Bishop Checchio blesses parish’s new Eucharistic Adoration Chapel

FLEMINGTON — The space, to the left of the main entrance into St. Magdalen de Pazzi Church, once housed two offices. Later, “it became a junk room,” said Father Kenneth D. Brighenti, pastor.
 

For parishioners and visitors of the Hunterdon County congregation, the area is now a holy place for prayer, spiritual reflection and more. Toward the end of Mass on May 2, Bishop James F. Checchio blessed St. Magdelen’s new Eucharistic Adoration Chapel.
 

“Truly it is historic for our parish,” Father Brighenti said from the pulpit before the bishop carried the Blessed Sacrament from the sanctuary and placed it in a monstrance on an altar of repose inside the chapel.
 

“Here may we draw closer to Christ, and in him, grow into a temple,” Bishop Checchio prayed during the Order of Celebration. “Here may our lives of holiness become a pleasing sacrifice to your glory.”
 

The brief commemoration ended when the bishop incensed the Blessed Sacrament, then imparted the blessing of the Mass from inside the chapel. The small chapel, which could not have accommodated all the Mass worshipers, was even further limited to viewing the celebration prayers due to COVID-19 restrictions. The parish taped the Mass and Order of Celebration for its Facebook page: www.facebook.com/stmagdalenchurch, with the bishop’s celebration beginning near the end of the liturgy.
 

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops calls eucharistic adoration “an extension of the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament which occurs in every Mass: ‘Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.’ Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament flows from the sacrifice of the Mass and serves to deepen our hunger for Communion with Christ and the rest of the Church.”

Led by Father Brighenti, who has been pastor since 2017, and his predecessor, Father Timothy A. Christy, diocesan vicar general, the parish’s new space culminates 25 years of prayers and persistence from parishioners. A few of them have sought a new space to worship aside from daily or weekend Masses, according to parish historian Monika Szmul.
 

One of those longtime prayer warriors, Lucille Hess, recalled feeling the need to have eucharistic adoration in her life after a pilgrimage to Medjugorje in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where Catholics believe the Virgin Mary first appeared in 1981 to six children and teenagers. She helps coordinate the “Eucharistic adorers,” 74 volunteers who fill the available weekly hours.
 

“It means that God will be acknowledged … and that his Eucharistic reign will continue to take place in this world and change this world,” said Hess, who was wearing a lapel pin of a monstrance.
 

Father Brighenti said many people helped with small and big donations toward building the chapel. They include Lisa and Rich Creter, whose company donated marble that adorns much of the church, including the new prayer site.
 

“We have been parishioners since 1985,” said Rich Creter, noting he and his wife grew up in Bridgewater and attended Immaculata High School, Somerville. When he saw the parish’s plans to upgrade, and not just with a new chapel but major restoration projects to its sanctuary, the Creters were among those eager to help.
 

“We plan on living here. The business has been here. Our kids have had their sacraments,” he said. “So it’s an investment into the future.”
 

Father Brighenti said the new chapel cost about $120,000, excluding five new stained glass windows depicting the five Joyful Mysteries.
 

The parish, which hosts adoration 76 hours per week, has a goal to make it 24 hours a day, or what is known as “perpetual adoration.”
 

Father Brighenti said the chapel also features ceramic flooring, an oak wall behind the altar, and oak pews. There are angel statues on either side of the altar area, as if on guard, and a “rood cross,” which used to hang over the altar of the parish’s former location in Flemington from 1942-87.
 

The chapel was completed before the pandemic struck New Jersey in March 2020. It was closed until June, when worship resumed in diocesan churches, Father Brighenti said.

An advantage of the new chapel (an earlier one was across the narthex) is it has a separate, outdoor entrance with a secure code.
 

“Before, we had to keep the church open,” Father Brighenti said. “So now it’s secure. It’s just the adorers in there.” And those who sign up, who typically spend an hour per week in adoration, “have to be committed,” he said.
 

Parishioners said the adoration helps them gain a closer relationship to God.
 

“Sometimes there are moments in life when you have such difficulty,” said Gloria Maligaya, who donated a stained glass window of the Nativity — one of the Joyful Mysteries. “Coming here, you get such relief and consolation from being with Him.”
 

The bishop praised the congregation for the adoration chapel.
 

“I am grateful for your dedication to the faith,” he said.