Parish is fertile ground for vocations to priesthood, religious life

Two weeks ago today, on the Feast of the Dedication of St. Mary Major Basilica, at St. Anthony Church, Hawthorne, Salesians of St. Don Bosco Sister Natasha Roig, joyfully said, “Here I am Lord, You have called me,” and with that her Rite of Religious Profession began. What is significant about her vocation is that it is another sign of how St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish, Kendall Park, continues to promote vocations.

In August 1995, following the death of Msgr. William Capano, the second pastor of St. Augustine, Bishop Edward T. Hughes called on Father Robert G. Lynam to become the pastor of the parish. Bishop Hughes was moved at the number of young families that attended Msgr. Capano’s funeral. On Oct. 10, 1995, Father Lynam became the pastor of the parish He believed that Bishop Hughes was a “visionary,” and knew that St. Augustine was fertile ground for vocations. That vision has become a reality as vocations are promoted at the parish all through the year with Sister Natasha being the latest to enter religious life, and others preparing to give their lives in service to God.

A member of St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish, Sister Natasha graduated from its parochial school in 2007. She then attended Franklin High School, and after graduation, earned a Bachelor of Science Degree and a Master’s Degree of Arts in Teaching at The College of New Jersey, Ewing. Her majors were Urban Elementary Education and Spanish.   

Sister Natasha is the third vocation to religious life from St. Augustine with the others being Religious Teachers Filippini Sister Barbara O’Kane, and Christian Charity Sister Celice Marie Gonzalez.

The parish’s newest religious professed her vows at a grace-filled Mass celebrated by Salesian of Don Bosco Father Timothy Zak, Provincial of the Salesians. Present at the Mass were many Salesian Sisters and guests of Sister Natasha. In addition, Salesians of St. Don Bosco Sister Anne Marguerite Weis, of St. Louis, also made her first profession of vows.

Sister Natasha’s mother and father walked her down the aisle at the beginning of Mass. Moved with tears of joy, at the moment of profession, the soon to be new religious stated before the Superior of the Salesian Sisters, “Today, before the community and all here present, I Sister Natasha Roig, freely and entirely give myself to you. I make the vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience.” On Aug. 5,  she left for Louisiana to begin her ministry at one of the Salesian schools.

“Here I am Lord, You have called me” has also been the response of several young men at St. Augustine’s to God’s call to the priesthood. Father Edmund A. Luciano III, ordained 12 years ago, serves as parochial vicar at the Parish of the Visitation, New Brunswick. Father Thomas Lanza was ordained Aug. 22, 2020 and serves as a parochial vicar at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Bernardsville. He also teaches theology at Immaculata High School, Somerville, and oversees the Spanish community at the parish.

Jonathan Abouhayla, another St. Augustine parishioner, recently graduated from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, with a major in biology and was on the track to enter dentistry school. One day after morning Mass, Father Lynam spoke to Abouhayla and asked him, “Did you ever think of becoming a priest?”  The young man responded “yes” and after a deep and freeing conversation with Father Lynam, Abouhayla received clarity that he felt the call to the priesthood. He began the process and applied to the diocese to enter the seminary.   

Abouhayla is also a member of St. Sharbel Maronite Church, Somerset. “Nshallllah” which in Lebanese means “God willing,” Abouhayla  will be bi-ritual in the Latin Rite as well as the Maronite Rite. Abouhayla was accepted as a candidate for the Diocese of Metuchen in June. On Aug. 22, he is scheduled to receive a special blessing from the parish community as he leaves for Wisconsin for a “Propaedeutic Year” sponsored by the Diocese of La Crosse. At the conclusion of the “Propaedeutic Year, “Nshallah” Abouhayla will enter the seminary.

Another recent vocation from St. Augustine parish is Ivan Yorobe. A parishioner since he was four years old, Yorobe recently graduated from Seton Hall University, South Orange, with a nursing degree. For the past several years, Yorobe has lived at a residence sponsored by Saint Paul’s Outreach. Through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, he has been led to put his career on hold and give two years of his life as a “missionary” for Saint Paul’s Outreach.

On Aug. 1, he received a special blessing from St. Augustine Parish as he prepared to leave to minister at Florida State University, Tallahassee. In his address to the parish, Yorobe shared some startling statistics regarding his peers living their Catholic faith on campuses, which illustrated the need for evangelization! The parish also donated $3,000 to help him cover his expenses.

Several years ago, St. Augustine parishioner Daniel Chedid also gave a year of his life as a missionary of Saint Paul’s Outreach and Colleen (McCarron) Paras gave a year of her life as a missionary of Francis Corp, which is similar to Saint Paul’s Outreach and is sponsored by the Franciscan Community.

Father Lynam said he is humbled and honored that Bishop Hughes’ vision for vocations at St. Augustine’s is being realized. “Now the Church is reaping the blessings as more and more of our parishioners declare, ‘Here I am Lord, You have called me!’”