Built of living stones: St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish celebrates golden jubilee
By Carolyn Hughes
Correspondent
KENDALL PARK — The solemn Mass of Thanksgiving celebrated by Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski on Sept. 21 marking the 50th anniversary of St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish culminated a full year of prayer and celebrations not only of the gifts of the parish but of the many gifts of the Diocese of Metuchen and the universal Church.
Parishioners and well-wishers packed the church to capacity as the bishop linked the Scripture readings of the day to the joyous occasion and to the everyday lives of Jesus’ followers - all “seekers” of the Lord.
“We are pilgrim people bearing the cross, following Christ, the center of our lives…and so this is a time of jubilation. This is a time of grace. This is a time of coming together and really celebrating as a faith community,” of enjoying the blessings of “laughter, friendship, priesthood, community,” the bishop said.
The parish began 50 years ago “because people said ‘yes,’ we want more than just casual acquaintances, we want the Eucharist,” Bishop Bootkoski said.
“Do you know what you have?” he asked. “You have Jesus Christ! He is alive and well, and as Isaiah said, he is near — he is very near (Isaiah 55:6-9).
“He is right here in the Eucharist. He is right here in community. He is right here in the proclamation of the Scripture…He is so real!” he said.
Referring to the second reading of St. Paul to the Philippians (1:20-24; 27), the bishop continued, “For 50 years, people have put on Christ at St. Augustine’s. That call is still there . . . That is our (call) whether priests or religious or laity.
He expressed gratitude for “…50 years of people seeking and finding the Lord, the Lord of mercy and forgiveness — constantly loving, and never, ever giving up on us.”
Concelebrating with the bishop were pastor Father Robert G. Lynam; Mgsr. John B. Syzmanski, diocesan vicar general emeritus; weekend assistants Father Robert V. Meyers, chief of staff for the president and CEO of St. Vincent’s Hospital and Medical Center, New York City, in residence at Seton Hall University, South Orange, and Father Christopher Hynes, assistant to Newark Archbishop John J. Myers, also in residence in Seton Hall University; former weekend assistant Divine Word Father Martin Padovani, Bordentown; former parish parochial vicar Father Michael G. Krull, pastor, Our Lady of Victories Parish, Sayreville; and Benedictine Father Damian Breen, parochial vicar, Sacred Heart Parish, South Plainfield.
Msgr. J. Michael Alliegro, executive director, Department of Worship and Liturgical Formation and rector, St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral, Metuchen, served as master of ceremonies. Deacons Denis Mayer and Richard McCarron assisted.
Near the conclusion of the Mass, Msgr. Szymanski read the text of a letter from Pope Benedict XVI dated Sept. 8 on the occasion of the parish anniversary. It was signed by Tarsicio Bertone, Vatican Secretary of State, and states in part, “On this joyful anniversary His Holiness gives thanks to Almighty God together with the parish community for the many graces bestowed upon the faithful over the past 50 years through the preaching of the word of God and the celebration of the sacraments, especially the Eucahristic Sacrifice, where the faithful are nourished and strengthened in their faith in the knowledge that they ‘stand before the infinite majesty of God, who comes to us in the lowliness of the sacramental signs’ (cf. Sacramentum Caritatis, 13).
“The Holy Father prays that this commemoration will be for the whole community an occasion of renewed personal commitment to the Lord and to holiness of life in generous love of God and neighbour, particularly those in need, under the guidance of their Pastors.”
In addition, Bishop Bootkoski conferred a papal blessing upon all in attendance at the anniversary Mass.
The parish’s Year of Grace in preparation for the jubilee celebration began with a celebration of the Eucharist on Sept. 14, 2007, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, and concluded Sept. 14, 2008 with a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Celestino Migliore, papal nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations.
Highlights of the year included liturgies honoring the gifts of founding pastor, Father John J. Reilly (1958-78) and second pastor, Msgr. William R. Capano (1979-95); a Mass celebrating the parish’s “Mother Church,” St. Peter the Apostle Parish, New Brunswick; the gifts of Mary and Pope John Paul II with a Marian concert and a special display of artifacts used by the late pontiff; the gifts of St. Augustine of Canterbury School and its religious education program; the gifts of the episcopacy of Bishop Emeritus Edward T. Hughes, of the late Bishop Vincent De Paul Breen and of Bishop Bootkoski; the gift of church vocations and consecrated life; the ordination of parish son Edmund A. Luciano III to the transitional diaconate; the 24th anniversary of Father Lynam’s ordination to the priesthood, and a double “birthday party” marking the 50th birthday of both the parish and Father Lynam.
The Parish Family Ministry, under the volunteer leadership of parish secretary and receptionist Elizabeth DeLuca, was responsible for coordinating the many exceptional receptions that accompanied special liturgies and events.
The parish choirs and music ministries under music director William R. Berg enhanced every liturgy with their gifts of song and praise, including the Golden Jubilee Mass of Thanksgiving.
“The many events of the Year of Grace allowed us a faith community to affirm the blessings of the past, as we embrace our future spiritually invigorated from the many graces received from the Golden Jubilee Mass. Some parishioners stated they didn’t want the Mass to end!” said Father Lynam.
During the Jubilee Mass, Father Lynam unveiled sketches of two stained glass windows that will grace the gathering area.
“So that we may never forget our spiritual ties to the church of Trenton, and the blessings of being part of the church of Metuchen, I sought permission to install two new stained glass windows which will be placed on each side of the front doors of our church,” Father Lynam said.
The window themes are Mary, Assumed into Heaven, patroness of the Trenton Diocese, and the Queenship of Mary, patroness of the Metuchen Diocese. Diocesan crests will be included in the windows.
The Assumption window was donated by parishioner Edward McCarthy in memory of his parents Charles J. McCarthy Sr. and Mary McCarthy; and his brothers and sister, Eugene J. McCarthy, Charles J. McCarthy, Jr. and Catherine Garey.
The Queenship of Mary window was made possible through the generosity of several donors: Knights of Columbus Council 6345; family and friends in memory of parish historian Barbara Muscianesi, who recently died; and by parish member Claire Schuller, in memory of her parents William and Abigail Hough.
Bishop John Smith of Trenton is expected to join Bishop Bootkoski for the formal installation and blessing of the windows in the spring.
Father Lynam noted that with the installation of these windows, the theme of the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary is completed in windows throughout the church.
At the reception in the school following the Mass, parishioners reflected on St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish as a living faith community, both spiritually and socially.
Queenship of Mary stained glass window donor James Muscianesi stated, “It’s a great honor to be part of the parish for at least 38 years. Barbara (his late wife) loved the people of the parish and the pastors. It’s a nice celebration today. It was very special for the whole family to share this honor.”
Several Religious Teachers Filippini who minister in the school and parish shared their thoughts as well. Sister Angelina Pecoraro, who arrived in September 2001, described the jubilee Mass as “very spiritual.” She noted that the reception made it “a good time too.”
“People volunteer and we have many committees. I think this is a wonderful parish for all of that…Of course it is through Father Bob (Lynam) that we have all of this. He’s a great organizer.”
Sister Nicole Welde, who arrived just this year, teaches upper school religion classes. “St. A’s is a very warm and welcoming place. It’s a pleasure to be here. I’m looking forward to a year of grace with my students,” she said.
Sister Barbara O’Kane, a Filippini novice who was a member of the parish adult choir, said, “It’s always great coming back. I love St. A’s. I love the spirit. I love the people. It gives me an energy boost to be here. I always leave with a bigger smile than when I came here.”
Parish family ministry member Kathy Thorpe-Holder, a parishioner since 1973, served as South Brunswick Township clerk before moving to Kendall Park and joining the parish. She recalled interacting with founding pastor Father Reilly through her job.
“I really think (that) it’s Father Bob (Lynam) and what he has done that have really brought the parish together,” she said. “It is the same kind of thing as Father Reilly’s days – the family spirit.”
The celebration continued with a concert in the church Sept. 24, the actual date of the establishment of the parish, with the United Nations Singers and combined parish choirs. A dinner dance Sept. 26 that drew 405 people in the East Brunswick Chateau completed the jubilee celebration.
At the event, Father Lynam distributed copies of a 68-page, full-color, commemorative book commissioned for the golden jubilee titled “Ecclesia: God’s Temple built from living stones (1 Peter 2:4)” by writer/photographer Carolyn Hughes, a long-time parishioner, and Clara Baumann of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Port Reading, a professional graphic designer.
Father Lynam explained in the ad journal’s introductory letter that “Ecclesia” was commissioned “to catechize – to teach not only the faithful of St. Augustine’s, but anyone who may want to know more about our Catholic faith and the significance of the various liturgical appointments of our church.”
Copies of “Ecclesia” are available for $10. For more information, call the parish office at (732) 297-3000.