Bishop, priests from diocese gather at annual event for prayer, fellowship

SPRING LAKE — Each year the priests of the diocese gather with their shepherd, Bishop James F. Checchio, for three days of prayer, celebration, study and fellowship. The convocation provides them an opportunity to step away from their daily life and activities in their parishes and ministries, and to spend time with the Lord and each other.
While the convocation, held Oct. 8-10, was not intended as a retreat, it had a strong focus on the spiritual, with ample time for prayer, reflection, and Eucharistic adoration. Bishop Checchio presided at Mass for the clergy at St. Catharine Church.
During one session at the convocation, the bishop updated the priests on events and activities occurring within the diocese and answered questions they raised. A keynote speaker, and a dinner in honor of the priests marking milestone anniversaries was also held.
Father Dawid Wejnerowski, parochial vicar, Cathedral of St Francis of Assisi, Metuchen, said that he always looked forward to the convocation because it was a wonderful opportunity to get together with his brother priests.
Father John J. O’Kane, administrator, Immaculate Conception Parish, Spotswood, echoed that sentiment and added, “any occasion for the priests of our diocese to gather for prayer and fellowship was welcomed.”
While the convocation focused on the spiritual needs of the priests, their physical health and well-being was also looked after. On the first day of the gathering, a mobile unit from Saint Peter’s University Hospital, New Brunswick, provided basic health tests and assessments, distributed information and recommendations, and administered flu shots.
Sherry Weddell, author of “Forming Intentional Disciples,” gave the keynote address at the convocation. In her book and its accompanying program, she proposes that today’s believing Catholics must make a conscious and intentional decision to follow Christ themselves before they can be expected to go about the process of evangelizing others.
Msgr. Joseph M. Curry, parochial vicar, St. Matthias Parish, Somerset, said he felt that. Weddell’s presentation was very good and timely. “She described concrete steps that parishes can follow to instill and foster an atmosphere of effective evangelization in their prayer community,” he explained.
A first-time attendee at the convocation, Father Joseph Illes, parochial vicar, Immaculate Conception Parish, Somerville, who was ordained this past June, said, “It was great to learn about the process of evangelization.”
On the second day of the convocation, Bishop Checchio presided at a concelebrated Mass with Evening Prayer at St. Catharine Church. The bishop began his homily by stating that in the Gospel Jesus used the occasion of the Last Supper to instruct his disciples as to how they can best serve the people of God. A message, he said, that is as appropriate today as it was then.
 “We must absorb the life of Jesus so completely that…we want to do only what He wants to do through us. To pour out our lives completely in service to [Christ] and his church,” the bishop added.
He quoted from St. John Paul II’s last encyclical that, “The sacrifice of Christ on Calvary is so decisive for the salvation of the human race that Jesus Christ offered it and returned to the Father only after he had left us the means of sharing in it as if he were truly present here. Indeed we priests are so privileged to fulfill the command of Christ to ‘do this in memory of me.’”  
At the conclusion of his homily, Bishop Checchio commented that he, along with all the priests gathered, “Thank God today for the gift of our priesthood.” He went on to acknowledge “our brother priests who are celebrating their anniversaries for their service as priests for 55, 50, 25 years of service,” and said that, “God has taken their gifts…and has truly produced great things in their priestly ministries.”
The jubilarians who were present and concelebrated the Mass were Msgr. Charles W. Cicerale, pastor, St. James Parish, Woodbridge; Father Ronald L. Jandernoa, pastor, St Jude Parish, Blairstown; Father Charles F. Kelly, Maria Regina Residence; Father Kenneth R. Kolibas, pastor, St. Joseph Parish, Raritan Borough; Father Gerardo Paderon, administrator, Queenship of Mary Parish, Plainsboro; Msgr. Eugene Prus and Father Stanly J. Walega, retired.
 After the Mass, as the priests were lined up in the sanctuary surrounding their bishop and the group picture was being taken, one of the staff members of St. Catharine commented, “Isn’t that a great sight!”