Priests gather at shore to rekindle Spirit
By Chris Donahue
Staff Writer
Seeking ways to become more effective ministers for their respective parishes as well as build esprit de corps, about 130 priests from the diocese gathered for a series of workshops and discussions in Rekindling the Flame, Priest Convocation 2004.
The event was held in Ocean Place Conference Resort & Spa, Sept. 26-28.
The goal of the convocation is to provide new insights through a variety of voices, so that when priests return to parish meetings, Masses and the daily tasks of parish life, they might face those tasks more energized and renewed in the Holy Spirit, said Father Gregory E.S. Malovetz, coordinator of the event and pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Skillman.
Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski was among the guest speakers who included: Msgr. Lorenzo Albacete, a physicist and author (rekindling the spirit of priesthood); Father Eugene Lauer, director of the National Pastoral Life Center in New York City (spirituality for ministry and discussion about the priesthood and the diocese); Dr. Patricia Kelly, director of Kelly Counseling and Consulting Services (personal wellbeing and dealing with stress); Msgr. Joseph Champlin, rector of Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, Syracuse, N.Y. and columnist (rekindling pastoral ministry, coping with the demands of parish life); Dominican Father Peter John Cameron, editor-in-chief of Magnificat (the challenge of preaching, reenergizing homilies), and Dr. James Jordan, professor of Westminster Choir College of Rider University, Princeton (meeting the role of liturgical presiders, renewed energy and focus).
In his speech to close the convocation, Bishop Bootkoski said the diocese will be more effective if its clergy works together and supports each other.
“This convocation experience has been positive, uplifting; the topics and presenters were very timely, the setting was just beautiful, and the time to be with each other was enriching and beneficial,” the bishop said.
The bishop discussed the divisiveness in early Christianity caused by the way the apostles Peter and Paul each thought followers of Christ should act, but how differences can be put aside for the greater good.
Bishop Bootkoski said that by working together, “God becomes incarnate through our human relationships.”
Stressing the need to work together through conflict rather than picking up one’s marbles and going home, the bishop said: “Home is here, the diocese. We do have our differences, personality enters into it. Sometimes the communication isn’t as great as it should be. But I know how hard so many of you work. I lived as a parish priest. I was a pastor ... I have an obligation to minister for the diocese, but also for the Church.
“Without you, there is nothing, so you are so essential to our ministry because the Eucharist is so important. Make it your uppermost concern.” Voice of Experience — Msgr. John R. Torney, who turns 94 Oct. 16, provides homily in Mass. Msgr. Torney, pastor emeritus of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Bernardsville, was ordained in 1936.
Noting that the diocese only has seven seminarians, Bishop Bootkoski asked priests to be more visible, especially after Masses, so that a young man who has an interest in the vocation might be encouraged to approach him. Priests should also encourage young men to enter the life.
“We need new laborers in the vineyard,” the bishop said. “Please help me make Christ real in our Church. Let us rekindle the flame.”
The bishop then celebrated a Mass in which Msgr. John R. Torney, pastor emeritus of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Bernardsville, in his homily, reflected on how prayer can help “rekindle the flame in retirement” and the joys and difficulties for priests no longer active at the parish level.
“It’s (retirement) a traumatic moment in your life,” Msgr. Torney said. “If you’re in a parish for a long time, the people get to know you so well. They know all of your nuances, your moods, when you’re happy and when you’re not happy. It’s pretty difficult to separate yourself from them because as they’ve grown to love you, you’ve grown to love them.”
Among the joys of retirement is having more time to pray, the foundation of priestly life, which provides time to absorb and relish the words he learned so long ago, Msgr. Torney said.
Music ministry for the Mass was provided by Thomas DeLessio, diocesan director of music, and Daria Dragan.
Father Alexander A. Carles, a parochial vicar in Immaculate Conception Parish, Somerville, said the convocation was good opportunity to hear presenters who spoke from the heart.
“Their experience is from their work knowledge, they weren’t just lecturing you,” Father Carles said. “You see different ways of how to treat people and how to care for people. But mostly, they were very kind people, very sincere and very honest and provided new ways of thinking.”
Father John P. Alvarado, pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, South Plainfield, described the convocation as an “excellent” one, which provided “a lot of things for me to think about personally and how things can be applied both to my own priesthood and the people in the parish.”
The gathering allowed participants to “step outside the circle for a little bit with new faces and a new way of saying something. It just kind of brings us back to focus on what we’ve been doing, most of us for a long time, but able to see it from another perspective. That’s a healthy thing, that’s growth and that’s positive,” Father Alvarado stated.
*The attached/referenced article was originally published in The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, and is protected under U.S. and international copyright law