Diocese of Metuchen consecrated to Jesus through Mary at Mass at Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi

METUCHEN, N.J. — Standing before a banner of Our Lady of Guadalupe bedecked with fragrant roses, Bishop James F. Checchio issued a challenge to the faithful seated within the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi Dec. 12: their work had only just begun.

“This is intended to be a moment of beginning, not end,” said the bishop as he formally consecrated the Diocese of Metuchen to Jesus through His Mother Mary. “It is an act of faith to embrace this moment with greater fervor and live our faith even more boldly.”

Hundreds from throughout the four counties of the diocese were drawn to the cathedral that evening to mark a spiritual milestone in the history of the diocese. Through prayer, song and celebration, the faithful marked the conclusion of a Year of Awakening and the first fruits of a spiritual consecration of the diocese to Jesus through Mary as Mother of the Americas and Star of the New Evangelization.

Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, presided and gave the homily at the Mass. Bishop Checchio and Bishop Emeritus Paul G. Bootkoski concelebrated. Priests, deacons, seminarians and religious took their places after a prolonged procession, as did Knights and Dames of the Holy Sepulchre, Knights and Dames of Malta, Knights of Columbus and parish ambassadors. Some 65 singers representing 23 parishes were accompanied by organ, piano, flute, trumpet and violin as they sang a repertoire of Marian music in Latin, English and Spanish.

The celebration was more than a year in the making. In his pastoral letter dated Oct. 4, 2018, Bishop Checchio noted that during his visits to all 90 parishes of the diocese “I began to hear a recurrent theme that I would summarize as a need for renewal. I sensed the most urgent need that our people and priests are longing for was ‘more,’” he wrote.

The bishop continued, “I have discerned that our renewed awakening and deepening our relationship with Christ will be entrusted to Mary… through the powerful intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe… With the power of God’s grace and with open hearts, our lives, our families, our churches, our diocese will indeed become a beacon of hope: we will be salt and light, the city set on a hill.”

The diocese created a website, LightingHeartsonFire.org, as a valuable resource for the diocesan consecration, defined as a setting apart for a holy, transformative purpose. Resources and prayers in English and Spanish for both adults and children; guidance in hosting parish awakening nights, novenas and litanies; school-based events, and travel kits with Marian images designed for prayer and reflection within families all led to the goal of an informed, spiritual consecration.

Other events building up to the Dec. 12 consecration include September’s walk by 700 faithful through the streets of Hunterdon County on a nine-mile mini-pilgrimage, and October’s visit by Bishop Checchio and nearly 80 pilgrims to Mexico and the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City.

In his homily, Archbishop Pierre urged the faithful to display the same tenderness Mary has for her children despite the media’s portrayal of the Church as cold and heartless. He professed his love for the Virgin Mother in the form of Our Lady of Guadalupe, nurtured during his nine years as nuncio to Mexico and nearly four years in the United States.

“Mary is the great missionary,” the archbishop said. “She gave birth to the Savior of the World and brought the Gospel to the Americas. We found in her the inspiration on how to be disciples and missionaries of Jesus; just as she went forth to meet her kinswoman, Elizabeth, she brought joy to the people of America.”

Calling Our Lady of Guadalupe “the intersection between the Spanish and indigenous peoples,” Archbishop Pierre asserted that her image was rich in imagery and portrayed her role of virgin and mother, a woman of prayer, piety and humility. He revealed that, on a recent papal visit to Mexico, Pope Francis requested unlimited time for a visit to the shrine where her image was displayed, declaring, “I want to see the people of Mexico through the eyes of Our Lady.”

“The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe has much to say to the people of the Americas,” the archbishop said. “It was a new visitation for a new evangelization. We are the fruit of her visit.”

Turning to face Bishop Checchio, he continued, “Bishop, religious men and women, all of you: incorporate the faith in Metuchen. It is quite a challenge, but a beautiful one. You are called to evangelize and re-evangelize. With God, all things are possible.”

Bishop Checchio led the congregation in an act of consecration to Jesus and reminded them that St. Juan Diego had seen, believed and acted upon what he had experienced in his encounter with the Mother of Jesus.

“You and I are now called to do the same thing. Mary’s fiat shows us the pathway to surrender to God’s plan for our lives and our Church,” he said. “The next step is to give thanks and consider what more could I do in my life to love and serve Christ in His Church.”

Urging the parish ambassadors to rise and leading applause for their efforts, the bishop continued, “I ask you to continue to be a resource for ongoing communications and formation in intentional discipleship, sharing best practices and creative ways to further implement prayerful Marian and Eucharistic spirituality in our parishes.”

The large image of Our Lady of Guadalupe led the closing procession; as the choir sang, “Come as we journey along the way, Santa Maria, come,” the image was placed under a tent on the cathedral’s front plaza. Congregants, each clutching a red rose, streamed out of the cathedral to stop, pray, and place their flower at her feet.

Parish ambassadors were eager to share how their service to their faith communities in Mary’s name had impacted their lives over the past year.  

David Fantina, ambassador for Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Bernardsville, stated, “I would say my prayer life has been strengthened by the Year of Awakening. My wife and I have been making a concerted effort to pray together to the Blessed Mother under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe every day. I believe that [the consecration] was an idea inspired by the Holy Spirit.”

“I grew up with a devotion to Our Lady,” said Christina Mileski, ambassador for Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Hackettstown. “For me, the beauty and joy of this focus on Mary was in the participation and sharing of Our Lady of the Americas to our entire parish community. Our parish has a diverse community [which] joined together to purchase and frame an official image of Our Lady that will remain in our church for future generations. It’s a beautiful symbolism of unification.”

Mileski continued, “Events were key for this year of preparation. People want activities, and that is where we have the opportunities to evangelize and to grow in knowledge, understanding and fellowship.”

Ambassador Charlie Zammit of St. Mary Parish, South Amboy, put his faith into action over the past year, and plans to continue his service to the Church.

“This year of preparation has personally impacted my prayer life [and] reawakened my faith,” Zammit said. “Some new activities are meeting weekly for praise and worship; attending First Friday Mass and other daily Masses; visiting nursing homes; assisting at a soup kitchen and having a deeper personal relationship with the Holy Spirit in Life in the Spirit Seminar. I am looking forward to this new Advent Year of witnessing God’s love to all humanity as inspired by the bishop and archbishop.”

By Christina Leslie, Correspondent for The Catholic Spirit