This newsletter includes news, events and resources. For recurring events, please see the individual office newsletter. | |
News, Resources & Upcoming Diocesan Events | |
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Celebrating Life!
A Day for Grandparents & Seniors (55+)
"His mercy is from age to age..."
Wednesday, July 26, 2023 - 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Feast Day of Saints Joachim & Anne
St. John Neumann Pastoral Center, Piscataway
Join us for breakfast, fellowship, a guest speaker & Holy Mass. Event is free. Registration is required. Call 732-562-1543 or visit: https://www.diometuchen.org/humanlifeanddignity
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Stress In Your Marriage? Do you feel lost, alone or bored in your marriage? Are you frustrated, hurt or angry with your spouse? Have you thought about separation or divorce? Does talking about it only make it worse?
RETROUVAILLE is a Lifeline to Help Couples Heal and Renew their Marriages sponsored by the Office of Family Life, Diocese of Metuchen, NJ.
RETROUVAILLE consists of a weekend experience for married couples (no group discussions) with six follow-up sessions. The upcoming weekend is August 18-20, 2023. All inquiries are confidential. For further information, please contact Rich Colasuonno 732-236-0671 or Annette Colasuonno 732-672-0748 or email 3024@helpourmarriage.org.
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Silver & Gold Anniversary Celebration
The diocesan church cordially invites couples celebrating their 25th or 50th wedding anniversaries in 2023 to attend the Silver and Gold Anniversary Prayer Service with Bishop Checchio on Sunday, October 22, 2023 at 3:30 PM at the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, 548 Main St., Metuchen, NJ.
Registration is required to attend the Prayer Service.
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Office for Discipleship Formation for Children | |
Office of Hispanic Evangelization and Pastoral Ministry | |
Finding God in Our Brothers and Sisters. (Spanish) | | | | |
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We invite you to learn more about Catholic Social Teaching and our call to care for others and our environment.
Wednesday, August 2 & 9, 2023
From 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
The event is free, but previous registration is appreciated.
St. John Neumann Pastoral Center (146 Metlars Ln, Piscataway NJ)
| | Click the button and visit the website where you can update your parish information about Mass in Spanish, pastoral services or activities for the Hispanic community at any time. You can send us the information in English or Spanish. | | Click the button to sign-up to receive twice a month, information regarding the Hispanic Diocesan events and other resources for our community. | |
Office of Human Life & Dignity
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Catholic Care for the Sick & Dying
Samaritanus Bonus Resources
The recent celebration of the Ascension of the Lord recalls our hopeful anticipation of passing into eternal life and the care that is due to those who are passing from this life into the next. Several resources are available in both English and Spanish to accompany Samaritanus bonus ("on the care of persons in the critical and terminal phases of life").
Parish Presentation: If you are interested in hosting a parish presentation on this topic, contact us at jruggiero@diometuchen.org
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Children's Choir Summer Camp
August 21st to August 25th
The Cathedral of Saint Francis of Assisi’s Office of Sacred Music, in conjunction with the Diocesan Office of Liturgical Music, will be hosting a Children’s Choir Summer Camp program from August 21st to August 25th on the Cathedral’s campus in Metuchen. All rising 3rd through 8th graders from any parish in the diocese are invited to participate. Participating Choristers will learn the basics of Music Theory, Gregorian Chant, do fun composer-based projects, and will sing for daily 12:10 Mass at the Cathedral. The week will end with a festive Ice Cream Party. Registration deadline has been extended to July 10.
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Eucharistic Adorers Wanted
Please consider promoting this important apostolate in your parishes. Now that the pandemic is over, Bishop Checchio would like to offer Eucharistic adoration at the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center, Monday through Friday, from 9:00-11:45 a.m. As St. Pope John Paul II noted. “The Church and the world have a great need of Eucharistic adoration.” Anyone who is interested in signing up should contact Angela Marshall at amarshall@diometuchen.org
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Third World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly on July 23, 2023.
The Apostolic Penitentiary has granted a Plenary Indulgence (under the normal conditions of detachment from sin, reception of sacramental confession and Eucharistic communion, and prayer for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff) to grandparents, the elderly, and all the faithful who, motivated by the true spirit of penance and charity, celebrate and participate in the Third World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly on July 23, 2023.
For those sick elderly, or others unable to leave their homes for serious reasons, they may spiritually join in the sacred celebrations of the day by offering their prayers, pains, and sufferings particularly while remotely participating in a liturgical celebration.
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Rev. Timothy M. Eck, STL-Lit.
Director of the Office of Divine Worship
teck@diometuchen.org
732-562-2435
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Office of Youth & Young Adult Evangelization | |
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October 21st - Youth Ministers Training Day #1
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November 4th - Hard as Nails Ministry with Justin Fatica Breakthrough Event
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January/ February (Date TBD) - St. Timothy Awards
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March 9th - Youth Ministers Training Day #2
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April 20th - Diocesan Youth Day
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May 19th - NJ Catholic Youth Rally at Six Flags Great Adventure
Please take note, these dates may be subject to change. Please stay tuned for other events, future communications, and more information in upcoming newsletters!
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"You're Amazing"
Hard as Nails Ministry Breakthrough Event
November 4, 2023 from 6:30-9:00 PM
Immaculata High School Gymnasium
Please join us for the "You're Amazing" Hard as Nails Ministry Breakthrough Event with Justin Fatica and the Hard as Nails Missionary Team. This event is open to all 7th through 12th graders and families.
Schedule of Event
6:30 PM - Event begins / Intro / Missionary testimonies
7 PM - Justin Fatica Breakthrough talk
8-9 PM - Interactive Adoration with worship music
Cost
$10 for Students
$25 for Families
**If cost is an issue, please reach out to Megan Callahan at mcallahan@diometuchen.org.
Registration
This is a first come first served event, please register as soon as possible! At the latest, please register by November 1st.
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Office of Multi-Cultural Ministries | |
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SAVE THE DATE: AUGUST 12, 2023
Diocesan Informative Day for Black Catholics
In preparation for the National Black Catholic Congress (NBCC) which will be celebrated July 20-23, 2023, the Diocese held a Day of Reflection in an effort to obtain insights and wisdom from Black Catholics in the Diocese of Metuchen.
The upcoming Congress will explore two major themes:
· THE EUCHARIST: OUR PROPETIC CALL TO LOVE.
· “A PROPHETIC CALL TO THRIVE: G.R.O.W. TOWARD YOUR GREATNESS”.
Black Catholics, now is the time to come together, work and evangelize! Be part of the process. You are called to participate in the August 12, 2023 Diocesan Informative Day from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center, Piscataway.
There are at least six representatives of the Diocese attending the NBCC. On August 12th they will share their experiences and information obtained at the congress and motivate each of us to work and promote the Pastoral Plan at both a Diocesan and a Parish level. Call 732-562-1543 or visit www.diometuchen.org/2023nbc to register.
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To contact the Office of Multicultural Ministries:
Sr. Miriam Perez, Coordinator for Multicultural Ministries
732-529-7933 or mperez@diometuchen.org
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Dear Pastors/Administrators:
The Religious Office is collecting data for the diocese. If you have religious staff men and women in ministry and/or in residence at your parish, kindly complete the attached form and send it to:
Sister Anna Nguyen, SCC
Delegate for Religious and Consecrated Life
Diocese of Metuchen
146 Metlars Lane
Piscataway, NJ 08854
V: 732-529-7587
F: 732-562-1307
anguyen@diometuchen.org
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Office of Communications and Public Relations | |
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The Church through Digital Media
As you likely know, the Diocese of Metuchen regularly uses its social media platforms to share news, events and engage with the faithful. If you haven’t already, we invite you to follow us on social media @diocesemetuchen and tag us in your posts so we can help you share your good news.
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Bulletin Editor Announcements:
Bulletin Editor Announcements are sent out to Parish Bulletin Editors who opt-in to receive updates from the Office of Communications and Public Relations. The announcements are regularly sent monthly and include links to the diocesan pastoral newsletter.
To receive these updates, please contact the Office of Communications and Public Relations at communications@diometuchen.org
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Sign up for Recent Press Releases
Sign up to receive press alerts from the Diocese of Metuchen's Office of Communications and Public Relations at www.diometuchen.org/communications.
Click to read:
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The most recent edition of The Catholic Spirit, one of our largest to date, is now available. The June issue featured articles about Corpus Christi Sunday—including photos from more than a dozen parishes throughout the diocese—a pilgrimage to the National Blue Army Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima by more than 400 Hispanic pilgrims, and the graduating classes of 2023, who received more than $108 million in scholarships and awards. We are also hard at work on next month’s edition, which will feature stories about the Ordination of Fr. Jose Lim, including his first Mass, a gathering of about 250 Hispanics who came together on the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary to discuss outreach to Latino Catholics in our region, and, of course, the Mass for Life and Rally for Life in Trenton, celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s historic decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. | | |
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You can read the full version of both editions online by visiting:
https://catholicspirit.com/, where you can browse through stories individually or view the full paper as it appears in print. As always, we thank you for your support and welcome your feedback.
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Making the Good News Known
The Office of Communications and Public Relations is committed to making the Good News known and telling the story of the Diocese of Metuchen, which includes telling the stories of our parishes, schools, ministries and the faithful. Do you have a positive, inspiring story to share about an individual within our local Church of Metuchen? Is your parish doing something that lights a fire in the heart of our part of the world? We want to hear from you! We invite you to share your news with us by emailing communications@diometuchen.org and, as always, news@catholicspirit.com.
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Employment Opportunity - Business Manager
Please consider posting this announcement in your parish bulletin:
The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, seeks a Business Manager to develop, implement, and oversee business strategies for the award-winning paper. The ideal candidate will be expected to establish production and quality control standards, develop budget and cost controls, and obtain data regarding the circulation, production and delivery specifications of the paper. Interested candidates should forward their resume to hr@diometuchen.org.
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Employment Opportunity - Graphic Designer
Please consider posting this announcement in your parish bulletin:
The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, seeks a Graphic Designer to assist with the layout and design of its publication. The ideal candidate will have Adobe InDesign and Photoshop experience in a PC environment, be familiar with all aspects of electronic publishing, be a well-organized and reliable, and have a proven track record of meeting deadlines. Interested candidates should forward their resume to hr@diometuchen.org
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Employment Opportunity - Advertising Representative
Please consider posting this announcement in your parish bulletin:
The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, seeks an Advertising Sales Representative to assist with the sale of advertising space. The ideal candidate will be responsible for initiating, developing, and closing sales of print media advertising in The Catholic Spirit by creating and building effective client relationships with area businesses and organizations. Interested candidates should forward their resume to hr@diometuchen.org.
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Hope Stories with Sr. Josephine Garrett, CSFN (OSV Podcasts)
Hope Stories with Sr. Josephine Garrett, CSFN explores extraordinary stories of hope hidden within the ordinary lives we lead. Sr. Josephine loves the transformational power and gift of stories, and their ability to reveal deep truths about the purpose and meaning of our lives. As a Catholic Christian writer, speaker, and mental health counselor, Sr. Josephine helps people discover and abide within places and relationships where they can be received wholeheartedly as gift. Sister Josephine has recently launched a new podcast, titled "Hope Stories with Black Catholics," which is available at online at https://www.osvpodcasts.com. For this first series, “Hope Stories with Black Catholics,” Sr. Josephine sits down with friends and family to share stories of pain, struggle, consolation, and joy that encourage even the most downhearted to participate in the hope of Jesus Christ more fully. Journey to a new depth of hope, even in seemingly impossible circumstances, with Sr. Josephine. Her new book, HOPE: An Invitation, is now available for pre-order at osvcatholicbookstore.com.
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HEROIC MEN (Powered by the Catholic Men’s Leadership Alliance)
Men have a heroic call to follow Christ’s example of leadership, learning, and service with our families. But we can’t do it alone. Jesus Christ shows us how to be a real man, and a heroic leader through prayer, learning, and purpose. HEROIC MEN (powered by the Catholic Men’s Leadership Alliance) is a 100% free, Catholic streaming platform designed especially for men who want to discover (or re-discover) the truth, beauty, and goodness of the Catholic faith. They curate and stream the best content to engage, educate, and equip men for mission. For more information or to sign up for a free account, please visit https://heroicmen.com/.
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National Eucharistic Pilgrimage
The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage (NEP) has publicly launched! The NEP (https://www.eucharisticpilgrimage.org/) will consist of four cross-country Eucharistic processions, collectively traversing the entire continental United States over a two-month period, beginning during the feast of Pentecost, May 17-19, 2024.
The pilgrimage is being organized by the National Eucharistic Revival campaign in conjunction with Modern Catholic Pilgrim, a Catholic nonprofit dedicated to deepening the faith across the country through pilgrimages. Along the way, the pilgrims will make stops in major U.S. cities, churches, Catholic colleges, and holy sites. Parishes along the routes will host Mass, adoration, devotions, praise and worship, lectures on the Eucharist, and more.
The Seton Route, which will begin in New Haven, Connecticut, will be passing through the Diocese of Metuchen on May 29-30, 2024. The four pilgrimage processions will ultimately converge in Indianapolis on July 16, 2024, to participate in the National Eucharistic Congress. Adam Carlisle, Secretary for Evangelization and Communication, will be helping to organize our diocese’s involvement. If anyone is interested in assisting with this important event, please feel free to contact him at acarlisle@diometuchen.org.
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National Eucharistic Congress – Tickets/Travel Packages Available
(Coming Soon)!
Registration is now open for the National Eucharistic Congress! At the National Eucharistic Congress (https://www.eucharisticcongress.org/), the Church will draw into a deeper intimacy with our Eucharistic Lord, allowing our eyes to be opened and our hearts to be set on fire with his love. This historic five-day gathering (July 17-21, 2024) will be an experience of prayer: a liturgical act offering the Catholic Church—those in attendance in Indianapolis as well as across the country—to the Father, through the Son, and in the Holy Spirit. This reconsecration will result in a massive outpouring of grace and renewed missionary sending as participants are moved to share the Eucharistic love of the Lord “for the life of the world” (John 6:51). This is a pivotal moment in both American history and the legacy of the Catholic Church. (It is the first National Eucharistic Congress in 83 years!) Tens of thousands of pilgrims are expected to attend—but space is limited. To ensure that the Diocese of Metuchen is well-represented, we are pleased to announce that we have purchased 100 tickets to next summer’s Congress. These packages include transportation to and from Indianapolis, as well as hotel accommodations. More information on how to purchase tickets to next summer’s Congress will be forthcoming. In the meantime, anyone interested in learning more about the Congress, or about how to purchase tickets/travel packages, should contact Adam Carlisle, Secretary for Evangelization and Communication, at acarlisle@diometuchen.org.
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National Eucharistic Congress - Customize Your Congress Experience!
Preparation for the Congress is in full swing! In order to make this gathering the most fruitful for Catholics of so many different stages of life and vocational callings, speakers and breakout sessions will be organized into tracks with various themes and intended audiences. Ask the Lord how he is calling you to participate in the Congress and how he wants to form your heart through these five powerful days. Individual speakers and session topics will be announced very soon. In the meantime, we are thrilled to unveil the various ways you will be able to participate in this historic moment.
For more information about what participation options will be available, or to get details about each track, please visit
https://www.eucharisticcongress.org/tracks.
Speakers and breakout sessions will be announced soon.
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National Eucharistic Revival - Parish Phase (Leader’s Playbook)
The National Eucharistic Revival is a movement to “rekindle a living relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist and send our Church out on mission ‘for the life of the world.’” On the Feast of Corpus Christi (June 11), we will enter the second year of this initiative—the Year of Parish Revival. To mark this important transition and to help parish leaders and Catholics across the nation, the National Eucharistic Congress has released the Leader’s Playbook (https://www.eucharisticrevival.org/lead) Supercharge your local Revival response with this essential resource! The Leader’s Playbook is your springboard into the Year of Parish Revival, providing concrete steps you can take to answer each of the four invitations at the heart of this movement. Use this resource to discern the Lord’s call for you and your ministry, and join us in gathering tinder for God to reignite our Church with Eucharistic love. Please click on the above link to find out what to expect from this Year of Parish Revival and how your parish community is invited to respond.
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Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen is Looking for Summer Volunteers!
To meet the increased needs of the community, Catholic Charities Food Pantry and Thrift Store, located in Phillipsburg, needs volunteers for the following:
Food Pantry Open M-F, 10am-3:30pm
- Unpack donated and purchased food
- Soft & stack food on our pantry shelves
- Prepare grocery bags for our clients
- Break down empty boxes & carry to trash bins
- Provide basic case management services and have an awareness of local resources or be willing to learn
Thrift Store Open M-TH, 11am-4pm
- Sort & put donated items on the shelves
- Price items donated to the store
- Help customers with any questions about items purchased.
If interested, please call Maria Hunter at 732-738-1315 or email mhunter@ccdom.org
| Contact: Tiffany Workman at tworkman@diometuchen.org or call 732-243-4581 | |
Office of Ecumenical and Interfaith Affairs | | | | |
