December 25

Christmas Day

10:00 am and 12:00 Noon

 

 

Feast of the Holy Family

Saturday, December 28

5:00 pm (Vigil Mass)

 

Sunday, December 29

8:00 am, 10:00 am & 12:00 noon

 

 

Wednesday, January 1

Solemnity of Mary Mother of God

10:00 am

 

 

Epiphany of the Lord 

Saturday, January 4

5:00 pm (Vigil Mass)

 

Sunday, January 5

8:00 am, 10:00 am & 12:00 noon

 

New Year’s Blessings!

3rd Sunday of Advent

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Today we light the third candle on our Advent wreath. For families keeping this Advent wreath ritual at home can use the prayer put in this bulletin. We are reminded of how we all need that light of Jesus Christ to dispel the darkness within us. Brighter the light, clearer the vision.

Today is called “Gaudete Sunday” because today’s Mass (in its Latin form),  began  with  the  opening   antiphon:   “Gaudete   in   Domino semper” –“Rejoice in the Lord always.” In the past, when Advent was a season of penance, the celebrant of the liturgy used to wear vestments with the penitential color of purple or violet.  In order to remind the people that they were preparing for the very joyful occasion of the birth of Jesus, the celebrant wore rose-colored vestments on the third Sunday.  (you may remember that we have a similar break–Laetare Sunday—in Lent).  Today we light the rose candle, and the priest may wear rose vestments, to express our joy in the coming of Jesus, our Savior.  The primary common theme running through today’s readings is joy as we keep busy or even anxious with the preparation required of us who await the rebirth of Jesus in our hearts and lives. The second common theme is that of bearing witness. The prophet Zephaniah in the first Reading, Isaiah in the Responsorial Psalm and St. Paul in the second reading – all exhort us to rejoice and be glad.

This does not mean all people are happy. Many of us may not realize that there is a lot of sadness behind a smiling face. Those who suffer anxiety or stress cover it up with a smile. I read what a young person in college wrote last year:

“I am no longer afraid to admit how I’ve struggled with my mental health over the past three years. I have dealt with both anxiety and depression, both of which are common among teens.

I had trouble opening up to others and getting the help I needed. Instead I would lock myself in my room because I felt so much comfort in the darkness. Everyone had different coping mechanisms for handling not just mental health, but life in general. One thing I learned from my experience with depression was the ability to cope with my feelings by expressing them. Writing poetry helped me the most.”

Mental illness is so common that it can easily be overlooked. The “Accompaniment Project,” about which our young people spoke during all the Masses last weekend, is precisely to address the reality of mental health that afflicts more people than we know. Our parish Youth ministry’s Steering Committee (Deacon John Radvanski, Sue Lenczewski, Keith Slyman, Denik Joseph, Pat Cullen, Mary Guardini, Iris Abraham, Carl Furtado and Abigail Joseph) has prepared a survey/questionnaire that you were asked to respond, see page 8 for access to the survey. Thank you for your good will to support this Accompaniment Project which is a grant-funded initiative of the National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry  (NFCYM). We are happy and proud that our parish of St. Matthias is one of the 43 parishes chosen from 17,000 plus parishes nationwide. The goal is to actively support young people in their faith journey, being present with them and listen to their needs to ultimately guide them to a deeper relationship with Christ. As I thank our Youth Ministry leaders, I invite us all to support this very worthwhile cause.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

2nd Sunday of Advent

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Our “Spread the Light” is on! With our Christmas Trees lighting and Manger blessing this weekend, we are making our festival season more visible and charming. We are so very grateful to all those who happily sponsored the Christmas trees. They will be excited to see the names of their dear ones memorialized with a laminated plaque on each tree. As it happened last year, I’m sure that this year too we will see numerous people – parishioners and visitors alike – stopping by to enjoy the enchanting sight, especially at night, reminding all what these trees surrounding the manger symbolize: the love of God manifested at the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.

This huge project became a reality due to the hard work of so many. JoAnn Piagentini and Pat Cullen took the lead to make this a reality with their indefatigable spirit, hard work, and optimism. The parish staff, especially Vinnie Natale, Nathalie Godet, Mary Pat Burke-Grospin, Julio Montero, Anthony Baio, Sue Lenczewski, Joan Seamon, Amy Hanna and Kelly Counts contributed much to this project. Many volunteer groups like the Knights of Columbus, Boy Scouts, youths from our parish, St. Joe’s and even from Seton Hall gave their time and energy on two Saturdays to set up and decorate them, enduring the cold and windy weather. We are glad that Patrick Gianotto from Franklin Electric is providing us with the electrical services. Numerous other volunteers – too many to name here – gave their time to make this happen. We were blessed to receive a substantial amount as seed money for this endeavor from Bill Gleason of the Gleason Funeral Home. In the name of the parish community, I am truly grateful to all people of good will who helped in one way or other with this wonderful project that lights up not only our church compound but also our hearts.

This year the annual feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary – December 8 – falls today. Since Sunday takes precedence over other feasts, this solemn feast is transferred to tomorrow. This dogma proclaims that our Blessed Mother was conceived without original sin. It refers to the conception of Mary in the womb of her mother Anne, even though the gospel we hear at Mass this day is about the conception of Jesus. The relevance of this feast for us is to see in Mary an example of what God can do in a person and what we can do, if we put ourselves in God’s hands and at God’s service as Mary did. It will enable us to remain free from sin as much as humanly possible with God’s grace. I invite you to attend the 8 am Mass. Being a working day, it is understandable that many cannot attend. But when you come home from work, why not access our YouTube channel and join that Mass as the concluding act of this important day?

It is interesting to note that there are two more feasts of our Blessed Mother this week. On 10th is the feast of Our Lady of Loreto. According to tradition, the Holy House of Loreto is the birthplace of Mary, the home of the Holy Family, and the site of the Annunciation. Then we have the very poplar feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on 12th. This Catholic holiday honors Mary, Mexico’s patron saint who is also referred as the Lady of the Americas. Mary’s appearance to Juan Diego, a peasant, in 1531, is a powerful reminder that Mary – and the God who sent her – accept all peoples and that we are all God’s loving children.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

All Are Welcome to Come Visit Our Nativity & Christmas Trees on Display

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

St. Matthias is again celebrating the Christmas Season by illuminating our church and school property with beautiful, personalized, freshly-cut Christmas trees, decorated with white lights.

The Nativity and trees will remain lit every night from 6:00 PM until midnight, through the Feast of the Epiphany on January 5, 2025. People are welcome to visit the trees and read the plaques throughout this time.  Everyone driving by on JFK Boulevard will be reminded of the hope and peace that breaks into our darkness at Christmas time.

To find a specific tree, visit https://www.stmatthias.net/treedirectory/.

Accompaniment Project

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

The Accompaniment Project is a grant-funded initiative of the National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM).

This survey is for people of ALL ages – feel free to share it with anyone!

Your responses will help us create and sustain engaging ways to encounter Christ and develop real relationships with anyone who wants to be accompanied on their journey searching for meaning,  joy, and purpose in their life.  Thanks for taking the time to tell us what you think.  YOU MATTER !

Accompaniment Project Survey

Giving Tuesday 2024

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

GivingTuesday is an opportunity for people to give back in many different ways: through acts of kindness, gifts of voice, time, talent, or treasure. Our parish of St. Matthias has been blessed with generous parishioners who always responded joyfully to every need of our community. Please consider donating to St. Matthias Church as one of your GivingTuesday contributions. Every contribution no matter how small goes towards making improvements to our church. Thank you for your goodness.

To donate to St. Matthias Church, please click here.

 

1st Sunday of Advent

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

This year Advent begins on December first, giving us a full four weeks to prepare for Christmas. Contrary to what we hear and see in the commercialized culture around us, Advent is a season of spiritual preparation – not of external decoration/shopping – for Christmas as the Jews longed for the Messiah. So the first question we need to ask ourselves is: how can we use these four weeks to prepare for a frenzy-free Christmas? Remember the visit of Jesus to the house of Martha and Mary in the gospel of Luke? Seeing the restlessness of Martha, Jesus told her: “You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken away from her” (10:41-42). Try repeating this Bible verse as if Jesus is addressing you, and it will truly help you focus on what is important during this busy season. One way to focus on the meaning of this holy season is to choose some Advent spiritual practices. Some examples:

Family Bible Quiz: It will be an excellent Advent practice to do a Bible Quiz or Bible Trivia with your family. Here are five simple Biblical questions connected with Advent/Christmas:

1.) What does Jesus’ other name, “Emmanuel” mean?

2) What was Joseph’s first reaction when he discovered that Mary was pregnant?

3.) Why did Joseph and Mary go to the city of David?

4) How much older was John the Baptist than Jesus?

5) Which angel appeared to Mary?

Making such questions part of your family dinner table conversation will certainly have a very meaningful impact at your home.

Family Advent Wreath: It is a common practice for families to light Advent wreath candles at home. During each Sunday of the Advent season, we focus on one of the four virtues Jesus brings us: Hope, Love, Joy and Peace. Others consider the lighting of the first candle to symbolize expectation, while the second symbolizes hope, the third joy and the fourth purity. Elsewhere in today’s bulletin there is a simple prayer that the family can do together while lighting the first candle on your Advent Family Wreath.

Follow the daily readings for Mass: Even though it is not possible for most people to attend the weekday Mass, everyone can read the daily scriptures and have a daily connection with the Word of God. You can easily access the daily readings from https://bible.usccb.org/

Follow our daily Mass from YouTube at night! It was very heartening for me to hear some parishioners tell me how they attend our daily Mass at night! Since they have to go to work in the morning, they access our live-streamed daily Mass at night from our St. Matthias Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/stmatthiassomersetnj. Jeff Beck who monitors the viewership of our live-streamed Masses, told me that there is a very significant increase in attendance after the updated media project with the new exceptionally clear screen.

Thus, let us enter into the spirit of Advent taking some concrete action plan for ourselves and for our family, so that we can experience a meaningful Christmas of the Lord touching us!

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal