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My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
I write to you from Rome on this wonderful feast of St. Francis of Assisi, October 4. I spent almost 20 years of my adult life in Rome as a seminarian, student priest and on the faculty at America’s Seminary in the Vatican.
Now, as you might know, I serve as chairman of the Clergy, Consecrated Life, Vocations Committee for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. I was originally coming to Rome to meet with officials at the Congregation for Clergy on matters related to the United States and our priestly formation program. I am still doing that, but in addition, was invited to be one of two bishop representatives from the United States for the Opening of the Synod.
Pope Francis has announced that the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which will take place in October 2023, will have the theme, “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission.” This week the Holy Father will meet with a group of bishops, priests, religious and lay faithful to discuss the upcoming Synod.
A two-year process, the Synod will have three major phases: diocesan, continental and universal. On Sunday, Oct. 10, there was a Solemn Opening of the Synod with the Pope celebrating Mass at Saint Peter’s Basilica, which I was invited to concelebrate
The Holy Father has said that “synodality is an expression of the Church’s nature, her form, style and mission. The word ‘synod’ says it all: it means ‘journeying together,’ our rediscovery that we are a people meant to walk together, with one another and with all humanity.” We strive to do this in our diocese and that is why I so enjoy visiting our parishes and institutions as often as I am able. While the pandemic has caused many hardships for us, Pope Francis also pointed out that “In this time of pandemic, the Lord is guiding the Church’s mission as a sacrament of care. Our world has cried out and shown its vulnerability: our world needs care.” It is the Holy Father’s wish that the synod will help us to join together more authentically as we listen to one another in the Holy Spirit.
While we were just recently sent the concrete details of the hopes, expectations and pathway forward for the Church Universal and the part we as a diocese will play in the synod, we are working on more concrete plans for our diocese and have scheduled some important events already to begin the process. I am grateful to Father Timothy Christy, our Vicar General, who is working with members of our diocesan Evangelization and Pastoral Offices to ensure that we implement the synod process as authentically as possible, keeping in mind the various circumstances of all the many people expected to be included. It was suggested by the Holy See that we can use our regular consultative organizations in the process, such as the Diocesan Pastoral Council and Presbyteral Council, which is a help, as they already exist and are a great resource for our diocese.
The Holy Father asked every diocesan bishop throughout the world to have a Solemn Opening Mass the weekend of Oct. 16. Our diocese celebrated our Opening Mass on Saturday, Oct. 16 at 5 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral in Metuchen.
Your suggestions and prayers for the synod are appreciated and needed. Please feel free to contact us at synod2023@diometuchen.org. Know that you are in my prayers as we begin this synod experience. God has been good to us, and I have no doubt, will continue to be. Thank you for your fidelity to Him and His Church. The process will be guided by our reliance on our friendship with Jesus and the constant teachings of our Church.
While I felt good to be back in Rome after not having been here for two years, I have to admit, my heart is still in Metuchen! It is an exciting time in our diocese as this November we will begin to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of our founding by St. John Paul II. We are told that the number 40 is used almost 150 times in the Bible. Generally, it is used to represent a period of testing. Moses spent 40 years in the desert before leading his people out of slavery. He was also on Mount Sinai for 40 days when God gave him the Ten Commandments to guide our lives. Jonah preached repentance in Nineveh for 40 days. Of course, the most well-known 40 days were the ones Jesus spent in the desert fasting while being tempted by the devil before He began His public ministry. Likewise, Jesus appeared to his disciples and many others during the 40 days after His resurrection before ascending to the Father.
While our 40 years has had many, many blessings, we have also had our own periods of testing. Gratefully, thanks to your faithfulness, I would say that we have passed the test and have much to celebrate. It is beautiful to see how the Kingdom of God is being built up in our diocese through our worship in our 90 parishes, as well as through your making God known by your acts of love, especially to those in need. You will read about just a few of the many beautiful, inspiring movements of the Holy Spirit amongst us in this edition of “The Catholic Spirit.” As I have told you before, but want to state again, I am so grateful that God brought me to Metuchen to be a part of this great movement of faith!
We will begin our celebratory year with a Diocesan Mass on Friday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral. All are invited to attend. To mark the milestone in our diocesan life we are planning events throughout the coming year and will be publishing a calendar of events soon. Under the patronage of our Lady, we turn to her with confidence knowing that she is always near to us, offering us her protection and love. This anniversary year is a providential opportunity to recommit ourselves to the ongoing work of conversion in our own lives and the renewal of every aspect of our personal, parochial and communal lives. If we want true renewal of our lives and our Church---then we must set out more intentionally developing a greater love, devotion and faithful reception and adoration of the Holy Eucharist. This is the “Bread come down from Heaven,” that gives life to the world and to our hungry soul.
May our synod experience and anniversary celebrations be another opportunity for us to do something beautiful for God as we build up His Kingdom in our beautiful four counties! God bless and know of my love and prayers for you.
With renewed best wishes, I remain
Yours in Christ,
Most Reverend James F. Checchio, JCD, MBA
Bishop of Metuchen
