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PERTH AMBOY — Upon prayer and reflection, Anacelis Diaz, principal, Perth Amboy Catholic School (PACS), discerned that Jesus wanted a chapel with his presence in the Eucharist in the building.
To accomplish the project, Diaz spent more than a year with her family and volunteers transforming a storage room into a sacred place where the Eucharist could repose and be adored by students and staff.
On Nov. 4, Bishop James F. Checchio blessed the new chapel. He was accompanied by his priest secretary and vice-chancellor, Father Roy Quesea.
Clergy who attended included: Redemptorist Father Slawomir Romanowski, pastor, Redemptorist Father Waldemar Wieladek, parochial vicar, and Redemptorist Father Eugeniusz Fasuga, parochial vicar, all at St. John Paul II Parish; Father Ron Machado, pastor, Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish; Claretian Father Gilles D. Njobam, pastor, Our Lady of Fatima Parish; Father Krystian Burdzy, administrator, Good Shepherd Parish; and Deacon Sergio Diaz, Our Lady of Fatima Parish.
A special program was presented at the blessing. Girls from the PACS Liturgical Dance Club performed a presentation of “I Can Only Imagine” by Mercy Me with choreography by fourth-grade teacher Michelle Diaz. The children also sang hymns taught by their music teacher, Renata Legutko.
“What is a blessing?” the bishop asked. “We pray that God sends his Spirit down upon us and blesses this new chapel and all of you who make PACS the special place that it is. Now you will have Jesus in your school building where you can stop in and say a prayer and meet him just like when we go to church on Sunday.”
After proclaiming the Gospel of Matthew the bishop gave a homily, in which he said, “Jesus tells us that if you go to the altar and realize that your brother and sister have something against you, leave the altar and reconcile with them. We should not hold grudges, but forgive. If you’re going to receive Jesus in the Eucharist, you need to do that first. This chapel will remind us to always be a person of love and to share with all people.
“I thank you for all your good efforts,” he added. “We want you to know this morning that we love you, that we appreciate you, and that we’re grateful for you.”
He then blessed the chapel saying, “My brothers and sisters, let us pray that the Lord will make this chapel a good place to dwell and also by his power bless this water with which we will sprinkle as a sign of repentance and remembrance of our baptism. But first, let us remember that we are gathered as one in the faith and charity of the Catholic Church placed in the world as a sign and a witness of the love which God gives to all people. O God from whom every creature came forth into the light of life, you accompany all people with such great love that not only do you nourish them with your provident care, but you also mercifully cleanse them from their sins with the dew of charity and constantly lead us back to Christ the head. For in your merciful plan, you established that those who descend as sinners receive the sacred waters to die with Christ free from guilt and be made members and heirs with him to eternal reward.”
Bishop Checchio then sprinkled the assembled with holy water.
“The school asked to have this chapel,” he said. “They do everything for the love of Jesus. Now the students and staff can pray here. We are grateful to all the teachers and administrators for enlivening all of Perth Amboy with the presence of Christ through Catholic education. It would be wonderful if this would foster vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Prayer always does that.”
Bishop Checchio is on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops committee to promote the Eucharist. He said, “This is a great event that coincides with the National Eucharistic Revival in our country now to increase our love for Jesus in the Eucharist.”
Father Romanowski said that the principal “is very adamant about the importance of Jesus at the center of the school. She requested daily Mass, adoration during Lent, and also invited the community priests to hear confessions.”
Diaz, who was hired as principal in July 2021, said, “Father Romanowski supported plans for the new chapel and provided material assistance to obtain this goal. So many helped with making it a reality with their time and talent. Jan and John Connell helped with expenses. This sacred place will bring everyone closer to Jesus so that they feel his presence.”
