'A Beacon of Truth In a Culture That Has Lost Its Way'

in Chesteer

Bethlehem Hermitage celebrates 40 years as place of peace

CHESTER  Nestled in southern Morris County’s rustic landscape, the Bethlehem Hermitage here celebrated 40 years of serving the Paterson Diocese as a “place of peace and prayer” for guests and the residing hermits and, more broadly, of shining as “a beacon of truth in a culture that has lost its way” during a well-attended anniversary Mass on Oct. 31 at St. Lawrence the Martyr Church, also in Chester.

The main celebrant of the 10 a.m. Mass was retired Auxiliary Bishop Dominic Marconi of Newark and was concelebrated by more than a dozen priests from the diocese and religious orders, including from the hermitage, which is located on Pleasant Hill Road here. They included “Desert” Father Eugene Romano, the hermitage’s founder; Father Mariusz Koch of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, who oversees Bethlehem part-time; and Father Nicholas Bozza, St. Lawrence’s pastor. Also in attendance were many clergy, religious and laity, who have prayed at the hermitage over the years, as well as benefactors and volunteers.

“On this 40th anniversary of Bethlehem Hermitage, we give thanks to God for the many blessings for those who have come for retreats,” Bishop Marconi said at the start of Mass, which concluded with a slide show of the history, people and events of the hermitage.

Founded March 5, 1975, Bethlehem Hermitage sits on 18 acres of land and consists of several small wooden cottages. Each of the five hermits here lives in his or her solitary cabin, combining hours of work with hours of prayer. The hermitage has cottages for guests and also houses a central building with a chapel.

“Today, we thank God for his blessings over these 40 years — his generosity, kindness, protection and providence and the good people, who have made Bethlehem a place of peace and the treasure that it is,” said Father Koch, who credited Father Romano for following God’s providence and the Holy Spirit’s guidance as a young man in “dreaming a great dream.” “Bethlehem is a place of miracles for priests, religious and laity. It’s not only a place to find God, but also a place to be found by God. It’s a place to find peace of heart. It’s a place to let go of the hurt and begin again and to listen to God in the silence and clearly hear his will,” the priest said.

In his Plan for Bethlehem Hermits, Father Romano wrote: “The Hermit of Bethlehem is not in isolation but in communion with the Body of Christ with the serious responsibility to pray for the Church.” Later, he remarked that a hermit is “a servant of the Church who stands in the presence of the triune God, seeking life of greater separation from the world, of unceasing prayer and penance in the silence of solitude for the praise of God and the salvation of the world.”

For the hermits, each day begins at 4 a.m., with several hours of prayer and worship, including Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in their individual hermitages and Mass in the chapel. The hermits eat their meals in solitude, except on Sundays and solemnities when they gather for the main meal, said Father Romano, who now lives at St. Joseph Home for the Elderly, Totowa.

The prayerful peace and silence of the hermitage serves as “an antidote to the ceaseless chatter of our culture.” It also enables faithful to join in the fight against Satan and efforts to address the breakdown of the values in society, said Father Koch, who called “Bethlehem a beacon of truth in a culture that has lost its way.”

Although unable to attend the 40th anniversary Mass, Bishop Serratelli because of prior commitments, he sent a greeting that was read after the liturgy. He congratulated Bethlehem Hermitage for being involved in “a life of unceasing prayer, obedience, and penance; for serving “the spiritual needs of the people of the diocese;” and for hermits, who witness to the hermitical life.”

Father Romano addressed the congregation after Mass, proclaiming, “My heart is filled with love for each of you.”

“Thank you for celebrating this special day. The Lord has been good to us. God has been working in Bethlehem. We would not be here today if not for your generosity, talents and time. This is the work of the Church and you are the Church,” said Father Romano, followed by a standing ovation.

Before walking out of St. Lawrence, one churchgoer, Walter Michura, along with his wife, Theresa, noted that they live around the corner from the Bethlehem Hermitage and enjoy its “silence and solitude.”

“It [spending time at the hermitage] has deepened my faith and is a chance to get away from the maddening crowd,” said Walter Michura, who has been friends with Father Romano, since they were young men.

In 1974, Bishop Lawrence Casey approved the establishment of a “Desert House of Prayer.” Seven years after the hermitage’s founding, Father Romano envisioned a community of dedicated and consecrated men and women who would lead a vowed, “desert lives” of prayer, silence and solitude. In 1997, Bishop Emeritus Rodimer canonically elevated the community to that of a “Laura (colony) of Consecrated Hermits of Diocesan Right.”

The hermitage’s influence has extended well beyond the diocese’s boundaries. As a “consultant,” it has helped hermitages in other dioceses — in the U.S. and around the world, Father Romano told The Beacon 10 years ago for Bethlehem’s 30 anniversary. “It’s been a fruitful apostolate of prayer and spiritual guidance.”

One of those faithful whom God called to a life of a hermit is Sister Eucharia Lifieri, who has lived at Bethlehem since 2007. She said her life of solitude and silence “helps me to pray and to focus on God and what’s important in life.”

“All that time of peace and quiet before the Blessed Sacrament is powerful. There, I beg for God’s mercy to be showered on the world. I believe that I’m helping to make the whole world a better place,” said Sister Eucharia.