Despite challenges, much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

This edition of “The Catholic Spirit” is published a week before Thanksgiving and this year we indeed, have so many reasons to be thankful! We just recently finished our 40th anniversary celebration of the diocese, which was a time to remember the graces that have come to us throughout these 40 years. The diocese has grown so much over the years as the population increased and generations of faithful responded by building parishes, new churches, and parish centers to serve their spiritual and pastoral needs. Recently, I also participated in some parish celebrations for anniversaries, 175, 150 and 100 years, parishes that existed well before our diocese, and 40 years at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Skillman, the first parish established after our diocese was founded. They were wonderful, spirit-filled and crowded celebrations. Times to thank God!

I always enjoy reading and learning more about the parish’s history when I am going for such a celebration and hence come to know the good people who contributed so much to establish the parishes and keep them flourishing. It is literally an army of dedicated lay people who love the Lord, the Eucharist and His Church, and it is always so encouraging and inspiring to me to learn more about how they helped our clergy and religious over the years. As I thank God for all of them, I also thank Him for all of you, who are so generously lighting a fire in the heart of our world through your dedication to our parishes now, so thank you! You and I cannot forget that we join a long line of faithful disciples of Jesus who just like them, face the challenges of our day in continuing Jesus’ mission right here, now! The parishes are the heart of the diocese where worship, education, evangelization, service and so much more takes place. Our 90 parishes are a blessing that I thank God for this Thanksgiving as united, our parishes make our beautiful diocese the wonderful place it is. They are a light on a hill in our day!  

As you will read in this issue, we recently had our annual diocesan convocation of our priests. It is always so good to spend these days together in prayer and fraternity, but especially now as we continue to emerge from the pandemic. Our priests have been through a lot with this pandemic and I know how grateful you are for them, as am I, so this Thanksgiving is a good time to thank God for them, too. Please pray for our priests who need your support and encouragement, even as they strive to continue to serve your spiritual and pastoral needs.  

We also recently had our Hispanic Heritage Mass at the Cathedral, which was filled with our Hispanic brothers and sisters, priests, religious and deacons from all over our diocese. There was a real joy as we gathered to thank God for the blessing of our Hispanic community in our diocese, which is growing and young!

I was also recently blessed to celebrate with our Hungarian and Hispanic communities at Mass at St. Stephen Protomartyr Church in South River for the 100th anniversary of their parish. Catholics of Hispanic descent are now the predominant community that gathers for worship each weekend, warmly welcomed by our older Hungarian brothers and sisters in the faith. It was a wonderful celebration and a reminder about this growing, beautiful community in our diocese and the opportunity for different ethnic groups to work together as one in Christ, another reason for thanks!

Our diocesan offices at the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center in Piscataway are a blessing, too, as they organized the Hispanic Heritage Mass as well as so many other initiatives, which cannot be done on the local parish level. So, as we thank God for our Hispanic community in the diocese, I am also reminded to thank God for those who work so hard in our pastoral center and Chancery to keep our local Church moving forward. It is often hidden, thankless work, as they support our parishes and diocese. But by their diligent and dedicated service, organizing our schools, pastoral services, ethnic communities, evangelization efforts, family life ministries, our tribunal, our clergy and religious life — the list goes on and on — they also allow me to be out and about our diocese, so I am very grateful for that!  

Finally, by combining our talents, energy, resources and especially our prayers, we exceeded the 2022 Bishop’s Annual Appeal goal by more than one million dollars! This is a great tribute to all of you, as we close out our 40th anniversary celebrations as a diocese. The needs have become greater and greater, and so the appeal is needed now more than ever! The pandemic and the recent inflation issues we are suffering from have increased the number of people coming for help to Catholic Charities for the basic necessities of life and counseling. Sadly, the number of people coming has tripled during the past two years. We are able to respond to their needs in the name of Christ, thanks to your overwhelming generosity. What a blessing! This is not something we can do alone, and you came together to respond as a diocesan community in a beautiful way. Thank you and I thank God for this blessing and for all of you who made it happen!    

Yes, we have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving even as we face significant challenges in our country and Church, but we never face them alone. Our Lord and His Mother accompany us each day, holding us in the palm of their hands. What a blessing that is for us to never be alone! Certainly, in my Mass of Thanksgiving this year I will be praying for all of you, so grateful that God has brought us together on this journey back to Him. Know of my love and prayers for you, from a very grateful heart. Blessed Thanksgiving to you, your families and all your loved ones! God bless you all!

Most Reverend James F. Checchio, JCD, MBA
Bishop of Metuchen