Category: Fr. Abraham’s Weekly Column

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

A Message From Our Pastoral Staff

Dear Friends,

Today on National Parent’s Day we recognize the invaluable role parents or guardians play in our lives. From a Catholic perspective, we acknowledge the sacred duty of parents to nurture their children’s faith, moral development, and to encourage a life of service. Parenting is both a privilege and an awesome responsibility. This day encourages us to appreciate the sacrifices parents make and the love they pour into our lives.

I am privileged to minister to and with many teens whose faith and values have been formed by their parents.  These adults have modeled compassion which their children have embodied through their own words and deeds. This past week four St. Matthias teens attended a week of service and retreat in Trenton.  Each day they tirelessly served the residents, and homeless population in various capacities.  Stay tuned to hear about their experiences and invaluable contributions to the community.

Notice in today’s Gospel it’s the contributions of the young boy that Jesus transformed into a miracle which fed many. Just as Jesus ensured nothing was wasted, parents strive to make the most of their efforts, leaving lasting impressions on their children’s lives. We also need in our lives mentors like Andrew, who noticed the boy and invited him to share his meager offerings. This week take time to pause and notice the young people around you. Invite and encourage them to be the positive difference in someone’s life.  Regardless of our age and limitations, we all desire to be recognized, and to accompany others so we can  make a difference.

When we trust God with our poverty, God can multiply it for a greater purpose whenever we surrender what little we have or might feel we are. Although many parents face financial, emotional, and physical challenges, they still sacrificially provide and their effects multiply. Just as Jesus’ sacrifice revealed the depth of his love, and  his miracles revealed His divinity, parent’s selfless acts reveal their extraordinary capacity for unconditional divine love.  I pray that by receiving Jesus in the Eucharist that you become more  fully alive -through one small act of love at a time.

Prayers for a Blessed Summer!

Deacon John

 

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

A Message From Our Pastoral Staff

HOW DO WE GET TO HEAVEN?

Wouldn’t it be great if we had a GPS to guide us to heaven?  Sorry, that doesn’t exist. However, we have heard God through the Bible and from Jesus how this is possible.  God gave us the 10 Commandments as a very basic start.

I am the LORD your God. You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.

Honor your father and your mother.

You shall not kill.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.”

The Ten Commandments are a description of the basic freedom from sin that is necessary to live as a Christian. Knowing this was not enough, God sent His only Son, Jesus, to give us ways to live.

To Love God and Love your neighbor.

To help us further, when He began His teaching, Jesus gave us, eight statements of correlating blessing, instruction, and promise, which have come to be known as the beatitudes.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be

satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs

is the kingdom of heaven.

During his life on earth, Jesus instituted the Seven Sacraments for us:

Baptism-–Holy Eucharist—Confirmation—Reconciliation–Healing of the Sick—Matrimony and Holy Orders.

Jesus, died on the cross for us, for the forgiveness of sin and to open the gates of heaven.

This is how we are able to get to heaven, to be with God who wants us to be happy with Him for all eternity.

Deacon Ron Caimi 

 

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

A Message From a Member of Our Pastoral Staff

Dear Friends,

This year has been one of two major Milestones.

I celebrated my 75th Birthday and the 20th anniversary of my ordination to the Diaconate. 20 wonderful years of serving St Matthias. The turning of 75 also has a significance for the Diaconate. 75 Is the mandatory age for a Deacon to retire here in our Diocese. You either retire completely.. where you can do Baptisms etc. for only close relatives .. or if your Pastor approves you can continue as normal on a year-to-year basis. Father Abraham and I have agreed to continue on a year-to-year basis …and the Bishop has approved.

I want to talk about the call to serve The Lord. Before I was ordained there was a year of discernment and four years of studies before being ordained. I truly had to discern about my calling. Scripture has much to say about the different ways we may serve God. In Corinthians, we hear “Now there are a variety of gifts but the same Spirit. There are a variety of services but the same Lord. There are a variety of activities but it is the same God who empowers them to serve for the common good. In Peter 4: 10-11 we hear “As each had received a gift use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever serves as one who serves by the strength that God supplies… so that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.

The good news my brothers and sisters is that if we serve God by serving others then serving God can be done in almost every aspect of our lives. One of the ways we can serve the Lord is by being more involved with our St Matthias Church community. By sharing our gifts and talents with others enriches our lives. We have many ministries here at St Matthias that could surely use your gifts and talents. Each of us has a gift or talent that can be shared with others. Take some time during these summer months to sit with the Lord … to see where He may be calling you. Remember sometimes the call is a whisper. Also, know that I am available if you need any encouragement to join one of the ministries here at St. Matthias.

Yours in Christ,

Deacon Russ

 

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Happy July 4th to all! Our country was founded as one nation under God, in God we trust. John Quincy Adams, the 6th US president noted: “The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: It connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity.” Sadly, today we don’t hear much about the spiritual foundation of our nation. It is not taught in many of our public schools anymore. As Christians, we need to be concerned about the efforts of militant secularists to take out any reference to God in American history and the erosion of Christian values in public life.  It is important for us all to remember that our Capitol abounds with Christian symbols and images.

Did you know:

  • Within the Capitol there are statues of Catholic priests and nuns, and medallions of Pope Innocent III and Pope Gregory IX.
  • On the first floor of the main Reading Room in the Library of Congress there is a statue of St. Paul.
  • In that Library there is a quote from the Book of Proverbs and a reference to God from Shakespeare.
  • There is a chapel in the U.S. Capitol. Prayer meetings for Senators and Congressmen are commonplace throughout.
  • Crucifixes abound in the Capitol.
  • On the front doors of the Capitol are pictures of Franciscans with rosaries.
  • There is a painting in the dome of the burial scene of Hernando De Soto depicting a Mass being celebrated; a priest is shown holding a crucifix during burial prayers.
  • In front of the Federal District Court, across from the National Gallery of Art, there is a depiction of pilgrims praying before a cross – a splendid recognition of religious liberty.
  • On the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and 7th St. N.W. is the Temperance Fountain with the inscription of Temperance, Charity, Hope and Faith. Nearby is a quote from St. Paul.
  • Near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, engraved on the sidewalk, there is the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence Memorial with an inscription referencing “our firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence.”
  • There is a frieze on the Supreme Court Building that depicts Moses.
  • The entrance court to the Supreme Court, made of oak, have the Ten Commandments engraved on each lower portion of each door.
  • Inside the Supreme Court, right above where the Justices sit, there is a display of Moses and the Ten Commandments.

If you wish to read more about these symbols, see ‘One Nation Under God: Religious Symbols, Quotes, and Images in Our Nation’s Capitol,’ by Fr. Eugene F. Hemrick. While we look with gratitude to the past to the freedom and liberties fought and won by the first generation Americans, may this July 4th be an occasion for us to look in faith to the future, and commit it and our lives to God and His will. The ancient words of the Psalmist are still true: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12).

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

During our 60th Anniversary, we had conducted a parish survey. You may remember the findings published in our bulletin. There was an overwhelming desire from our parishioners to renovate and repair specific areas of our church building including the need for constructing a new bathroom. To fund these projects, we launched the “In Celebration of 60 Years, A Fundraiser for the Future of Our Church” on March 6, 2023, with the modest goal to raise $125,000, which was revised to $200,000. Months prior to that, a Fundraising Core Committee was formed with Joan Pritchard, Dolores Christmas, Edna Arguello- Hitchner as Co-Chairs, and Laura Beck, Santina Spinella and Joe Porter as members while Msgr. Seamus Brennan and Mary Pat Burke-Grospin were the staff representatives.

The Core Committee worked very hard and carried out all details of the fundraising, supported by the parish staff, especially Nathalie Godet, Vinnie Natale, Amy Hanna, and Mary Jo Loboda. The Committee created the fundraiser letters and donor contribution envelopes, planned and organized the major donor luncheon, prepared and followed up with a list of tasks to be initiated and completed, regularly updated the status of the contributions on the thermometer chart in the narthex, and held regular meetings for evaluations, updates and strategic planning. The Committee asked for a final wrap up and review meeting and it was held on February 8, 2024. They made a very professional evaluation. There was much satisfaction for the way the Committee did their job for the good of the parish, though they felt that some of the best practices they had recommended to me were not followed to their satisfaction. Though I had thanked them in that final meeting, I wish to place on record our sincere gratitude to the Core Committee for their commitment, enthusiasm and passion in fulfilling their role “In Celebration of 60 Years, A Fundraiser for the Future of Our Church.”

I am very happy to share with you all that the total contributions received as of June 2024 add up to $152,850.00, and the total invoices of projects cost add up to $86,937.00. As contributions are still trickling in, the final income and expense report will be shared later. We are happy that the following projects are already completed: Refinishing of the church pews, Construction of a new bathroom, Installation of church front entrance ramp, Renovation of the small bathroom, Installing two Adoring Angels, Installing two wood stands built with marble, Replacing sink in new bathroom with fabricated granite countertop, Diaper change station and switch change, and Installing rolling sun shades in the loft. There are more projects yet to be completed, including the following: Cleaning of the church walls and stations of the cross, Steam cleaning of all fabric covered church chairs and all carpet covered church floors, and Painting of aluminum front entrance ramp to reduce blinding glare.

As I express my gratitude once more to the Core Committee, our parishioners who contributed so generously to this effort deserve a very special thanks. I also wish to express my gratitude to Alma and Jaime Valdez, of JM Valdez Construction company, who not only constructed and renovated the bathrooms, but also generously donated their time and resources in this parish endeavor. The effect of everyone’s sacrificial giving is seen in the projects already completed as listed above. May the Lord who sees the generosity of the participants, bless them abundantly.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Tomorrow, June 24, is the solemn feast in honor of the birth or nativity of John the Baptist. Usually, the feast days of the saints are celebrated on or around the date of their death. John the Baptist is an exception due to his uniqueness as the Forerunner, the Voice crying out in the Wilderness, in the history of salvation. At the same time, the Church wants to be more conscious of the witness of John’s character as a model for us to grow in holiness.

It is enlightening for us to know a little church history and tradition associated with the birthday celebrations of John the Baptist. This is one of the oldest feasts on the Church calendar. In the early Church, as in medieval times, this was one of the biggest feasts of the year. As was done on Christmas, three masses were offered, one at midnight, and two in the morning. All over Europe, fires were lit on mountains and hilltops on the eve of this feast. The people had parties and lit bonfires in honor of John because our Lord called him a “burning and shining lamp” (John 5:35). These fires, sometimes called St. John’s fires, were lit on St. John’s Eve and burned until at least midnight. These fires were also a sign of Christ the Light, and a reminder that we, too, are called to be a light for the world. In Catholic sections of Europe, people prayed together to Saint John for his intercession that the summer might be blessed in homes, fields, and country. Finally, they performed some of the traditional folk dances, usually accompanied by singing and music. In addition to celebrating around outdoor fires, other customs included decorating one’s home with flowers, making floral wreaths (which were sometimes sent down a river as a symbol of Jesus’ baptism), placing sprigs of St. Johns wort around the house much as we do Palm Sunday palms, and eating strawberries. This feast placed three months after the feast of the Annunciation, and six months before Christmas served the useful purpose of supplanting the immoral pagan feasts of the Summer Solstice. St. John the Baptist was highly honored throughout from the beginning. Proof of this is, among other things, the fact that fifteen churches were dedicated to him in the ancient imperial city of Constantinople.

William Shakespeare in his play Romeo and Juliet wrote, “What’s in a name? A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.” Actually, Biblical names have often a rich meaning. When the time came to circumcise this child, neighbors and relatives expected him to be named after his father, Zechariah. But his mother insisted, “No, he is to be called John.” “The name, “John,” in Hebrew is “Yehohanan.” It means, “The Lord is gracious,” or maybe better, “The Lord shows favor.” The birthday of John Baptist relates to the birth of Jesus. The Church selected the time of the winter solstice to celebrate the birth of Jesus because from that time the days gradually grow longer; the amount of daylight increases. But the Church selected the time of the summer solstice to celebrate the birth of the Baptist because from this time the days gradually grow shorter; the amount of daylight diminishes. This symbolizes the words of the Baptist in speaking of Jesus, “He must increase while I must decrease.” (John 3:30)

May we too allow Jesus to increase in the way we witness to Him and His teachings.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

After honoring mothers last month, today we honor fathers. For children, it is a day to show appreciation and gratitude for their fathers and father-figures. For adults, it is a day to recall and appreciate the hard work of the fathers and husbands in their lives. We offer our dads, living or dead, on the altar of God during the Holy Mass and invoke our heavenly Father’s blessings on them.   At a time when the Fathers’ role in the family and in the society is not fully appreciated, it is good that today we can celebrate, congratulate and pray for the men who continue to reflect the Divine qualities of fatherhood as they lovingly establish, nourish and maintain their families.

Many studies have demonstrated how important a father is to his child’s development.  Children with fathers present have lower rates of delinquency, drug and alcohol use, teen pregnancy, and so on, than those with absent fathers.  The father’s presence is also a significant positive factor in children’s getting a college education, finding a satisfying job, and making a lasting marriage. Psychotherapists today are saying that both parents are vitally important to the stable development of their children; the mother’s input is invaluable in the formative pre-adolescent years but the father’s most important influence is at adolescence.  Most single mothers, who do an excellent job of parenting, say that it is very difficult to teach their children about the meaning of God the Father who seems so impersonal because their children have been abandoned by their natural fathers.  Adolescent daughters long to hear from their fathers that they are beautiful and loved.  In fact, a girl’s choice of partner and satisfaction in marriage is often directly related to the relationship she has had with her father.

While we honor our earthly fathers, we, as Christians, look up to God as our model of fatherhood. So what does the Bible say about it? Check out these verses on the fatherhood of God: Matthew 5:45; 6:9, 32; Romans 1:7; 15:6; 1 Corinthians 8:6.

There are many instances that speak of Jesus Christ, the Son, honoring His Father and honoring the will of His Father (e.g., John 17:1 and John 17:5).

The apostle Paul taught that to honor one’s earthly father is not only a commandment but the first commandment that, when obeyed, has a promise of things going well and living long on the earth. “Honor your father and mother—which is the first commandment with a promise—that it may go well with you and  that you may enjoy long life on the earth” (Ephesians 6:2-3).

I invite us all to have a look at a few more Biblical references to fathers: Exodus 20:12, Sirach 3:1-16, Matthew 19:16-22, John 1:14, 2 Cor. 6:16-18, Ephesians 6: 1-4, 1 Thessalonians. 2:11 – 12.

The most important lesson that a father can inculcate in his children is to develop a loving relationship with God. All fathers can heed this advice of

St. Paul: “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4). When fathers take this responsibility seriously, there will be more unity, love, peace and harmony in families.

Happy Father’s Day!

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

10th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

We are in the month of June dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a devotion that began in the 12th century, and gained popularity after Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 1670s.  This month is an opportunity for us to deepen our devotion to Jesus Christ and reflect on His teachings through prayer, reflection, and acts of charity. One popular devotional practice is the daily recitation of the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This litany is a prayer of intercession that asks for the mercy, love, and protection of Jesus. Here at St. Matthias, we pray this Litany every First Friday of the month, during the Holy Hour after our 8 am Mass.

We all are familiar with the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Have you wondered why it has flames, thorns, a cross, and open wounds?

Flames: In the Gospel, Jesus says that He has come to set fire on the earth—the fire that He longs to set is the fire of divine love, the fire of the Holy Spirit, in each human heart. In Jesus’ first apparition to St. Margaret Mary, after revealing His Heart to her, he said to her, “My divine Heart is so passionately fond of the human race, and of you in particular, that it cannot keep back the pent-up flames of its burning charity any longer. They must burst out through you.”

Rays of Light: The Sacred Heart of Jesus is surrounded by rays of light, as if rays of light are emanating from it. In the Gospel of John, Jesus says He is the light of the world. Jesus brings the light of God’s love into the darkness of our sin and suffering, our fear and doubt.

Crown of Thorns: In one of His revelations to St. Margaret Mary, Jesus told her that the crown of thorns symbolizes our individual sins, which prick His heart.

The Cross: In the image of the Sacred Heart, the Cross stands atop the Sacred Heart, as if to say that the Heart of Jesus is what supports the Cross and what supports us when we have to bear a cross. It is the Divine Love that transforms the Cross into the most powerful act of redemption.

The Open Wound: After Jesus died on the cross, a soldier pierced His Heart with a lance and blood and water flow out—the mercy of God floods the world. The open wound in the image of the Sacred Heart shows us that the Heart of Jesus is always open to us, His mercy is always available to us, and He never closes His Heart to us.

Such insights from these symbols make us realize the infinite love of Jesus for us. Pope Francis has said that it is easier for us to believe in our own love for God than it is for us to believe in God’s love for us. In this month, the Church invites us to contemplate the Sacred Heart of Jesus and let ourselves be convinced of God’s passionate love for us. One prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus we all can pray is: “Oh Heart of Jesus, burning with love for us, inflame our hearts with love for You.” More and more people are attending our First Friday devotion to the Sacred Heart on every month. If you have not experienced it, why not try it once?

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Today we celebrate the solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ – the very presence of Christ that we are fortunate to have each time we gather to celebrate Mass. ‘Corpus Christi’ is the more popular Latin name, meaning the Body of Christ. We receive the Body of Christ in Holy Communion. That’s why we bow our heads and say Amen to the words of the Communion Minister: “The Body of Christ.” But receiving this body of Christ will not be meaningful unless we love and respect the larger body of Christ – the people of God, who are our brothers and sisters in the Lord.

This week has been very special for one group of this Body of Christ in our parish: our 8th Grade students who just had their graduation on Friday. It was an exciting day for them and their families as well as for the teachers and administration. In my message in the 2024 St. Matthias School Year Book, after my words of appreciation to Mrs. Mary Lynch, our Principal, all our teachers, staff, and most of all, parents and families who have guided them along the way, I wrote this to the students:

My dear Graduating Class,

 While blessings and congratulations will be showered upon you, the question I wish to ask you is this: Are you prepared to face the challenges of life as you move on from our loving, protective and nurturing environment of St. Matthias? The challenges that teens face are many: anxiety, stress, depression, social media, bullying, cyber bullying, eating disorders, peer pressure, desensitization to violence, low motivation, temptation to drug, alcohol etc. It is only when you make the right choices, you will experience success, fulfillment and happiness, giving you good health in mind, body and soul.

We have tried our best to inculcate in you the values of discipleship in Christ Jesus to help you make the right choices. The regular sight of Fr. Lancelot McGrath in the school has given a much needed priestly presence both to the faculty and students. Attending Mass on a regular basis, holding prayer services on important occasions, highlighting the daily practice of prayer and other practices have given you a good spiritual foundation that should be of great help in dealing with difficult times ahead.

 Be assured of our love, prayers and support, for “You are the Body of Christ,” as the Year Book theme reminds us. Do continue your friendship with Jesus and your association with this faith community of St. Matthias. Remember this message from the Bible: “Be strong! Be fearless! Don’t be afraid and don’t be scared by your enemies, because the Lord your God is the one who marches with you. He won’t let you down, and he won’t abandon you” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

As St. Matthias School is part and parcel of the Catholic Community of St. Matthias, I wish to thank the entire parish community for the constant support and encouragement to the school. Without your generous financial support, it would have been very difficult to run our school that has received lots of awards both as an institution and as individual students. God bless our parish and our school.

 

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

Dear Friends,

We have been hearing a lot about the National Eucharistic Revival during the past three years, with its national phase, diocesan phase, and the parish phase. In our parish, we have done many events, practices, and devotions – thanks to our enthusiastic Eucharistic Revival Committee. Among those, our weekly Monday adoration is of special importance as so many of our parishioners continue to come on a regular basis to spend half an hour or more in silent prayer and communication with Jesus present in the Eucharist every Monday between 6-8 pm.

The concluding celebration of the National Eucharistic Revival will be in Indianapolis where the 10th Eucharistic Congress will be held from July 17 – 21. This is the First US National Eucharistic Congress in 83 Years. This is a pivotal moment in both American history and the legacy of the Catholic Church. In preparation for this Eucharistic Congress a walking pilgrimage is already on the way to Indianapolis. While pilgrimages have a long legacy within the Church, this is the first undertaken at such a scale – walking coast-to-coast with Our Eucharistic Lord, with four routes from the north, east, south, and west of our country:

  • Marian Route (North) starting from: Mississippi Headwaters, Lake Itasca, MN
  • St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Route (East) starting from: New Haven, CT
  • St. Juan Diego Route (South) starting from: Brownsville, TX
  • St. Junipero Serra Route (West) starting from: San Francisco, CA

Pilgrims on our route, the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Route, began walking on May 18 with Pentecost Vigil at the tomb of Blessed Fr. Michael McGivney in New Haven, Connecticut. The Seton Route will be punctuated by many meaningful stops. Pilgrims will visit holy sites, embrace the sacraments daily, and publicly proclaim Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist as they accompany him on his way to the 10th National Eucharistic Congress.

Even though we may not be able to walk this pilgrimage or to attend the Eucharistic Congress, we are invited to join this National Eucharistic Pilgrimage for short distances or join for one of the many events scheduled along the way.

We are privileged that the Seton Route will pass through our Diocese of Metuchen this week, on May 27-28, 2024. During these two days, the Diocese of Metuchen will welcome the National Eucharistic ‘Perpetual Pilgrims’ (the few young adults who will make the full journey to Indianapolis are called the ‘Perpetual Pilgrims.’) as they process from the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi to St. Peter the Apostle University and Community Parish, New Brunswick, and St. Augustine of Canterbury in Kendall Park.  We are invited and encouraged to eat, pray, and walk with them as they witness to the world that Jesus is here, present in the most Blessed Sacrament, and that he accompanies us -all of us – on our pilgrimage of our individual lives.

Next Sunday is the solemn feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ – more popularly known as ‘Corpus Christi.’ Here at St. Matthias, we plan to continue our beautiful tradition of the Eucharistic Procession around our campus after the 5 pm Mass on Saturday. All are welcome to join this prayerful devotion.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal