Category: Fr. Abraham’s Weekly Column

The Baptism of the Lord

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

Dear Friends,

We celebrate the Baptism of Jesus this Sunday. We know that Christmas is not just for a day, but for a whole season. Last Sunday was the “Epiphany” or the “manifestation” of Jesus Christ to the world through the wise men. This weekend we have another manifestation to close the season of Christmas with God the Father and the Holy Spirit manifesting themselves to Jesus at the start of his public ministry which we celebrate in the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. That’s why we took down all the Christmas trees and other decorations. We hear in the readings for this Sunday how the Spirit was present to Jesus and how God was “well pleased” with his “beloved Son.” The descent of the Spirit and the voice of God from heaven mark the final epiphany of the Christmas season.

It is this Spirit of God who prompted us to welcome the New Year with a renewed sense of hope and joy. Many of us have made New Year resolutions. Now that we are some 10 days into the New Year, one question to ask is: ARE WE GIVING UP ON OUR NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS..?? If you are not one among 8% of Americans who stick to their New Year Resolutions (according to research from the University of Scranton), you may be tempted to give up on making or keeping any for this year. But wait… there is hope if only we are willing to change the way we think.

The concept of “akrasia” will explain why we fail. ‘Akrasia’ is the state of mind in which someone acts against their better judgment through weakness of will. Even Socrates, who lived some 400 years before Christ, investigated this human enigma which is the paradox of wanting to do something beneficial, but failing to do it. We fail because the benefits are delayed and we’re impatient. You want to exercise, but the results aren’t immediate, so you tell yourself you’ll start later. ‘Akrasia’ is why we procrastinate, and it’s directly tied to why we need to change the way we think. If you want to run a marathon, you don’t begin training by running 26.2 miles. You get your body used to running shorter distances and work your way up. Hence the key to accomplishing any goal is to focus on manageable tasks instead of the grand outcome.

Past failures can be used as stepping stones to learning, growth and success. So, give yourself another chance this New Year! Make a practical resolution that you can keep! And daily ask the help of the New-Born King to keep that one resolution!

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

The Epiphany of the Lord

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

Dear Friends, Happy New Year!

Did you begin the New Year in the right spirit? St. Paul gives an excellent piece of advice he practiced himself: “forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13). Basically, Paul is telling us to be forward-looking at the possibilities that we have in the call of God in Christ Jesus. This is something that we can apply at the beginning of this New Year.

“Forgetting what lies behind” is an invitation to not dwell on the past failures, hurts and wrong choices but to learn from them in the light that Jesus brings into our lives. No doubt, our desire is to be better persons, to live better lives, to make more healthy choices and to live with all in harmony and peace. “Straining forward to what lies ahead” is the promise of the fulfillment of our longings in Jesus. As we begin this First Sunday of the New Year together, let us remember that it truly is a New Beginning for all of us here in the Catholic Community of St. Matthias where Jesus is the center. What is our New Year gift to Jesus? We have the answer in the 19th century English carol, Christina Rosetti’s A Christmas Carol, which begins, “In the bleak midwinter.” The carol sums up, in its last stanza, the nature of” giving to the Christ Child.”

What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I could give a Lamb.
If I were a wise man, I could do my part.
What I can I give Him? Give Him my heart!”

Today’s feast of the Epiphany reminds us of the manifestation of the Christ Child to the whole world. Luke’s gospel in a special way stresses this universal salvific plan of God who came to save everyone. There is a place for everyone in the family of God – no matter how different a person is. “Unity in Diversity” is another way of stating who we are as Christians. Today’s 12 noon Mass is a celebration of our diversity as the Catholic Community of St. Matthias.

I plan to take my vacation this month and God willing, I hope to reach home (in the southern state of Kerala, India), this coming Sunday. I commend myself to your prayers. Many of you know that I could not attend my father’s funeral last January. My hope is to be with my mother and family to celebrate his first death anniversary on January 11. I am so very happy that Msgr. Brennan who has vast pastoral experience and wisdom is with us and will oversee all the parish needs. At the moment, he is having a short but well-deserved vacation to Ireland to be with his sister and other family members.

May the Blessings of Baby Jesus stay with us and with our dear ones for the whole of 2022 and beyond!

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas!

Interestingly, this year, the Feast of Christmas and the Feast of the Holy Family occur back to back on Saturday and Sunday! I do hope you all had a happy time with your families for Christmas dinner. But it takes more than a festive Christmas dinner for many families to really have a great time with each other. Bringing a family together requires the patience to listen, the selflessness to forgive, the commitment to heal and mend. To be a family is to seek out and bring back whoever is lost, to look beyond behavior to understand what is prompting such anger, bitterness or disaffection, to put aside one’s own expectations to respect another’s perspective.

It may come as a surprise to many when I say that the Holy Family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus – whose feast we celebrate today – was not an ideal family as we have been brought up to believe! This family understood all too well the struggles and challenges of staying together as a family in their situation because they too had their share of challenges of communication between spouses and between parents and the teenage Jesus. Gospel vignettes give us inklings to their struggles: Matthew, the Evangelist, says: “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you.” (Matthew 2: 13-15, 19-23). Why? They had to escape Herod’s murderous wrath. As is clear from the infancy narratives (from Luke and Matthew), Jesus, Mary and Joseph as a family experienced heartache, fear, misunderstanding and doubt, but together they created a family of love and compassion, of nurture and acceptance. That is how the Holy Family becomes a model for us to deal with our own family’s challenges.

One easy way to make every family member feel accepted and loved is to express words of appreciation. I don’t mean that you simply say “you look great” or “you did wonderful.” Instead, think of some way each member is contributing to your happiness. Say, for instance, “Oh Brad, when I see you playing with your sister I feel so happy and grateful that you and your sister are enjoying each other.” “I wanted to tell you Erin, how much I enjoyed the funny stories you say at the dinner table!” Even if you think it is difficult, take a moment to think about what this person brings to your life that you wouldn’t have without him or her. It may be joy, laughter, spontaneity, support, fun, play, peace, etc.

Merry Christmas and a happy Feast of the Holy Family! We raise up all parents and children in prayer, especially those who experience the pain of separation and single parent families who heroically face the challenges of life. As we will soon ring in the New Year 2022, may we all experience more unity, love and peace in our families and communities!

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

Dear Friends,

Have you thought of inviting someone to our Church this Christmas? Dr. Thom Rainer who conducted a national research “The Unchurched Next Door” says: “Eighty-two percent of the unchurched are at least somewhat likely to attend church if invited.” But the problem is that “only two percent of church members invite an unchurched person to church. Ninety-eight percent of church-goers never extend an invitation in a given year.” Thankfully, that is not fully true about our parish! I have heard a number of stories of our parishioners joining us because of the invitation of another parishioner. Two weeks ago, I mentioned in my homily about a parishioner who expressed her joy and gratitude that she joined our parish following the suggestion of her friend, and she felt that was the right decision she made. Another parishioner told me that after getting discouraged with ‘parish-shopping,’ a neighbor suggested that he try St. Matthias and his family felt very much at home here and continues to feel so.

Many are looking for some good news, some hope, because they are hurting in so many ways: families experience conflicts, devastating test results, and a host of other problems that make people scared at the thought of a bleak future. Yet on the first Christmas, those who were frightened and in desperate need of good news and great joy were addressed directly by the angel: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born…” (Luke 2:10-11) Isn’t that a good enough reason for us to invite someone to church this Christmas?

Christmas is a time of giving gifts – to families, to charities, to church. But giving an invitation to church could be the best gift you can give to someone who really needs God’s presence in their lives. In my previous parish, I had a banner fixed at the entrance: “Every Member A Minister.” Seeing it every time the parishioners came to Church, it helped them realize that each of them is a minister of Jesus and so taking ownership of the message of Jesus means to become a disciple who will bring others to Jesus. You are acting as a disciple of Jesus when you invite someone to come to our church. You are introducing to our Savior those who need his healing and comfort especially if they are hurting.

The Mission Statement of our parish has this line: “As a diverse people, journeying together in faith, we are growing in awareness of the pain and joy of our brothers and sisters ….” Our Church is that place for the kind of support and fellowship where they can meet the God who loves them, understands their greatest fears, sees their deepest longings, and who sent His Son to save us. From the testimonies of those joining us, we can be certain that, true to our mission statement, we are a very inclusive and welcoming community. So, see you at Christmas with your invited guests, family and friends.

As we celebrate Christmas in a few days, my prayer is that your Christmas will be filled with the wonder of “Emmanuel” (Matthew.1:23: God-with-us). May his light shine upon you; may his peace and joy fill your hearts and your homes.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

Third Sunday of Advent

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

Dear Friends,

A friend of mine recently warned me about an ‘Advent Virus’ going around! Here is more info:

Be on the alert for symptoms of inner Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. The hearts of a great many are already exposed to this virus and it is possible that people everywhere could come down with it in epidemic proportions. This could pose a serious threat to what has, up to now, been a fairly stable condition of conflict in the world. Some signs and symptoms of The Advent Virus:

  • A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based on past experiences.
  • An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.
  • A loss of interest in judging other people.
  • A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.
  • A loss of interest in conflict.
  • A loss of the ability to worry. (This is a very serious symptom.)
  • Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation.
  • Contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature.
  • Frequent attacks of smiling.
  • An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen.
  • An increased susceptibility to the love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it.

Please send this warning out to all your friends. This virus can and has affected many systems. Some systems have been completely cleaned out because of it.

How wonderful it will be if all of us were infected with this Advent Virus!! For many of us, cutting Christmas chaos can be a dream come true as this warning about the Advent Virus reminds us. But it is possible with planning, intention and lots of prayer. If you feel stressed or rushed, try this or similar prayer:
Loving God, help me focus on a peaceful pace rather than a harried one. I will keep moving forward gently, not frantically. Help me let go of my need to be anxious, upset, and harried. Help me replace it with a need to be at peace and in harmony.

As we enter the frenzy-phase of Christmas rush, I invite us to focus on the theme of Mercy that Jesus came to proclaim. I’m very happy that many have already made use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the Saturdays of Advent when both Msgr. Brennan and myself have been making ourselves available in the Confessional with an extra half hour, from 3 – 4:30 pm.
Like Jesus our Master who went after and cared for the stray sheep, Pope Francis has been reminding us that the church is a “field hospital” for injured souls, where the wounded are welcomed and loved, not judged. If we hesitate to go for Confession or doubt the grace of this sacrament, listen to the words of Pope Francis:

“It is not easy to entrust oneself to God’s mercy, because it is an abyss beyond our comprehension. But we must! … “Oh, I am a great sinner!” “All the better! Go to Jesus: He likes you to tell him these things!” He forgets, He has a very special capacity for forgetting. He forgets, He kisses you, He embraces you and He simply says to you: “Neither do I condemn you; go, and sin no more” (Jn 8:11).”
Happy Advent!

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

Second Sunday of Advent

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

Dear Friends,

With our Christmas Trees lighting and Manger blessing this weekend, we are making our festival season more visible and charming. Thanks to the good will of 259 families/individuals who sponsored the Christmas trees. They will be pleased 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. The parish staff, especially Vinnie Natale, Trish Stumper, Nathalie Godet & Ana Kelly, followed the lead that Msgr. Curry had done last year by an advance planning. Many volunteer groups like members of the Knights of Columbus, Boy Scouts, Teens from our parish and from St. Joe’s High School gave their time and energy on two Saturdays, 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. These efforts were lead by Mary Pat Burke-Grospin, Deacon John Radvanski, Julio Montero and others. 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.

Tomorrow, December 6, is the feast of St. Nicholas, better known as Santa Claus due to the gift-giving nature of the saint. Often people forget that Santa Claus and St. Nicholas are the same person as the saint’s name shifted from St. Nicholas to Santa Claus—a natural phonetic alteration from the German Sankt Niklaus as well as from the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas. Please read more about him in this bulletin so that we can enlighten our children about the truth of Santa Claus.

This Wednesday, December 8, is the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. 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. It is the patronal feast of the USA and a Day of Obligation, I invite you to attend any of the Masses that day: 8 am, 12:10pm or 7:30 pm.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

First Sunday of Advent

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

Dear Friends,

Before even recovering from the Thanksgiving busy-ness, Advent season is upon us! Advent invites us to pay attention to the special music, prayers, reflections and church environment calling us to slow down and ponder this epoch-making event in history – the birth of Christ. Though a very special time for spiritual preparation for Christmas, Advent can pass us by as we get lost in the bright lights and hectic holiday rush. So, what should we do, not to lose the fruits of this important season?

One way to be living the spirit of Advent is to have some Advent devotion. A daily short reflection on an advent theme or Scripture will help us tremendously. Many resources are available online. A few years ago, I was pleasantly surprised to read that the LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention published Advent devotional books. According to Stan Norman, a Church historian and provost of Oklahoma Baptist University, Baptists have begun to see the usefulness of traditions once viewed as too liturgical or high church as these practices “seem to provide a bit of structure in a tradition that has maybe gone too far without structure.” This shift is also seen with other Christian Churches that have begun to offer tips about having Advent wreaths, candles and calendars for observing this holy season.

The popular and traditional practice of Advent wreath reminds us certain aspects of this sacred season. There are various explanations for each candle on the evergreen. Here’s how one tradition thinks of the four candles: The first purple candle is called ‘Prophecy Candle’ in remembrance of the prophets, primarily Isaiah, who foretold the birth of Christ (Isaiah 7:14). This first candle represents hope or expectation in anticipation of the coming Messiah. The second purple candle is the ‘Bethlehem Candle’ symbolizing the manger of Baby Jesus (Luke 2:12) representing love. The pink or rose-colored candle on the third Sunday is the ‘Shepherd’s Candle,’ symbolizing joy (Luke 2:8-11). The fourth candle, purple in color, is the ‘Angel’s Candle,’ representing peace (Luke 2:13-14). Here at St. Matthias, a family or an individual from our community will light these candles at each of our weekend Masses. Let us take to heart its meaning and symbolism and live them.

But there is another excellent practice that is often overlooked or taken lightly: the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Advent and Lent are traditional liturgical seasons when Catholics make an extra effort to cleanse their souls. A good confession can be one of the best ways to welcome the Lord Jesus into our hearts and thus enter into the joy of Christmas. Both of us priests plan to be available for confessions during the whole season of Advent: weekdays after the 8 am Mass, and Saturdays from 3:00 – 4:30 pm. If these times are not convenient, you can call any of us and make an appointment. I would encourage you to plan early to take advantage of this Sacrament that brings so much peace of heart.

Happy Advent.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

Dear Friends,

Our Diocese of Metuchen held the ‘Diocesan Youth Day’ on October 23rd at St. Joseph’s Parish in Hillsborough. The Diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry invited all parishes to celebrate a Mass this weekend, dedicated to the youth of the parish in conjunction with the Church internationally as parishes across the world unite to celebrate World Youth Day. Accordingly, we have designated today’s 12 noon Mass as the Youth Mass for our parish. You will see the participation of our youth in the liturgy, serving as different ministers. The visible presence of our youth is a sign of our desire to invite and involve our young people more and more into the parish life.

You will remember that efforts to revive our youth ministry got a boost with the presence and initiative of Msgr. Curry who is affectionately called ‘Fr. Joe.’ He, together with his vibrant team mentors – young and not so young – kept the youth program going even during the pandemic. As he was transferred, one of his team members – Sue Lenczewski – has agreed to take on the responsibility of coordinating our youth ministry. Sue has been a teacher for 40 years and has always gone above and beyond in advocating for the youth of our local community and inspiring them to be their best selves. She has been a parishioner of St. Matthias for 26 years and along with her husband, Raymond, she is a proud parent of two boys Ryan and Robert. Prior to moving to Somerset, Sue had served as a Youth Minister in Brooklyn, NY.

I am very grateful to Sue for accepting this responsibility to be the Youth Coordinator for St. Matthias which she sees as a group effort for the good of the parish. Assisting Sue are Ken Burns, Kathy Makowski, Keith Slyman, and Deacon John. I am confident that she will help build a community for our youth. There are many opportunities for both the young and the young at heart to mentor our youth and for all of us to be blessed with our youth’s active participation in our community.

Therefore as we locally celebrate World Youth Day, let us embrace the mission of promoting our youth as our common duty and responsibility. I invite you all to reach out and encourage the young people of your families and extended families and tell them that they are the church, and that they have a place and role in our church here at St. Matthias.

We are entering the week of Thanksgiving. But, giving thanks to whom? To God? Let us do our part in disproving the writer who quipped: “All what God gets from us is a short prayer before we dig into the turkey!!” Our Thanksgiving Day Mass at 8 am is a great opportunity for us to thank God as a community (Eucharist means Thanksgiving!) even as we join the rest of our nation in celebrating this quintessential American tradition.

I also invite all of us to pray Psalm 107 which encourages us to be grateful right from verse 1: “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.” The rest of the psalm elaborates on God’s goodness with specific examples.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

Dear Friends,

Veterans Day was this past Thursday. We know that November 11 is the day every year in the United States in honor of the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” of 1918 that signaled the end of World War I, known as Armistice Day. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower officially changed the name of the holiday from Armistice Day to Veterans Day.

We bring all the veterans in prayer to God at all the Masses this weekend. This is an occasion to remind ourselves of the importance to honor all those who have risked life, limb and mind for our country, because freedom isn’t free. This truth was experienced by the early Christians who were persecuted by the Roman Emperor Nero. Today’s Gospel, taken from Mark (written around 65 AD), offered hope to these suffering Christians reminding them of Jesus’ words about his glorious return to earth with great power and glory as Judge, to gather and reward his elect.

Our Liturgical year will come to an end in a couple of weeks. That’s why the readings are about end times. The Scriptures keep reminding us that God will ensure that the righteous will survive the ordeal and will find a place with Him. Through the parable of the fig tree, Jesus warns us all to read the “signs of the time,” reminding us that we must be ever prepared to give an account of our lives to Jesus when he comes in glory as our Judge, because we cannot know “either the day or the hour” of his Second Coming.

Should this bring fear? No. The coming of Jesus is a joyful occasion. Today’s readings give us the assurance that our God will be with us all the days of our lives. We will have the ongoing presence of the Holy Spirit in our midst, guiding, protecting and strengthening us in spite of our necessary uncertainty concerning the end time when “Christ will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.”

But some people do become frightened at the thought of dying – whether it is the end of our individual world or that of others. In today’s second reading, the author of the letter to the Hebrews consoles believers who suffer from “end time phobia” with the knowledge that Jesus, who sits forever at God’s right hand, is our mediator. By his sacrificial death, he forgave our sins and sanctified us. Jesus said, “The joy I give you, will not be taken away from you” (John 16:22). That is why St. Paul was able to exhort us confidently: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4).

Your brother in Christ

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

National Vocation Awareness Week

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

Dear Friends,

This is National Vocation Awareness Week, celebrated November 7-13, 2021. This is an annual week-long celebration of the Catholic Church in the United States dedicated to promoting vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life through prayer and education, and to renew our prayers and support for those who are considering one of these particular vocations.

Yes we all know that we need to pray for more priests, more deacons and more consecrated women and men. But the concept of vocation is much more inclusive. Every baptized disciple of the Lord has a calling from God. You are aware that we have begun a ‘Parish Vocations Ministry’ this year with the intention of making our parishioners realize that the primary vocation given to all of us is to be holy. This call to holiness is lived out in various ways: marriage, family, consecrated state, single state, diaconate and priesthood. The zealous and enthusiastic members of our Vocation Ministry have done a lot of hard work to bring this idea into the minds of our people.

But old habits die hard and it takes a while to change a mindset. So it is not a surprise that the word ‘vocation’ can still bring to our minds only images of priests, nuns and deacons. The truth is whether we are called to marriage or to the priesthood or to the consecrated life, we cannot understand it other than as a way to live out the universal vocation to holiness, that is, to grow in intimacy with Jesus. That is why our Vocations Ministry is organizing a half day retreat next Saturday (November 13) to reflect on everyone’s vocation to holiness. I am very grateful and edified to see the detailed planning the team has done under the leadership of Joe Percoco and MaryBeth Vetter Purcell. Have you signed up for it? If so, you will enjoy it and benefit from it. If not, here are some reasons why you may want to sign up:

– The organizing team has planned a creative and meaningful way of spending this day to the satisfaction of all;
– They have identified excellent resource persons from among our own community who will share their understanding of how God is active in their lives as they respond to the call of God.
– The day begins with continental breakfast at 8:30 and ends with lunch at Noon.
– The spiritual enrichment you get at the end of the day will far exceed your expectations.

Every vocation is accompanied by a desire for self-gift in response to an encounter with God’s love. Does my entering into seminary or the convent look like taking a step deeper into a relationship with Jesus? Can I see my preparation for marriage to my fiancée through the lens of preparing to lay down my life as Christ has laid down his life for me? Does my present state of married or single life manifest the self-less giving of Jesus? Or is there anything that we are holding back, some small coin that we have not yet put into the treasury as today’s gospel about the poor widow’s mite (Mark 12:42) reminds us? No matter what, the Vocations Retreat has something for everyone.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal