Evening Prayer closes first diocesan synod
By Kathleen Ogle
Managing Editor
PLAINSBORO — The first synod of the Diocese of Metuchen — and the 25th anniversary celebration of the establishment of the diocese — officially ended Jan. 31 with praise, thanksgiving and prayer for God’s guidance as the synod implementation process gets underway.
Unlike the Solemn Eucharist Inaugurating the Silver Jubilee Year, which formally opened the synod Nov. 19, 2005 at St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral in Metuchen, the synod closing was celebrated with Solemn Vespers at Queenship of Mary Church located among the farms of southern Middlesex County.
The setting was especially fitting since a quarter century prior, on Jan. 31, 1982, when Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick was installed as Bishop of Metuchen, he dedicated the diocese to Mary, its patroness, under the title of Queenship of Mary.
“It’s fitting that we’re here and it’s good that we go from place to place because we are a pilgrim people, whether east or west, north or south. Throughout this wonderful diocese we are all people of God,” Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski said in his homily.
Queenship of Mary Parish, which is celebrating its own 25th anniversary, was one of the first parishes created following the establishment of the diocese. An artist’s rendering of the stained glass dove window above the church’s sanctuary was used to create the synod’s logo.
The dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit, which Bishop Bootkoski said, “motivates each and every one of us as synod people.” Describing the synod as a “wonderful experience” for him personally, he recalled the many delegates who told him throughout the synod sessions how much they enjoyed being part of the process.
He reminded those gathered that the diocese’s mission is to make Jesus present and relevant to the people of God, “people who are hungering for something and they don’t know what it is.”
“We found it; now we can share it,” he said.
The bishop promised those in attendance that the synod process “would not be a labor in vain; it will be something that we will take seriously and together as a faith community will implement.”
He also acknowledged the amount of work it will take to implement the 59 resolutions. “We can’t do it all at once,” he said.
The bishop stated that a Commission for Synod Implementation was being formed and that eventually an office may be established to work with other diocesan offices to implement the norms.
Bishop Bootkoski thanked the many men and women who made the synod happen including the delegates; Msgr. William Benwell, vicar general and moderator of the curia; the members of the Synod Commission; the members of the Topical Commissions; the Speak Up Session facilitators; and the parish historians. The people in the pews responded with applause when Bishop Bootkoski acknowledged the presence of Bishop-emeritus Edward T. Hughes and thanked him for his service to the diocese — which included the dedication of 12 parishes as well as Queenship of Mary Church.
“Tonight is a night of thanksgiving; tonight is night of new beginnings,” the bishop said. “May God’s Spirit be with us as we implement all the good things you have debated and chosen to present to me this evening. God bless you for your work.”
Immediately following the bishop’s reflection, Msgr. Benwell announced the first decree, which promulgated the 59 synodal norms and established a Commission for Synod Implementation.
Representatives of each Topical Commissions then presented the synodal norms to Bishop Bootkoski. The norms were introduced with quotes from Scripture or church documents related to the themes of Clerical and Consecrated Life, Education, Parish Life, Social Justice, Worship and Spirituality, and Unity.
The second decree formally concluded the synod process and thanked and blessed all those who participated in the process.
Queenship of Mary pastor Robert W. Medley and Deacon Bede H.C. Kim served as witnesses as diocesan chancellor Lori Brower Albanese affixed the diocesan seal to the decree promulgating the norms.
The synodal norms are officially promulgated in this issue of The Catholic Spirit (see pages 12-13).
Although Bishop Bootkoski accepted all 59 proposals that were voted on during synod sessions, he did make some revisions to the text and eliminated some specific provisions.
Msgr. John B. Szymanski, diocesan vicar general for planning and pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Old Bridge, said he was pleased with the results of the synod. He described the synod as “another shot in the arm” for the diocese to help it pursue its mission. “We have to refresh ourselves every so often and this is the thing that’s doing it,” he said.
Most of the men and women attending the closing prayer service had served as delegates to the synod. Erin Jones of Sacred Heart Parish, New Brunswick, recalled how excited she was when Bishop Bootkoski announced that the diocese would have a synod. “It was an incredible feeling” to be nominated as a delegate representing her parish, she said. She said she was particularly pleased with the norm that changes the name of the diocesan Office of Pro-Life Activities to the Respect for Life Office. “That was very important to me,” she said. “Not only do they work for unborn babies, they are working on issues such as euthanasia and the death penalty.”
Father Edward Puleo, pastor of St. Joseph and St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parishes in Carteret, served as a delegate representing the Arthur Kill Deanery and the Presbyteral Council. He described the enthusiasm he encountered during the synod sessions’ small group discussions as “life-giving” and said he was looking forward to the implementation of the norms.
Dismissing concerns that implementation of the norms would be burdensome to clergy, Father Puleo said the norms instead provide much-needed direction. “A lot of parishes need direction. This is going to give us direction, focus and insight into where we should be going,” he said.
*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