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Father Michael Kottar, a Roman Catholic priest who had served in the Diocese of Charlotte for more than 21 years and who revealed earlier this month that a rare brain disease would soon take his life, died on Saturday night in Pickerington, Ohio. He was 53.

The Fed Challenge team at Mount Saint Mary Academy, Watchung, recently had a paper entitled, “Leading Factors of Gender Inequality” accepted into the “Journal of Future Economists,” said Kathleen Brennan, chairperson of the all-girls school’s Department of Mathematics.

PHILLIPSBURG – Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen (CCDOM), is offering immigrants who want to apply to become a United States citizen, consultations and a free companion. This free offer is available until September. The normal cost for the service is $550.

PISCATAWAY — Seminarian Ngu Quoc Tran, or “Peter,” as he was affectionately called by those who knew him, lost his life in a hit-and-run accident in the East Side of Manhattan, N.Y., May 11.

Walt Whitman once wrote, “The art of art, the glory of expression and the sunshine of the light of letters, is simplicity.” The 19th century poet might well have enjoyed the simplicity and glorious expression, not to mention strong faith, emanating from the hearts of youth in the diocese as they engage in the annual Seminarian Letter Project.

For centuries, the Catholic Church has dedicated the entire month of May to honor Mary, Mother of God. This tradition expresses our belief that Mary is the Mother of Christ, whom from the first moment of His conception was both human and divine.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,    Each year, in preparing to release the financial report and statistics about the life of our diocese, I am reminded of the people I have met, particularly within the past year, but also throughout these past five years while serving as your bishop.   

EDISON — The life of “a servant of the Church, the community and the nation” was celebrated April 19 at a funeral Mass for Deacon Frank Yuhas at St. Matthew the Apostle Church. The deacon of 13 years died April 13 at the age of 72.

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.

SOMERSET – The former pastor of St. Matthias Parish, Somerset, has pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree theft for diverting parish funds for his own personal use.

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Five years ago today, I was blessed to become your Shepherd. In sending me to your diocese, I remember Pope Francis said to me, “you must know a lot of people and clergy in your new diocese since it is so close to your home.” Obviously, he thought my transition from Rector of a college in Rome to Bishop in New Jersey would be eased by my friends and acquaintances. However, the opposite was true. I knew very few individuals here having met only a couple of Metuchen priests in my 24 years as a priest, and just a few lay people. Today, the Metuchen Diocese is my home filled with friends: clergy, religious and laity.

On April 24, defense attorney Mark Anderl and United States District Court Judge Esther Salas unveiled a plaque dedicated to their son, Daniel Mark Anderl, in a ceremony at Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. Salas spoke to attendees of the ceremony, and Father Robert G. Lynam, pastor, St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish, Kendall Park -- where Daniel received the sacraments of baptism, first holy Communion and confirmation -- gave the invocation. The plaque includes a passage from the Gospel of John (15:13): “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life…” Daniel, who was a student at Catholic University, planned to pursue a career in law. The plaque was dedicated by the law school in his honor. Friends of Daniel, 20, who was a 2014 graduate of St. Augustine of Canterbury School and a 2018 graduate of Saint Joseph High School, Metuchen, from Catholic University attended the ceremony. One student -- Katherine (Class of 2022) -- gave an emotional witness of the impact that Daniel had on the life of so many at Catholic University, Father Lynam said.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The 58th annual World Day of Prayer for Vocations is scheduled to be celebrated by the Church April 25. the Fourth Sunday of Easter, commonly referred to as Good Shepherd Sunday. The World Day of Prayer for Vocations unites the faithful in praying for those currently discerning and living out vocations to ordained ministry and consecrated life.

Recently, there was a meme on social media showing the devil taunting God. The devil says, “I have closed down every church in the world.” God replies, “Yes, but I have opened one up in every home.” While we cannot be physically present in our church buildings, our homes have recently become the places where we worship God and live our Christian lives. Certainly, this should be taking place in our homes already. Although, the COVID-19 situation causes us to be more intentional in this regard and present circumstances place a greater emphasis on the domestic church.

On March 26, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen child care programs in Somerset, Warren and Morris counties joined communities across the globe to celebrate the importance of social-emotional learning (SEL) on the second annual International SEL Day centered on building bonds and reimagining community.

KENDALL PARK — It was a faith witness, filled with emotion and delivered on Good Friday that most who heard will remember. Father Robert G. Lynam, pastor of St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish, invited U.S. District Judge Esther Salas to speak to his parishioners. On July 19, Daniel Salas, the only son of the judge was killed at his home by a gunman posing as a delivery driver.

METUCHEN — A hushed congregation seated in near-darkness inside the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi heard a message of hope and joy-filled life April 3 during the celebration of the Easter Vigil. Once Bishop James F. Checchio ignited then incensed, the Paschal candle in the sanctuary, a cantor sang the “Exsultet,” or Easter Proclamation, and lectors read Old and New Testament passages that shared the salvation history of God’s people from the world’s creation to the ministry of Christ.

METUCHEN — Standing beneath a stained glass window depicting the visitation of the angel Gabriel to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Bishop James F. Checchio told the seniors seated before him, “Like Mary, you are deeply aware of the presence of God in your lives. You, too, model discipleship in our day.”

METUCHEN — With the obvious exceptions of the various celebrations in honor of our Blessed Mother, only two saints have multiple feast days on the General Roman Calendar each year: St John the Baptist and St. Joseph. One of the days dedicated to the foster father of Jesus Christ and protector of the Holy Family is March 19, when he is celebrated as the Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

METUCHEN — Keeping their parish family intact in a pandemic, reawakening their faith and encouraging them to draw strength from their parish home is a tall order, admitted Bishop James F. Checchio to his priests during a socially-distant Chrism Mass celebrated March 30 at the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi. But, the bishop added, they must remember what gives them strength — each other.