The diocese's Blue Mass, which has been celebrated annually at the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen to honor law enforcement personnel, this year was held on a local level because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the pandemic prohibited large gatherings around the state, Bishop James F. Checchio asked all parishes to recognize their community’s police officers.

PISCATAWAY – Like Catholic dioceses across the nation and even around the world, the Diocese of Metuchen eagerly awaited the release of the Holy See’s findings of its investigation into disgraced former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick – and the report finally came.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,  Over the past eight months, our lives have been steeped in an exhaustive state of disorder, uncertainty, and, at times, despair. All too often, we hear in the news or read about the loss, grief, isolation, fear, and suffering endured by all people as a result of the coronavirus – no one is unaffected by this global pandemic disease. Similarly, and again all too often, we hear analogous stories of the loss, grief, isolation, fear, and suffering endured by survivors of abuse, some of whom were subject to their abuse by some members of the clergy – and again, no one is unaffected by these horrific revelations of past abuse and occurrences of lack of proper leadership by those in authority. Indeed, the times through which we are living, in our Church and in our world, are like no other. 

James J. King of West Trenton, NJ has been named the new Executive Director of the New Jersey Catholic Conference (NJCC). It was announced by His Eminence Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R, Archbishop of Newark and President of the Conference. King succeeds Patrick R. Brannigan, who retired on October 4, 2019, after 13 years of service to the organization. King has served as the interim director for the past twelve months.

Article 143 - Catechism of the Catholic Church Series Paragraphs 1949-1974 We are all familiar with the motto on our coins, “In God We Trust,” and we witness this same faith in God incorporated into presidential speeches. Such public profession of our faith in God goes back to the earliest days of American history. The early pilgrims, for example, who were saved from starvation that first terrible winter of 1620-1621, set aside a day of thanksgiving to God for their survival. This spirit of religious faith was evident everywhere in the early colonies. When we became an independent nation, this same dependence on God was included in our Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights in the Constitution of the United States. To this day, our nation recognizes God and his rights over us. Americans realize that we have to give to God what belongs to him. We understand that religion is a debt which we must, in strict justice, pay to our loving Creator.

(Editor's note: below is a summary of  Catholic social teaching from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) The Church’s social teaching is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society. Modern Catholic social teaching has been articulated through a tradition of papal, conciliar, and episcopal documents. The depth and richness of this tradition can be understood best through a direct reading of these documents. In these brief reflections, several of the key themes that are at the heart of Catholic social tradition are highlighted.

NEW BRUNSWICK — The eight simple words, uttered Sept. 8 at St. Peter the Apostle University and Community Church, changed the course of the young woman’s life.

I met a man in his 50s who openly acknowledged that he has never voted in a presidential election in his life. According to this individual, he has always done alright by the outcome. Personally, if I were he, I would not brag about my complacency. Is it that demanding to take a few minutes and select the candidates one wants to serve in federal, state or local positions of leadership? When the framers of the Constitution of the United States drafted their amendments and articles, one of the first things they did was emphasize each citizen’s right to vote. Unfortunately, at the time, this only applied to white males. With the 19th  Amendment, women were granted and guaranteed the right to vote. Now, all citizens of every gender, race or ethnic background has not only the right but a civic duty to cast votes on Election Day, which is always the first Tuesday of the month of November.

METUCHEN — Though pandemic restrictions limited the usual high number of worshippers for the diocese’s annual Hispanic Heritage Mass, the event was livestreamed so all families and individuals could participate.

My dear sisters and brothers in Christ, ​​​​​​​In the midst of our presidential election’s contentious campaign, many of our faithful have been telling me about their concern for the future of our country. I, as your bishop, and all of our clergy, too, are being asked to help Catholics form their consciences in accordance with God’s truth.

ASBURY — At long last, the spiritual journeys of five men reached a glorious summit as Transitional Deacons David Edward Keyes, Thomas William Lanza, Gustavo Andres Rodriguez-Perez and Gilbert Zachariah Starcher, and Oratorian Brother John Fredy Triana-Beltran were ordained to the priesthood.

9/11 Memorial & Museum, which coordinates the ceremonies held at the site of the former World Trade Center, announced that this year there would be no “Roll Call of Names” or “Tribute in Light” that were an integral part of the yearly remembrance held on Patriot Day. Survivors of those who died at the Twin Towers, as well as first responders and elected officials were outraged. The reason the 9/11 Memorial & Museum wanted to delete these two customs was for fear that the large crowds drawn by both the Roll Call and the Tribute in Light would make it impossible to practice social distancing and thereby spread more cases of the coronavirus.

We celebrate Catechetical Sunday on Sept. 20, the Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Each year, those designated to serve as catechists are called forth and commissioned for their ministry. In his encyclical letter, “Deus Caritas Est (God is Love),” Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI teaches us that the “Church’s deepest nature is expressed in her threefold responsibility: of proclaiming the Word of God (kerygma-martyria), celebrating the sacraments (leitourgia), and exercising ministry of charity (diakonia)” (25). This year, Church leaders, catechists and parents must find new ways of passing on the faith. COVID-19 has flipped our world, but God is still at work even amid the chaos.

Our strange summer is about to come to a close and we see our days becoming shorter! The long Labor Day weekend usually provides us with some extra rest, but for many in our diocese, it was anything but restful this year. Our Catholic schools and parish catechists have been working extra hard to reopen our schools and religious education programs.   

METUCHEN — “This is not the day we envisioned, the way we envisioned, but we can be sure the Holy Spirit is with us,” declared Bishop James F. Checchio during the Mass of the Rite of Ordination of Deacons in the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi July 25. “It is a day of grace in the diocese.”

“A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure.” (Sir 6:14) The Connections Program at Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen, which is supported by the Bishop's Annual Appeal, takes this verse to heart by connecting mentors with youth who can use a friend. What participants have found is that what starts out as a way to give youth a helping hand, often creates friendships that are treasured by the youths, the mentors and their families alike.

Several years ago, I went to Portugal for the First Communion of my buddy’s son.  While I was there, I had the good fortune of visiting Fatima — where, in 1918, the Blessed Mother appeared to three shepherd children: Lucia, her cousin Jacinta and her brother Francisco. Lucia would later become a Carmelite nun in Coimbra. Francisco died a year after the apparitions and his sister shortly thereafter. The latter two have since been canonized and Lucia’s cause for canonization is gaining momentum. I was awestruck as I watched pilgrims arrive at the shrine after walking there on foot — some, making the final approach on their knees for almost one thousand feet. Most of these pilgrims are desperate people who are either pleading with Mary to assist them in their need or, having experienced a miracle, are there to thank the Mother of God for favors received.

For months we have been hearing about the “precious souls,” we as a family in New Jersey, have sadly lost due to the coronavirus. The number of deaths, particularly amongst our nursing home communities, has been especially disturbing. Everyone has been called upon to sacrifice and to do their part in slowing the spread of this deadly virus.

As the coronavirus continues to affect our lives, it seems we are living in a new world each month. There has been a significant decline of COVID-19 related deaths and hospitalizations in our state yet increases in other states have left many of us to question when will there be normalcy again. Or is this the “new normal?”

Article 140 - Catechism of the Catholic Church Series Paragraphs 1877-1889 COVID-19, otherwise known as the coronavirus, has taken our country and the world by surprise, like nothing ever experienced in the life of anyone living on planet earth today! What began as something considered “worse than the flu” became an outright war against an invisible enemy.