Bishop Saporito N Fr. Edmund Luciano – Image Catholic Spirit
The Diocese of Metuchen was established in 1981 by Saint Pope John Paul II, with Saint Francis of Assisi Cathedral in Metuchen as its mother church. The people of the Diocese of Metuchen were over- joyed to welcome the Most Reverend Michael Arsenio Saporito as their sixth Bishop during an installation Mass held on October 22, 2026, the feast day of St. John Paul II, in The Church of the Sacred Heart, South Plainfield. Representatives from parish- es, schools, religious, lay and civil organizations were joined by clergy and civil dignitaries from throughout the state and beyond to witness the newest shepherd of the central New Jersey diocese.
I was one of those fortunate people who were invited to attend this wonderful event. It was an honor to attend the Installation Mass for Bishop Michael Saporito.
Some pictures of the event. Courtesy The Catholic Spirit, Facebook and some I took.
Bishop Checchio ordains 15 permanent deacons, one transitional deacon – The Catholic Spirit – May 20, 2024 by Deacon Patrick Cline
“What a wonderful day for an ordination,” said Bishop James F. Checchio as he began the Mass of Ordination for 16 men to the Diaconate on May 3, the Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles. He said these two saints will be “wonderful intercessors and inspiring examples for our brothers today.”
Reflecting on the lives of these two saints, Bishop Checchio told the men he was about to ordain that just as Jesus called down the Holy Spirit upon his Apostles, “the Church now calls down the Holy Spirit upon you. You are ordained today not to fulfill a role in the Church but rather to light a fire, to light a fire in our world, and in our Church.”
Bishop Checchio said St. James reminds us that faith must never be reduced to simply an abstract or verbal declaration but must always be expressed in acts. “So brothers, your ministry must be marked by good works, particularly loving the poor,” the Bishop instructed.
In the Gospel of St. John, St. Philip introduced the Apostle Nathanial to Jesus using the Lord’s own words, “Come and see.” Bishop Checchio said that St. Philip thus urges us to become closely acquainted with and fall in love with Jesus. He assured the candidates that “Jesus promises to be with you always, don’t forget that. May your road to sainthood always be guided by him and by his Blessed Mother.”
Then Bishop Checchio questioned the candidates regarding their willingness to undertake the tasks and obligations of the diaconate. In response, the men expressed their resolve to fulfill the office of deacon in accord with the mind of Christ and of his Church.
In one of the most moving moments common to all ordination rites, to the diaconate, presbyterate and episcopacy, the 16 men prostrated themselves in the biblical gesture of humility. As they did so, they and the congregation were invited to pray the Litany of Supplication invoking “All holy men and women, Saints of God,” many by name, to pray for those men.
Bishop Checchio prayed that God would mercifully hear our prayers for his aid in sanctifying and blessing these candidates the Church has deemed worthy to be tasked with the Office of the Diaconate. Through the laying on of hands by the Bishop on each man, the gift of the Holy Spirit was conferred upon them.
After they were vested with the Stole and Dalmatic, the signs of their new office, the Book of the Gospels was presented to each Deacon by the Bishop with the admonition, “Believe what you read. Teach what you believe. Practice what you teach.”
A recurring comment from many of the people attending the Ordination Mass was how joyful and moving the Mass was, especially when all the other deacons present exchanged the Kiss of Peace with the newly ordained men. “You could truly see the look of joy on all their faces,” said Anna Bui, wife of Deacon Tuan Bui of Immaculate Conception Parish, Somerville.
In addition to the men ordained to the permanent diaconate, Rev. Mr. Jerome Roxas Ocampo was ordained a transitional deacon as he continues his journey towards priesthood. Deacon Ocampo said, “Although I knew two deacons from my hospital ministry at St. Peter, I was overwhelmed by the welcome I received from all the deacons present.”
Peter Cain, the son of newly ordained Deacon Paul Cain, paid tribute to his father when he said, “ Dad has been a blessing to our family all my life and now I know that he will be a blessing to all the people of our parish,” Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Bernardsville, where Deacon Cain will minister.
In his closing remarks as in his homily, the Bishop thanked everyone who had played a role in bringing the new deacons to that day, especially their wives and families. He also expressed his gratitude to all who contributed to making that Mass such a wonderful celebration.
ORDINATION TO THE ORDER OF THE DIACONATE by Bishop James F. Checchio/ 05.03.2024 @ 4:00PM / Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen – Please watch the video of the live streaming.
ORDINATION TO THE ORDER OF THE DIACONATE by Bishop James F. Checchio/ 05.03.2024 @ 4:00PM / Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen – Some pictures of the event.
Please click on the image to read the article from The Catholic Spirit dated May 23, 2024.
Church of the Sacred Heart, South Plainfield – Sunday Morning Mass // 11:30am // May 5, 2024 Welcome! This morning Mass is brought to you by the Church of the Sacred Heart in South Plainfield, New Jersey. Today is the Sixth Sunday of Easter. Today, we celebrate newly ordained Deacon Ketan Christian as he preaches his first homily. Our celebrant for today is Father Edmund Luciano assisted by Deacon Ketan Christian. – Video of the Live streaming.
Sunday Mass in Gujarati with Father Paresh Parmar, Episcopal Vicar, Diocese of Ahmedabad and Deacon Ketan Joseph Christian // 3:00pm // May 5, 2024. Welcome! This afternoon Mass is brought to you by the Church of the Sacred Heart in South Plainfield, New Jersey. Today is the Sixth Sunday of Easter. Our celebrant for today is Father Paresh Parmar, Episcopal Vicar, Diocese of Ahmedabad, assisted by Deacon Ketan Christian. – Video of the Live Streaming.
Please click on the image below to read the article of the Ordination from the Gujarati Catholic monthly magazine “DOOT” – June 2024. This magazine was started in 1911.
Bishop Checchio will ordain Ketan Christian, the first Gujarati as a Deacon along with 15 candidates and one other as a transitional Deacon. May 03, 2024
The permanent Deacon is an ordained member of the Church who has received the sacrament of Holy Orders (as does a Bishop and Priest) and is deemed a cleric. Permanent Deacons make promises of obedience to the Bishop. They also promise to pray the Liturgy of the hours each day for all the people of God. Deacons can perform Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals. A Deacon also assists Priest or Bishop at Mass and may give the Homily.
From Left Max, Stephanie, Ketan Cristian, Bishop James Checchio, Ila Christian and Christine.
Ketan and Family invite for dinner after the ordination on May 03, 2024
Traditionally, the beginning of the order of deacons is traced back to the story in Acts of the Apostles, Acts 6: 1-6. The time finally came during deliberations of the Second Vatican Council in 1963, calling for restoration of the diaconate as a permanent level of Holy Orders. In June 1967 Pope Paul VI implemented this decree of the Council when he published the apostolic letter “Sacrum Diaconatus Ordinem” (“The Sacred Order of the Diaconate”) in which he re-established the permanent diaconate in the Latin Church.
The very first time in US history five men from the Archdiocese of Baltimore were ordained as a Deacon On June 12, 1971 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland.
Members of the first class of permanent deacons and their wives stand outside the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in 1971. The deacons and their wives, from left to right: Charles and Janet Kruger, Hubert and Dolores Derouaux, George and Joyce Evans, Bernard and Antoinette Bak, Doris and Americus Roy, and Angelina and Richard Johe. (CR file)
Although a resolution was already passed by the CBCI for accepting the permanent Diaconate in India as a proper and permanent state of the hierarchy in 1966, it was only in 1982 that the CBCI finally petitioned the Holy See. A year later, the CBCI received permission from the Holy See to restore and promote the permanent Diaconate in India, with a proviso that before it could be introduced in any diocese, the bishop would consult the bishops of the region. On January 22, 2006, Bombay was the first and only diocese in India to introduce the permanent Diaconate when, the then Archbishop of Bombay, Cardinal Ivan Dias, ordained two permanent Deacons, Mr Lloyd Dias from Sacred Heart Church, Vashi and Mr Elwyn De Souza from St Joseph Church, Juhu.
Archbishop of Bombay, Cardinal Ivan Dias, ordained two permanent Deacons, Mr. Lloyd Dias from Sacred Heart Church, Vashi and Mr Elwyn De Souza from St Joseph Church, Juhu.
Please save the date and join: Ketan will serve as Deacon of the Mass and preach is first homily.
Church of The Sacred Heart, South Plainfield Bulletin April 14, 2024
HOLY MASS OF THANKGIVING
Sunday, May 05, 2024 @ 11:30 AM
Church of the Sacred Heart
South Plainfield, NJ 07080
Fr. Paresh Parmar, the Episcopal Vicar of The Diocese of Ahmedabad, Gujarat will be attending all above events and will offer a Mass in Gujarati as per details below:
Ila & Ketan Christian will led The Stations of The Cross at Sacred Heart Church, South Plainfield on Friday, March 12, 2021. Please watch the live streaming.
We will be carrying it live here on our website too. Please scroll below:
Here is the schedule for the live stream Holy Week schedule:
Palm Sunday, April 5, 2020 10:30am (blessed Palms are not to be distributed under any circumstance at this time by order of our Bishop, but may be made available for distribution at a later date!)
Monday, Evening Prayer and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, April 06, 2020 4:00pm
Holy Thursday, Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, April 9, 2020 – 7:30pm
Good Friday, Celebration of the Lord’s Passion, April 10, 2020 – 3:00pm
Easter Vigil, April 11, 2020 – 8:00pm – Holy water fonts are to remain empty. RCIA sacraments will be re-scheduled.
Easter Sunday, Holy Mass, 10:00am
Available services from The Church of The Sacred Heart, South Plinfield.
Traditional devotions during this week include the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary and the Stations of the Cross. These can be viewed online at churchofthesacredheart.net at your convenience. See also the attached PDF for details on praying the Stations of the Cross at home.
Holy Thursday, April 9 – Daily Prayer of the Church (Morning, Evening and Night Prayer) is available at our website, churchofthesacredheart.net
Good Friday, April 10 – Morning Prayer of the Church is available at our website, churchofthesacredheart.net
Holy Saturday, April 11 – Morning Prayer of the Church is available at our website, churchofthesacredheart.net
Easter baskets will NOT be blessed this year.
Easter Sunday, April 12 – The Mass of the Resurrection will be live streamed from our church and can be viewed online at churchofthesacredheart.netat 10:00 AM.
The Ecumenical Sunrise Service that normally takes place at Spring Lake Park will move to our own front doors. The brief prayer and more details will be available at the parish website, and in the Observer.
The church doors will actually be locked for the Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday) and Easter Sunday to keep people from gathering. Stay home, Stay safe. The Easter Season is fifty days and please God before Pentecost we will be back to celebrate joyfully and properly decorate the church at that time as well.
