The St. Matthias Council, Knights of Columbus will hold its annual Pancake Breakfast in honor of Past Grand Knight Robert Norland on Sunday, February 11th from 8:00 am – 12:00 noon in the school cafeteria.
Proceeds from the breakfast will benefit St. Matthias School Tuition Angels. The cost is $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for ages 11-17 and children under 11 are free.
Brothers,
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord is celebrated this year on Friday, February 2, and that means we are also getting close to the annual World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life. Primarily, of course, we commemorate Simeon’s proclamation of Our Lord as the light to the nations and the glory of Israel. But this Feast is also when we take some time in our parishes and schools to call attention to the men and women in consecrated life who consistently make their light shine in our diocese through their vowed commitment of making Jesus Christ the center of their lives.
It would be appreciated if you would recognize the consecrated persons serving in your parish, school, or nearby institutions, either sometime around February 2 or in your parish at the weekend Masses of February 3/4. Does your parish have any native sons or daughters in Religious Life? Consider honoring them. Does your parish have a history with a particular religious community who served in the past? Perhaps remember them or invite them to a Mass. Resources to help you promote this special day are available on the USCCB website https://www.usccb.org/events/2024/world-day-prayer-consecrated-life. As always, you may also contact Sister Anna Nguyen, SCC, our diocesan Delegate for Religious, at anguyen@diometuchen.org for
additional resources.
While I am grateful for all you do for our people, know in particular of my appreciation and prayers for all your efforts in fostering vocations to the Priesthood and Consecrated Life. Following our presbyteral convocation and meeting with our parish vocation teams, we are already seeing fruits.
Certainly, it is an honor and sign of a healthy parish when a young man and woman hears God’s call with the help of their parish and responds with a generous “yes”. We need them too!
With renewed best wishes, I remain
Yours in Christ,
Most Reverend James. F. Checchio, JCD, MBA
Bishop of Metuchen
I don’t know if it’s my age … but it seems that time is flying by! We are just a few weeks away from the Christmas season and in less than a month, we will be celebrating Ash Wednesday. This year it falls on Valentine’s Day… a day of fasting and abstention. Of course, Ash Wednesday is the start of the forty days of Lent and this leads us up to Holy Week and to the glorious feast of Christ’s resurrection, Easter Sunday.
Right now, however, we are in the few weeks of ordinary time. A little bit of a breather between the two major feasts of Christmas and Easter. In today’s Gospel, we hear Christ calling a few of the apostles to come and follow Me. He calls them to leave their fishing nets and to become fishers of Men. My sisters and brothers, we are all called to be Disciples of Christ. When we are baptized, we are automatically called to be Disciples of Christ …To leave “our nets” behind and to be fishers of men.
Sometimes we tend to forget that not only priests, religious, and Deacons receive the call from Jesus to follow Him. We are all called. Each one’s answer to that call is obviously different. Twenty-five years ago, I answered God’s call to the Diaconate and will be ordained twenty years this June. Sometimes we aren’t tuned in to when God is calling us. There’s a little story of a man whose house was going to be flooded. The rescuers came in a rowboat to rescue him. He refused to get in saying God will save him. The water rose higher to the top floor. Again the rescuers came with a boat. Again, he refused saying God will save Him. Finally, they came by helicopter when he was on his roof. Again, he refused… giving the same answer. He perished in the flood. When he got to heaven, he asked God “Why didn’t you save me? God answered, “I sent you two boats and a helicopter and you didn’t listen!”
Lent is a perfect time to spend some time asking God what are you calling me in my life right now. Remember that the call could be a whisper of a feeling. For me, Lent is a time for me to sit down with the Lord and see if there is somewhere different that the Lord is calling me. It does not matter at what stage in life you are, we must listen to the possibility that God may be calling us to something new and exciting in our lives. As we get closer to Lent think about what you may do… I say do rather than give up something. I feel doing this is putting Lent in a positive rather than a negative spiritual journey. More time in prayer with the Lord is a great way to enhance your Lenten journey. Perhaps it’s time to join a Lenten small faith group. Whatever you do make this Lent the best you can and you will feel the joy of Christ’s resurrection on Easter more fully.
Peace of Christ,
Deacon Russ
Dear Friends,
Greetings from my home in Kerala, India. I’m enjoying visiting my family, relatives and friends. I am also enjoying the hot weather – there are only two seasons here: hot and hotter. ☺
This year the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday falls on January 15th, his actual birthday. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Baptist Minister and a passionate preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and example as well as a martyr for justice. King led the civil rights movement during the mid-1950s until his assassination in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968. He was given the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.
The theme for MLK Day 2024 is “Shifting the cultural climate through the study and practice of Kingian Nonviolence.” A testament to the revolutionary power of nonviolence, Gandhi’s success of non-violence in India directly influenced Martin Luther King, Jr., who argued that the Gandhian philosophy was “the only morally and practically sound method open to oppressed people in their struggle for freedom.”
MLK Day invites us to reflect on the necessity of respecting all people – no matter who they are or how different they are. It is good to point out that the prayer intention of Pope Francis for the month of January is an invitation to all Christians to embrace the diversity of charisms in the Church as a richness. He wrote: “Let us pray that the Spirit help us recognize the gift of different charisms within the Christian communities, and to discover the richness of different ritual traditions within the Catholic Church.”
The timing of this intention is significant because we celebrate the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, January 18th through the 25th. In the short video that the Vatican has released (you can google it and watch it), the Pope urged Christians to unite our prayers to his “for the gift of diversity in the Church,” since diversity is an opportunity to “rejoice”. He noted that diversity and unity were already present in the early Christian communities, and that the tension brought about by diversity had to be resolved on a higher level, resorting to dialog and prayerful listening to the Holy Spirit: “To move forward on the journey of faith, we also need ecumenical dialogue with our brothers and sisters of other confessions and Christian communities. This is not something confusing or disturbing, but is a gift God gives to the Christian community so it might grow as one body, the Body of Christ.” Pope Francis offered the example of the diversity of rites within the Eastern Churches that are in communion with Rome: “They have their own traditions, their own characteristic liturgical rites, yet they maintain the unity of the faith. They strengthen it, not divide it.”
The Catholic Church is not a church of uniformity, as some mistakenly think, but a church of unity in diversity. Our community of St. Matthias is a microcosm of that reality. We are a diverse community, united in our faith in Jesus Christ. The Feast of Epiphany we celebrated last Sunday was a visible sign of unity in diversity. Let us proudly continue our rich and biblical tradition that we proclaim at every weekend Mass: “All are welcome here at St. Matthias.”
Your brother in Christ,
Fr. Abraham Orapankal
Dear Friends,
Today we celebrate the Feast of Epiphany. Our noon Mass has often been a bi-lingual Mass. Three Kings will join our entrance procession. Immediately following Mass, the Franklin High School Madrigals will perform a 1/2-hour program of Christmas music for our enjoyment. The Madrigals are an inspiring group of young musicians from Franklin Township who sing in traditional medieval costumes.
In its Greek origin, Epiphany refers to God’s revelation to humans. Today we focus on the wise men or magi whom later legends have named as Melchior, Casper, and Balthazar. They may have been of noble birth, educated, wealthy, and influential. Whether we agree or not with the non-biblical descriptions of them, one thing is certain: they had studied the Hebrew Scriptures, in particular, the Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament. Their study of the Scriptures led them to the Messiah and they adored him.
Reading and praying the Scriptures is the surest way to know the Messiah. The decision to do it daily is an excellent resolution for the New Year. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the famous German Lutheran theologian and anti-Nazi dissident, described Jesus as “the man for others.” He wrote: “The church is the church only when it exists for others…The church must share in the secular problems of ordinary human life, not dominating, but helping and serving.” We are aware that this holiday season of Christmas, New Year, and Epiphany is a very difficult time for many people due to grieving the loss of a dear one, struggling with personal problems, and suffering from loneliness, depression, and other issues. Are we conscious of their plight?
I emailed a parishioner who was grieving the loss of her husband and assured her of my prayers and thoughts this Christmas. Her reply truly edified me:
“Well, we made it through the first Christmas. Years ago, we started the practice of making sure others were not alone for the holidays. Mom had friends who had no family or family who lived far away. My husband and I would take our celebration on the road to them or pick them up with Mom to join us. This year, I invited my cousin to join us. He was divorced a couple of years ago and was not the one who wanted the divorce. He’s been very sad and lonely and sometimes angry. He misses his wife and 2 children very much. After Mass, I went home and cooked dinner to bring to Mom at the Rehab. He joined us. Mom said grace. We joked about how Dad would always tease her that it was too long. We all came together each with our own sense of loss, but laughed, told stories, and had great family time. My cousin smiled. He told us the story of how he rescued an abandoned dog on the highway (he’s a truck driver). God gave us the support we needed through each other.”
What a wonderful testimony of a grieving and lonely person reaching out to others who are lonely! Jesus expects us to be men and women for others. He wants us to be his hands and feet, to reach out to others in understanding, love, and care.
I will be leaving this evening for India to visit my family. I will return in three weeks.
Your brother in Christ,
Fr. Abraham Orapankal
A few parishes are planning to host a Mental Health Self Care Fair
SPRING Into MENTAL HEALTH – March 9th & 10th, 2024 at St. Matthias – 168 JFK Blvd, Somerset, NJ
We need your assistance to help make this a worthwhile event for people of all ages.
Please take a few minutes to answer these questions.
Thank you for your time & interest!
Dear Friends,
Tomorrow we usher in the New Year 2024! January has its name from the Greek God Janus, who presided over doors and beginnings – appropriate for the beginning of the year. Janus was usually depicted with two faces – one looking backward and the other forward. Our Christmas spirit continues as we celebrate another New Year with a sense of joy and hope. At this time, it is very healthy to look back to the year that was and look forward to the year that is.
For me personally, as I look back, there are many events and people that I am thankful to God for, and in particular, the wonderful parishioners of St. Matthias. The most recent occasion was the way the 40th anniversary of my ordination was celebrated as a parish event. I was so very touched by the outpouring of love, support, and prayers. The church was packed with our parishioners and some of my family and friends. Many of you communicated to me your inability to attend and greeted me with joy. Thanks to Joe Mancuso who livestreamed the Mass (so it is available anytime on our YouTube channel) which was a joyful experience with some cultural practices adding to its beauty. The entrance procession with some 20 Indian women in colorful dress, the offertory procession with various objects presented at the altar accompanied with a commentary of symbolism of each object, and a hymn in my mother tongue of Malayalam by the Indian choir were all attractions that augmented the worship. The meaningful homily of Msgr. Bill Belford, pastor of St. Teresa’s in Staten Island (my first pastor in a New York parish when I first came to the US) focused on the vocation that we are all called to – especially in the Sacrament of Holy Orders and Holy Matrimony. The felicitation given by Didi Molano of the Pastoral Council, representing the whole parish community. The soul-filling music that Joan Seamon directed with our Choir and the Bell Choir was appreciated by all. The food in the cafeteria was varied, plentiful, and delicious, accompanied by song, dance, and words of felicitation – all emceed beautifully by Joe Percoco. All these were meticulously planned and executed by several dedicated parishioners and friends. I am grateful to the Committee that first met to plan this event: Alma Valdez, Anne Marie Francis, Emile Capuno, Fran Johnson, Claudette Gaspard, Menchie Ventura, Rita DiNicola, and Frank Rees. Many others gave of their time and talent – too many to name here. In a very special way, I am immensely indebted to Alma and Jaime Valdez for their goodwill and graciousness in sponsoring this event. Echoing the words of Mother Mary, I too say, “My soul glorifies the Lord…for He has done great things for me… Holy is His name.”
You too will have many things to be grateful for looking at 2023. In the same spirit, let us all look forward to this New Year and make a plan to correct where we failed and to rededicate ourselves to be better with new resolutions with the grace that comes from the Lord. Some of us may be discouraged by the short-lived resolutions every year. That’s why we need the Lord’s help for this. We have a special Mass to begin 2024. Come and dedicate this New Year at the Lord’s Table tomorrow, January 1st at 10 AM. I believe goals are attainable for all of us if only we persist and see His grace. My prayer for you is – to paraphrase the words of St. Paul: May God who began the good work in you bring it to perfection!
Blessings for the New Year to you and to your families!
Your brother in Christ,
Fr. Abraham Orapankal
Dear Friends,
Merry Christmas! Yes, even though today is the Fourth Sunday of Advent, today is also Christmas Eve and tomorrow is Christmas Day! This happens once in about ten years! Hence it is easy to feel quite frenzied and get trapped into an all too familiar paradox: the person whose birthday we are supposed to be celebrating is left out of the celebration! He is ignored. It is not intentional, but Jesus is often overlooked as undue importance is given to all the external trappings of Christmas, to Rudolph, Frosty the Snowman, Santa Claus, the Grinch, elves, and a long list of celebrated fictional characters that the media and companies present to us. Let me suggest three easy solutions:
Many of you already did this, but can do it again: bring your family and friends to enjoy the beauty of the 300 brightly lit Christmas trees. Walk among the shining trees and breathe in that ethereal feeling of joy and peace. May your Christmas be filled with the wonder of “Emmanuel”
(Mt.1:23: God-with-us). May his peace and joy illumine your hearts and your homes. Merry Christmas!
Your brother in Christ,
Fr. Abraham Orapankal
Dear Friends,
Today marks a significant milestone in my life. I was ordained a priest on December 17, 1983 in my home parish in the southern state of Kerala, India. As I looked for an apt verse as a motto for my priestly life, I was fascinated by a poem of Rabindranath Tagore, a famous Indian Nobel Laureate, poet, playwright, composer, philosopher, social reformer and educationist. It was titled: Give Me the Strength! Here’s the poem:
This is my prayer to thee, my lord,
Strike, strike at the root of penury in my heart
Give me the strength lightly to bear my joys and sorrows.
Give me the strength to make my love fruitful in service.
Give me the strength never to disown the poor or bend my knees before insolent might.
Give me the strength to raise my mind high above daily trifles.
And give me the strength to surrender my strength to thy will with love.
The motto I chose was a line from that poem: “Lord, give me the strength to make my love fruitful in service.” As I look back at the 40 years of my priestly life, I can honestly say that I have tried my best to live this motto, despite my own human frailties and weaknesses. I’m grateful to our loving God who kept me going in all situations of my life and ministry. I was blessed to be born into a wonderful family. The faith of my parents and the role model I saw in the priests who served in our parish, planted the seeds of vocation to priesthood in my heart. Though sad to leave my parents and siblings as a teenager, I joined the seminary to become a missionary priest in the north-east of India, some 2500 miles away from home. I am grateful to all the people who came into my life, too many to name or count. I am grateful to them for their love, support, and encouragement, as I believe I too have given the same to them when they needed.
Thank you for the love, acceptance, and support I received and continue to receive from you, the people of God of St. Matthias. Thank you for your constant prayers that kept me going despite the challenges I faced. Please continue to support me with your prayers. We shall be relentless in our efforts to bring the mission of Jesus Christ to our community and to all around us. A group of our parishioners volunteered to form a Celebration Committee and put in a lot of hard work to plan and execute this celebration today. I am truly indebted to them for their love and sacrifice.
It is so providential that this celebration falls on the third Sunday of Advent which is known as ‘Gaudete’ Sunday. Gaudete is the Latin word meaning “rejoice.” This Sunday is so named because “Rejoice” is the first word in the entrance antiphon for today’s Mass taken from Philippians 4:4,5: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice! The Lord is near.” The third candle we light on our Advent wreath is of pink color, a joyful reminder that our salvation is near. Let us celebrate together the Lord’s coming into our hearts.
Your brother in Christ,
Fr. Abraham Orapankal
The Giving Tree is at the front of the Church and will remain there until this Sunday, December 17th. There are still some tags on the tree and the remaining tags are for specific individuals, primarily children. If you are able, please consider grabbing another tag, purchase a gift, and bring joy to those less fortunate.
We will be collecting and sorting gifts this weekend December 16th /17th.
Please note this will be the final weekend we will be collecting gifts. ALL GIFTS ARE DUE BACK NO LATER THAN 2:00 PM ON DECEMBER 17th!
Please SECURE THE ORNAMENTS TO THE PACKAGES, otherwise, we have no way of knowing where the gifts are to be delivered. These gifts should be placed under the tree and they will be distributed where needed.
St. Matthias parishioners and friends have always been generous in the past. Please keep up our tradition going – it means a lot to so many people in need. Thank you!
Should you have any questions and/or would like to volunteer to help, please contact:
Joanne Diana at (732)322-6270 or j-diana@comcast.net