‘Connected with God’

Bishop Serratelli encourages staff to ‘empty themselves to receive God’s grace’

CLIFTON  Many distractions in life not only cause us to focus more on ourselves and less on other people, but also can keep us from experiencing the immeasurable joy found in God’s promise of eternal life, Bishop Serratelli told Paterson Diocesan staff, during a Lenten retreat day on Friday, March 18 at the Diocesan Center and the John Paul II Pastoral Center here.

The retreat was held to reminded the diocesan staff “to be connected with God, to pray” and to remember that, in serving the parishes and the people of the Church of Paterson, “none of us is doing it alone.” It’s important for staff to keep that in mind, because “what we do is more than a job; it affects people’s relationship with Jesus,” said Msgr. James Mahoney, diocesan vicar general and moderator of the Curia and pastor of Corpus Christi Parish, Chatham Township, who also spoke, during the retreat.

Bishop Serratelli gave two reflections — one on Gideon, the unlikely leader of the Israelites in Book of Judges, and the rich man, who asks Jesus how to inherit eternal life in the Gospel of Luke — during the retreat in the John Paul II Pastoral Center. Then, the staff walked over to Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Oratory in the Diocesan Center for Benediction and a prayer service.

In the second talk, Bishop Serratelli reflected on the story in Luke 18, when the rich man walks away disappointed after Jesus tells him to sell everything and give to poor to inherit eternal life. The story has a broader message or us: “that pleasure comes from without but joy comes from within,” the bishop said.

“Joy is found in the recesses of a broken and contrite heart,” said Bishop Serratelli, who emphasized the importance of maintaining a relationship with God. “Simply receive God’s grace. That’s the meaning of the Cross: what we can’t afford on our own, Jesus has already done. We need to empty ourselves in order to receive. God warms us and always makes us joyful,” he said.

Bishop Serratelli’s first talk focused Gideon, whom God had chosen to lead the Israelites in battle with their enemy, the much better armed Midianites, who significantly outnumbered them. At first, Gideon was reluctant to accept the job, because of his lack on confidence as a leader. Yet, he would go on to lead a small army of 300 Israelite soldiers to defeat the Midianites by using the element of surprise — attacking them at night, while they slept, the bishop said.

“God works with the weak to confuse the strong,” said Bishop Serratelli, who noted that, today, many Catholics complain about the breakdown of morals, respect for life and the traditional family in the U.S. “God’s response [to those issues] is you. He says, ‘I have sent you into the home and the workplace to change things.’ We must listen for Him in Scripture and in private conversation. Our defeating the evil in society will come from our dependence on Him. We must know, articulate and stand up for the faith,” he said.

During the retreat, Msgr. Mahoney reminded diocesan staff that their ministry — representing the Church and bringing people in touch with Jesus — needs to influence how they treat the parishes and people they serve — and each other.

“Through our ministries, we have the privilege of building up people’s faith and the kingdom of God,” Msgr. Mahoney said. “We need to give people a clear understanding of the Church and the message of Jesus. We need to be more just and merciful. We need to minster to and support each other. If we do that, we will be stronger in serving the people of the diocese,” he said.