Lent is time to renew encounter with Lord, be like Christ

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,   

Just a few days ago, we entered into the season of Lent — a time which calls us to sanctify our lives and unite ourselves more deeply with Christ through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. But it is also a season which leaves us ripe for renewal; a time in which we renew our encounter with Christ and give witness to His word, as well as mindfully participate in the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, so that we may conform our lives to be more like His.   

Over the past year, much like every other part of our lives, the sacramental life of the Church has looked different. For many eagerly awaiting the Sacraments of Initiation and for those men awaiting the Sacrament of Holy Orders, the wait stretched on until the sacraments could be safely conferred. Couples preparing to enter into a covenant in the Sacrament of Marriage struggled with the decision of whether to postpone their weddings or begin their new lives without their loved ones present.    

   Through it all, our priests journeyed with the faithful: hearing confessions as those receiving the Sacrament of Penance sat six-feet away; exposing the Blessed Sacrament near a window so that those longing to receive Him in the Eucharist could adore Him from a distance; celebrating additional Masses, some even outside throughout these colder months, so that more of the faithful could come and worship; calling their parishioners to check on them; distributing Holy Communion in the streets or parking lots after Mass; continuing to serve those in need in our communities; and sadly, anointing and walking alongside the sick and dying, who in some cases were unable to have their loved ones present with them in their last moments of life, as they journeyed to the foot of the cross.   

A recent study conducted by the Pew Research Center suggests that more than a quarter of Americans, and a third of U.S. Catholics, say their faith has grown stronger during the COVID-19 pandemic, even as we have had to adjust our lives to keep ourselves and our families safe. We have grown in faith and we have also grown in our longing, too — a deep longing to be united with Christ in the Eucharist.    

   In a time when we are physically distant from one another, when we have faced individual sufferings and sufferings as a universal Church, when we have lost more than 400,000 of our American brothers and sisters to the coronavirus — it seems only right that we would long to be united in the Eucharist, by which we are united to Christ, the whole Church, and all the faithful departed. The Eucharist is “a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet ‘in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.’” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1323)    

My brothers and sisters, our path to the cross is certainly winding. It seems especially so when we are faced with challenges, as we all have been throughout this pandemic, and when we, as a Church, were called to acknowledge and reconcile the past failings of the Church’s leaders with the release of the Holy See’s “McCarrick Report.” This report, although much anticipated, was nonetheless gut-wrenching, disappointing and disgusting when released, a reminder to us of how much damage has been done to the Body of Christ, especially to those abused and taken advantage of through a series of failures that we must be ever vigilant to never allow to happen again. As I did last year and will continue to do, as part of my own commitment to this necessary healing of past abuse in the Body of Christ, I will continue to make known to you the needed steps that we take to be transparent and forthright in the protocols and policies that help ensure integrity on every level of our diocesan life.   

Blessed to be your chief shepherd, I am greatly concerned for the welfare of every aspect of our parishes, schools and institutions. Obviously, the healthy financial stewardship of the entire diocese is important. Gratefully, and thanks to your generosity along with belt-tightening in diocesan administration, we have balanced our diocesan budget for each of the past four years. Recently, renewed efforts have been made in regard to financial protocols, incorporating best practices for the integrity of parish finance councils, along with the creation of a new Parish Financial Services Office in the diocese that is entrusted with overseeing the audit process of each parish and the necessary follow up for compliance. In addition, the diocese has begun the process of onboarding an anonymous reporting mechanism Ethicspoint, which will allow for employees and people of the diocese, our parishes, schools and institutions to confidentially report suspicion of financial malfeasance that would then allow for an independent investigation. These measures are all meant to be proactive steps to ensure that our entire diocesan family functions in a healthy and wholesome way in order to be responsible with the generous financial stewardship entrusted to the mission of our local Church.   

In an effort to be ever more efficient, effective and far reaching regarding the mission of charity that Our Lord entrusts to His Church, I have established a new secretariat in our diocese — the Secretariat for Charity. This pandemic has shown us more than ever the increasing need for the charitable presence of the Church. The vision is to more integrally incorporate into all aspects of diocesan and parish life, the essential mission of charity that shows forth the face of Christ like no other to hurting people in need. I have appointed Anthony P. Kearns III, Esq., who also serves as our diocesan chancellor, to lead our new Secretariat for Charity as the Chief Executive Officer. I have also named Julio Coto, who has so capably served our Catholic Charities, as the Executive Director of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen.   

With that in mind, on pages 10 and 11, you will find more information about how the Diocese of Metuchen is responsibly cultivating the life, mission and work of our local Church, proclaiming our faith by our own credible witness to love, healing, unity and charity. No matter your personal circumstance — whether you have not been able to receive Holy Communion since the start of the pandemic or if you have recently rediscovered the gift of your faith only by facing this past year’s challenges, or if you have been attending Mass in person — I pray that you will always long for the Eucharist, by which we are sanctified, strengthened and sent to fulfill God’s greater mission for us.   

This Lenten season, may we seek to stand at the foot of the cross together with Mary, our mother, and unite ourselves more closely to her Son. Please know of my love and prayers for you, and I ask that you please pray for me too.   

With renewed best wishes, I remain

Yours in Christ,   

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