Joyful to see Spirit working to renew face of earth, diocese

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
 

On Sunday, June 5, we celebrated the beautiful Solemnity of Pentecost. As you might know, it is one of the most important celebrations on the Church’s liturgical calendar. After the Sacred Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Solemnity of Easter) and the celebration of the Incarnation at Christmas, the Solemnity of Pentecost is the next most important celebration. To mark the occasion, our diocese hosted a vigil of prayer at the Cathedral beginning with the evening’s vigil Mass through midnight, hosted by our Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry along with St. Peter the Apostle University and Community Parish, the Catholic Center at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, as well as the Cathedral parish. How wonderful to see so many young people gather for this time of prayer with the Holy Spirit. Pentecost is such an important Solemnity because it is the Holy Spirit that continues the Divine Presence of God in our world, carrying on the work of Jesus in reconciling the world to the Father. With Jesus’ death, God’s work in the world does not come to an end. The Church, founded on Pentecost with the gift of the Holy Spirit, carries on Christ’s presence in the world. That means He can continue to act through you and me and every other Christian. This spring has spoiled me in that I have so readily seen the Spirit working to renew the face of the earth and our diocese. The work of the Spirit has been evident to me as throughout our diocese thousands of children and hundreds of adults received their first holy Communion. I have seen the Spirit at work in scores of confirmations celebrated over the past few months. The Spirit was shared as our new deacons and priest were ordained for service in our diocese. I also witnessed the Holy Spirit in our graduates at the four Catholic high school graduations I attended and heard such wonderful speeches given by our students about the faith imparted to them during their years at our schools. How grateful we should be to our administrators, teachers and staff, and their generous parents, too. No doubt, the Holy Spirit is moving the hearts of all our elementary, high school and college graduates as they prepare for the next phase of their lives.   
 

Another exciting Spirit-filled celebration will be the upcoming Solemnity of Corpus Christi on June 19. That day will be the start of our diocesan phase of the National Eucharistic Revival being promoted by the Bishops of our country. I was asked to serve on the committee of Bishops serving as an advisory board for this initiative. At the end of our noon Mass at the Cathedral, we will have a Eucharistic Procession through the streets of Metuchen. Many parishes will likewise host Eucharistic Processions on this day. The main mission of the revival, starting on the diocesan level, followed by the parish level and culminating in the national Eucharistic Congress in the summer of 2024, is to “renew the Church by enkindling a living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.”   

The goals of the revival are:
 

1. Fostering encounters with the Eucharist through kerygamtic proclamations and experiences of Eucharistic devotion

2. Contemplating and proclaiming the doctrine of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist

3. Empowering grassroots creativity within our diocese

4. Initiating encounters with the Lord (small groups, parish etc.)

5. Experiencing rich intercultural Eucharistic traditions

You will be hearing more from your parishes and the diocese about the Eucharistic revival. I am grateful to Father James De Fillipps who will be coordinating this initiative and providing resources for our parishes to begin planning and executing the vision for our diocese and local parishes.
 

Indeed, may the Holy Spirit pour out His gifts across our diocese. Know of my love, prayers and gratitude for you. Please pray for me, too, that the Spirit may guide me always in shepherding this blessed diocese! May the prayer of St. Augustine be our own, too:
 

Breathe into me, Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy.

Move in me, Holy Spirit that my work, too, may be holy.

Attract my heart, Holy Spirit, that I may love only what is holy.

Strengthen me, Holy Spirit, that I may defend all that is holy.

Protect me, Holy Spirit, that I may always be holy. Amen

Most Reverend James F. Checchio, JCD, MBA

Bishop of Metuchen