Year of Mercy

Bishop celebrates Year of Mercy Mass for the school community of the diocese at Clifton church

CLIFTON  Bishop Serratelli started the Jubilee Year of Mercy for the diocesan Catholic school community with a special Mass on Dec. 10 in St. Philip the Apostle Church here and with a special message to students, administrators and teachers — along with all local faithful: follow Pope Francis’ suggestion to use this “extraordinary time” to ask for God’s forgiveness and extend that mercy to others.

Students and educators from the elementary schools and high schools in the Diocese filled St. Philip’s for the 10:30 a.m. Mass for the Year of Mercy, which Pope Francis, who declared the Holy Year, opened for the universal Church on Dec. 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, in Rome. Bishop Serratelli served as the main celebrant and homilist of the diocesan liturgy, which was concelebrated by many priests — including several, who serve these schools or parishes that sponsor schools — and was coordinated by the diocesan School Office.

“As we gather to enter into the spirit of the Jubilee of Mercy, we avail ourselves of the great gifts God gives us: the gift of His Word, the Eucharist and Reconciliation — and the opportunity to serve one another in love,” said Bishop Serratelli in his opening remarks for the Mass.

The special liturgy featured participation from across the diocesan school community. Rob Loia, principal of Morris Catholic High School, Denville, proclaimed a Scripture reading. Students from the Academy of St. Elizabeth, Convent Station; St. Brendan School, Clifton; All Saints Academy, Parsippany; St. Catherine of Bologna School, Ringwood; and Villa Walsh Academy, Morristown, read the Prayers of the Faithful, including many intentions for the Year of Mercy. Students from St. Philip the Apostle School, Clifton; Rev. George A. Brown Memorial School, Sparta; Delbarton School, Morristown; and DePaul Catholic High School, Wayne, presented Bishop Serratelli with the Offertory Gifts. A combined choir, composed of students from Morris Catholic and Pope John XXIII Regional High School, Sparta, led the congregation in songs of praise.

“We are here to celebrate Mass for the Year of Mercy, a special time of grace that turns our minds and hearts to God, Who is waiting with open arms to embrace us with His love,” said Mary Baier, diocesan school superintendent, before the start of the Mass.

In his homily, Bishop Serratelli noted that the God, Who created the entire world “in all its beauty and harmony” and “sustains all of us in life,” always listens to us and waits at the ready to help us, “no matter how small, how insignificant, our problems and difficulties seem to be.”

“This is the meaning of mercy. It is receiving from God what we cannot do — what we cannot get on our own. Ultimately, mercy is God saving us — sending us Jesus, as announced by John the Baptist. In Jesus Christ, there is an overflowing of mercy to each one of us. God loves us and forgives us,” said the Bishop, who urged local faithful to act on two suggestions of the Holy Father’s for the Holy Year: “remember how merciful God always is, forgiving our sin and giving all that we need and in turn, show mercy to others — reaching out and helping those in need around us.”

Toward the conclusion of the Mass, Bishop Serratelli descended St. Philip’s altar, so he could walk up and down the church’s main aisle. There, the Bishop used his humor and affable personality to engage the students by asking them a series of questions about the Year of Mercy, such as “What was the symbolic meaning of the Holy Father’s opening the Holy Doors at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome to open the Holy Year?” One student answered, “The Holy Doors represent the fact that Jesus opens his heart to us.”

“Yes — and that Jesus said, ‘I am the door, the gate.’ Jesus is the only way that we enter into communion with God. When we walk through a Holy Door, we say that we are united with Christ — he is my way to the Father,” said Bishop Serratelli, who urged the faithful to make a pilgrimage to one of the two Holy Doors in the Diocese that he opened on Sunday: one at St. Margaret of Scotland Church, Morristown, and another at Holy Rosary Church, Passaic, home to the diocesan Shrine of St. John Paul II.

During the question-and-answer session, Bishop Serratelli encouraged the young people to think about where God is calling them to a vocation: life as a married person, a priest or religious sister.

“Ask God to enlighten you. If He gives you the call, have the courage to say, ‘yes,’ ” said the Bishop, who also asked members of the school community, during the Holy Year to invite back to the Church someone, who has been away.

After the Mass, Courtney Clifford, a junior at Pope John, remarked, “It was nice to have everyone come together. Because of the Bishop’s words, I will think more about giving mercy to others.”

Among the principals in attendance was Margaret McCluskey of St. Mary’s Prep, Denville, which has embarked on monthly Year of Mercy activities, including a liturgical service, Scripture readings and a service project — as one of many schools in the diocese that have been observing the Holy Year. “Bishop Serratelli engaged the students with humor, questions and references that they would understand, such as social media, at a level that created an understanding,” McCluskey said. “The Bishop’s message was directed toward the students. He said that we need to do things, such as show mercy toward each other and treat others with compassion in our schools, communities and individually. It was a great way to start the Year of Mercy,” she said.