Bishop: Pastor to lead New Brunswick Catholics to recognize signs of God

Citing Advent as a time of preparation, Bishop James F. Checchio told members of St. Peter the Apostle Parish and University Community, New Brunswick, it was an appropriate time to install their new pastor, Father Michael K. Tabernero.

In his homily at the Dec. 8 installation, Bishop Checchio described the Advent season as a time of preparation. He urged the congregation to include spiritual preparation in the midst of all the busyness of exams, shopping and wrapping presents. He said the preparation is necessary to be ready for the triple coming of Jesus.

First, Jesus came as a child in Bethlehem, and he has promised to return. “God is always faithful to his promises. We look to a past events to encourage us to have confidence in the second coming of Jesus.”

“There is also the third coming of the Lord that we must prepare for, and that is the coming of the Lord to us even now,” the Bishop said. “Every moment of our lives becomes a divine encounter of Jesus coming to us.”

Bishop Checchio said Father Tabernero’s main task will be “to lead this parish to recognize the many signs of God moving within in each one of you and assist you to grow prayerful each day. Gratefully, he is someone who is able to do this in his own life.”

Bishop Checchio was the principal celebrant and homilist at the Mass. Father Tabernero and Father Thomas W. Lanza of the diocesan Office of Vocations and chaplain at the Rutgers University Catholic Center, which is part of the parish, concelebrated.

In his remarks at the end of Mass, Father Tabernero spoke to members of the congregation who are considering their vocation in life.

“Whatever that decision might be, it is so important to be made in light of the heart of Christ. And if the Lord is calling you to the priesthood or consecrated life, I can tell you from experience it is a beautiful life, a life filled with love, meaning and purpose,” he said.

Father Tabernero thanked his parents, Peter M. and Mary Catherine Tabernero of Hillsborough, for all their support. He also expressed his gratitude to everyone who contributed to making the Mass such a beautiful celebration. He especially recognized “the amazing staff at the parish and the Catholic Center” for all their support and assistance.

St. Peter the Apostle Parish is the oldest parish in the Diocese of Metuchen. Although there are records indicating that Catholic Mass occasionally was celebrated in the area beginning in 1825, the first resident pastor was not appointed until 1833. Since then, the parish has been serving the needs of its parishioners, the students and staff of the university and the entire New Brunswick community.

Father Tabernero mentioned the photos of all the previous pastors displayed in the parish hall and all their struggles and efforts to make the parish what it is today.

“There is no place that I would wish to be today than here at St. Peter,” he said.

Father Tabernero was born in Summit, graduated from Hillsborough High School and received a bachelor’s degree in theology and philosophy from Seton Hall University, South Orange. He completed his priestly formation at St. Vincent Seminary, Latrobe, Pa., where he earned a bachelor’s degree in sacred theology and a master’s degree in divinity. Bishop Checchio ordained him to the priesthood June 22, 2019.

Prior to being named pastor of St. Peter, Father Tabernero served as a parochial vicar at Immaculate Conception Parish, Annandale, and director of Catholic identity and teacher at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Edison.

Margaret Alfrey has been a member of St. Peter since 1944. She said she is very grateful to have Father Tabernero as her pastor and looks forward to his visits to bring her the Eucharist, since it is not always possible for her to attend Mass as often as she would like.

Michelle Pozotrigo was a member of the Catholic Community when she was a student at Rutgers.

“I was very involved with the Center and was a member of the choir then.” She and her husband, Giancarlo, were married at St. Peter and, although they live closer to another parish, “we always attend Mass here where our children, Esperancia and Javier, were baptized.”