Retired priest honored at World Day of Sick Mass

NEW BRUNSWICK — Bishop James F. Checchio shared advice from the Holy Father with a congregation of health care workers at the Saint Peter’s University Hospital chapel at a Mass, advice they had exemplified in their mission as a Catholic facility from the day its doors opened in 1872.
“In the words of Pope Francis on this World Day of the Sick, ‘I hope places of care will increasingly become houses of welcome and comfort, where sick persons will find friendship, understanding, kindness and charity,’” the bishop said in his homily on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, Feb. 11. “In short, humanity.”

Bishop Checchio also presided at the Mass. Msgr. John N. Fell, episcopal vicar for the diocesan health care apostolate; Father Peter G. Suhaka, the hospital’s chaplain, and Msgr. William J. Capik, who this June will mark his 65th priestly anniversary, concelebrated.

During the Mass, Leslie D. Hirsch, president and chief executive officer of Saint Peter’s Healthcare System, presented Msgr. Capik with a glass statue in appreciation of his 27 years of service, 18 of them as chairman of the hospital’s board of directors.

Born in 1930 in Perth Amboy, Msgr. Capik studied at St. Charles Preparatory Seminary and St. Mary’s Seminary, Baltimore, and earned a bachelor’s degree, a baccalaureate in sacred theology and a licentiate in sacred theology. He earned a master’s degree in school administration at Fordham University, Bronx, N.Y., and served the dioceses of Trenton and Metuchen for more than 15 years as teacher and administrator.

Msgr. Capik was named as a Prelate of Honor of His Holiness the Pope in April 1979. He served as the first vicar of education for the Diocese of Metuchen from 1981 to 1985, and began a 24-year tenure as pastor of St. James Parish, Basking Ridge, in 1981.

Msgr. Capik reminisced about his long tenure at the hospital at the prompting of then-Bishop George W. Ahr, saying, “We had the vocation of giving ourselves to other people, to give compassion, understanding and peace. God has given me the blessing of good health, then time for me to think of nothing but him during my illness. When we can turn our faces, our bodies and our souls to our God, we can make a difference.”

Before the Mass, floor by floor, Bishop Checchio, Hirsch and others toured the hospital. The bishop visited numerous patients and staff, cheerfully posing for cellphone pictures and bestowing his blessings upon the sick.

Joining oncology patient Mary Hutchinson, a member of St. Matthias Parish, Somerset, in prayer, the bishop advised her, “Think of Christ on the cross, that was his strongest moment.”
Later, Hutchinson reflected on the visit, saying, “The bishop encouraged me to get better with the help of my faith."

Touring The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital, adorned in brightly-colored cartoon superheroes, cheerful animals and an abundance of St. Valentine’s Day hearts, Bishop Checchio paused to pray the “Hail Mary” with nine-year-old patient Emma and traded high-fives with bubbly four-year-old Noah. He showed Noah his own bishop’s crucifix and asked, “Do you know Jesus? He will help you,” as the child’s parents beamed.  

A conversation in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at The Children’s Hospital with Dr. Mark Hiatt, Chief of Neonatology, was followed by visits to the parents of the premature infants the unit cares for. Bethany, a member of St. James Parish, Basking Ridge, beamed as Bishop Checchio blessed her and her daughter, Allison, who was born at 30 weeks and weighed 3 pounds, 30 ounces. “She’s a fighter, she’s feisty,” the proud mother said. “I am glad the bishop blessed her.”

The bishop also blessed the diocese-sponsored hospital’s newly renovated pastoral care office. Two of the facility’s chaplains, Deacon Vincent Brigande and Deacon William Weber, assisted at the Mass.
In his homily, the bishop drew parallels between the hospital’s mission of care and the Gospel, which told of Jesus’ healing Peter’s mother-in-law (Matthew 8:14-17).

“It was more than just a story of healing, but rather instruction on how we should be living our baptism,” Bishop Checchio said, noting that the passage “encourages us to share the gift of God’s life with others through our own works of charity and faithful service.”

Thanking Msgr. Capik for his 27 years of service to the hospital, the bishop continued, “Certainly, [he] understood this passage as the foundation of the hospital’s ministry. His pride in Saint Peter’s history can be summed up in these words of his: ‘We are a healing ministry, and our goal has always been to treat the whole person, give the ultimate in compassionate care for everyone. We treat every patient as a child of God.’”