News from the Diocese of Metuchen

Navex EthicsPoint is a program providing diocesan and parish employees and parishioners to report suspected financial malfeasance in any of our parishes, schools, cemeteries and diocesan institutions. Options for reporting: 

• Web intake site URL: HTTPS:// DIOMETUCHEN.ETHICSPOINT.COM
• Mobile URL: https:// diometuchenmobile.ethicspoint.com/
• Hotline: 844-796-1296
• QR code (at right)                                                                          

The Reproductive Freedom Act (RFA) S3030 was introduced in the New Jersey State Senate and was referred to the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. If passed, the RFA would codify into New Jersey law the findings of Roe v. Wade, meaning that abortion would remain legal in New Jersey even if the case were overturned by the Supreme Court. The RFA would also strip safeguards and regulations on the abortion procedure, making New Jersey a more dangerous place for women and their unborn babies. The Assembly companion bill is A4848. The Diocesan Office of Human Life & Dignity has been working closely with the New Jersey Catholic Conference (NJCC) on this issue to develop resources and monitor the bill. Here is the link to NJ Catholic Conference's updated Reproductive Freedom Act resource page: https://njcatholic.org/reproductivefreedom-act. Please check this website frequently for updates. Also, please make sure to sign up on the above website to receive action alerts A webinar has been recorded which focuses on providing an overview of the legislation, an update on the bill's legislative status, and suggestions on action steps people can take at this time. We encourage you to watch it so you can understand the radical nature of this measure. The link is here: https:// www.youtube.com/watch? v=kshuo78QZdA&feature=youtu.be For more information contact: [email protected].

This program opens June 15 As announced in February, the Diocese of Metuchen – along with the four other Roman Catholic Dioceses in New Jersey (Newark, Trenton, Camden and Paterson) – established an Independent Victim Compensation Program (IVCP) to compensate those who, as children or young adults, were sexually abused by a priest or deacon of the Diocese. The IVCP will be open to claims beginning June 15 and will conclude on December 31, 2019. All individual claims must be submitted during this period. The state-wide IVCP will be independently administered by Kenneth R. Feinberg and Camille S. Biros, two noted victims’ compensation experts who have nationwide experience in administering varying compensation programs such as the Penn State sexual abuse claims, the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund, and the Boston Marathon bombing compensation fund. The IVCP will handle the submission, evaluation and resolution of individual claims, and will operate independently of the Diocese or any church-affiliated institution. The administrators of the IVCP will have complete autonomy to determine the eligibility of a claim with the guidelines of the established Protocol. The amount of compensation for those who make a claim will be independently determined by the IVCP administrators. All victims – no matter when the abuse occurred – are eligible to participate, and all matters will be handled confidentially. Victims of clergy sexual abuse of a minor can begin the process of utilizing the program by going to www.njdiocesesivcp.com and reviewing the protocol for submitting a claim. The implementation of the IVCP is an important step in aiding victims in seeking justice and healing, and as we journey together as a Church toward a new day. Transparency, justice and truth, remain a top priority for Bishop Checchio, who in a February letter to the Church of Metuchen, said, “As sad as this day is for the Church, I remember daily that God has called me to this diocese, to be here with you and to walk down this road back to Him with transparency, justice and truth to promote healing, confidence and renewal. The challenges the Church faces now may seem daunting, but we must not fear the days ahead; Christ walks with us. Together, we will journey toward a new day. Even though our Church today inherited these problems from the past, we are to be part of the solution to ensure these horrific crimes are never repeated in the future.” Anyone who has been the victim of sexual abuse by a priest of the Diocese is encouraged to participate in the IVCP.

The Hyde Amendment has protected Americans from funding abortion for 45 years. It is credited with saving the lives of over 2.4 million children to date. Now, powerful members of Congress want to take away this law that both Democrats and Republicans have supported for nearly half a century. Without it, billions of taxpayer dollars could go to abortion. That means abortions would be cheaper, easier, and funded with our taxpayer dollars. As Pope Francis has said, “The future of humanity … is fundamentally in the hands of peoples and in their ability to organize.” It is critically important for Catholics to send a strong message before Congress moves forward to impose taxpayer-funded abortions. Because of the incredibly high stakes, Congress needs to hear from a massive number of people. I invite the people of your parish to join our diocesan response to this nationwide effort by the USCCB, set for the beginning of June. The primary goal is for millions of Catholics to sign the petition on NoTaxPayerAbortion.com.

Pray for Vocations
Bishop James F. Checchio recently ordained four men, who are preparing for eventual service to the priesthood, as deacons during a Mass of the Rite of Ordination. Please pray for Deacon Jun Joseph “Jay” Alquiros, Deacon Ariel Bautista, Jr., Deacon Timothy Eck II, and Deacon Gregory Zanetti, as they prepare for the priesthood and please pray for a continual increase of vocations in our Church

O God, Father of all Mercies, Provider of a bountiful Harvest, send Your Graces upon those You have called to gather the fruits of Your labor; preserve and strengthen them in their lifelong service of you. Open the hearts of Your children that they may discern Your Holy Will; inspire in them a love and desire to surrender themselves to serving others in the name of Your son, Jesus Christ. Teach all Your faithful to follow their respective paths in life guided by Your Divine Word and Truth. Through the intercession of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, all the Angels, and Saints, humbly hear our prayers and grant Your Church's needs, through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

75th Anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Join other Catholics and people of good will as we approach the solemn occasion of the 75th anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, with prayers and solidarity. A prayer card and other resources are available at usccb.org/nuclear. Let us pray and act for peace in solidarity with our brothers and sisters around the world, but especially in Japan.

The Office for Persons with Disabilities, Diocese of Metuchen, has a number of donated disability aids on hand which we would be happy to make available to anyone in the parish who might have need of them. They include wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, canes, and porta-potties, plus other items. A complete list of available items has been provided to your parish office. If you have any questions or wish to contact our office directly, please feel free to contact us by phone at 732-765-6432 or via e-mail at [email protected]. To request prayers for yourself or others, please call our 24-hour prayer line: 732-765-6431.

Resources for Persons with Disabilities
Our Diocesan Office for Persons with Disabilities has a Facebook page that provides daily updates with short inspirational reflections for people with disabilities, family members and care givers. The site also provides endless resources for those with physical, emotional, cognitive, visual, auditory and other special challenges. To access our Facebook page (even if you are not a member of Facebook), type the following into your search engine: Diocese of Metuchen Office for Persons with Disabilities
 

How to Report Sexual Abuse
If you were sexually abused by a member of the clergy or anyone representing the Catholic Church, or if you know of someone who was, you are encouraged to report that abuse to law enforcement and/or by contacting the Diocesan Response Officer at 908-930- 4558 (24 hours/7 days a week). For more information on how to report abuse, visit our diocesan website: https://diometuchen.org/healing.

Volunteer to Make Pocket Rosaries for Law Enforcement
The Office of Family Life is pleased to announce the creation of the Blue Rosary Guild. The purpose of the Guild is for community members of all ages to make pocket Rosaries for law enforcement officers, providing them with support and spiritual strength and promoting devotion to the Rosary among all the faithful. All materials and instructions will be provided and a Zoom virtual tutorial will also be scheduled. Anyone interested should contact Cristina D'Averso-Collins, at [email protected].


Saint Peter’s Gianna Center

We are very pleased to introduce you to the St. Peter’s Gianna Center located in New Brunswick, NJ. The Center is dedicated to offering truly prolife women’s health care, including infertility services, general gynecologic care, and more. All services are provided in accordance with the US Catholic Bishops Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services. For more information, please visit: http://www.saintpetershcs.com/GiannaCenter/ or contact us at 732-565-5490.

Spiritual Support Group

Courage is a spiritual support group helping Catholic men and women live in accordance with the Catholic Church’s teaching about same-sex-attraction and discipleship. Courage members strive to develop lives of interior chastity in union with Christ, through participation in the Sacraments, prayer, fellowship and moral support. Courage meets within the Diocese with a priest chaplain. EnCourage is a separate spiritual support group for family members and friends of loved ones with same-sex-attraction. For information about locations and meeting times for each of these groups call: 732-562-2476 for Courage (email: [email protected]) and 732-248 -9460 for EnCourage. Also visit the national website at Couragerc.org. All contacts are confidential.

Diocesan Eucharistic Adoration

Eucharistic Adoration is being held in the chapel at the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center (146 Metlars Lane, Piscataway). Adorers and intercessors are needed Monday through Friday, 9 to 11:45 am. Daily Mass is held at 11:45 am. For info or to volunteer, call Laura at 732-529-7932. To submit a prayer request, call 732- 765-6445 or email [email protected].

Stop Infanticide! Some states are proposing laws to expand abortion AND to repeal laws providing specific protections for babies born alive after surviving an attempted abortion. (In a successful abortion, the life of the baby in the womb is ended and this is never morally acceptable. We continue to promote laws to protect babies in the womb.) A particular piece of legislation—The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (S.311/H.R962), would provide protections nationwide to help prevent newborns from being killed or being left alone to die. Sadly, the United States has failed to pass the Born -Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act which protects babies who survive an attempted abortion from infanticide. But there is still hope for this bill! If the US House of Representatives passes the bill, it would put significant pressure on Senators who voted against the bill to reconsider their vote. Tell your US Representative that ALL new born babies deserve care and a chance for life! Please take Action Now: Tell congress we need stronger laws to protect babies who survive abortion and are born alive. Text ALIVE to 50457 or visit: www.babiesbornalive.com You will receive a reply to the text with a link with a prepared message, you will enter your information and hit “sent.” It only takes 2 minutes!

Donate Your Vehicle to Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen!
Funds from the sale of donated vehicles support our programs for the poor in need across Middlesex, Somerset, Hunterdon, and Warren counties. *Donated vehicles are tax deductible. *Free pick-up is available *Vehicles do not need to be running. Visit www.ccdom.org/cars or call 1-877-999-8322 to get started.

Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen is seeking loving families to foster children of all ages, who have been abused, neglected or have had multiple out of home placements, through its Treatment Family Homes Program, contracted by New Jersey’s Department of Children and Families. The goal for the children is to leave foster care and achieve permanency through reunification with their families, adoption, or independent living. Catholic Charities provides these resilient children with individual and family therapy, assistance with educational and medical needs, and independent living skills to help them reach their full potential. For more information about this program and all the requirements, call Miguelina Nunez at 866-247-4663.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Metuchen is offering Counseling and Wellness Services. If you, or someone you know needs counseling or is impacted by addiction, we can help. Individual and family therapy for children and adults is available. For an appointment, call 800-655-9491.

Discerning the Priesthood?
Are you, or do you know someone, who is considering a vocation to the Priesthood?  For more information about upcoming meetings or if you have any questions, please contact the Office of Vocations at [email protected] or call 732-562-2457.

Father Hillier’s new book: “Breathing Life into the Church: Making Sense of Vatican II”- the proceeds to benefit the Office for Persons with Disabilities. To order contact: Diocese of Metuchen, c/o Rev. John Hillier, P.O. Box 191, Metuchen, NJ 08846 or phone 732-243-4553.

Can You Help? Volunteer drivers are needed for the TAP program (Therapeutic After-School Program), serving children ages 8-11. Drivers will use Agency vehicles to pick up the children at various sites in Somerset County and transport them to Catholic Charities in the Bridgewater location. Hours include M-TH 2- 4pm. Any variation of availability is greatly appreciated! If interested, please contact Therese Zimmer-Farid 908-333-2297

Volunteers Needed for the Senior Shopper Program in Somerset County
If you are seeking to make a difference in the lives of the elderly or disabled, are willing to give 2-3 hours per week and have dependable transportation, then the Catholic Charities Senior Shopper program has the perfect opportunity for you. By purchasing groceries once a week for the elderly in your neighborhood, you can help us to help them remain safely and comfortably in their homes. They provide the money and the shopping list, you provide the shopping and store the groceries in their kitchens. This is a great opportunity for families, as well as adults and retired individuals to make a difference in their community. We ask for a commitment of 12 months. To volunteer, contact Bob Hurte, Senior Shopper Volunteer Coordinator at 908-333-2208 or [email protected]. If you are a senior, and in need of this service, please contact the Somerset County Office on Aging at 908-704-6346 or [email protected] 

24 Hour Prayer Line
Our Diocesan Office for Persons with Disabilities has a 24-hour prayer line for those who desire prayer for special needs. If you, a family member or friend would like to be remembered in prayer for a temporary or permanent illness, please call us and leave a detailed message at 732-765-6431 or email our office at [email protected].

McAuley Hall Health Care Center Fully Alive in Mercy

We are excited to announce that we will be resuming admissions to McAuley Hall Health Care Center in the very-near future! We will continue to follow the recommendations given by the CDC and ask for your patience and understanding as we move through the phases of reopening.

McAuley Hall is a 5 Star rated skilled nursing facility conveniently located off Highway 22 West in the picturesque Watchung Mountains (on the same grounds as Mount Saint Mary High School).
 Comfortably furnished private rooms with shared bathroom
 24-hour nursing care
 Rehabilitation Services: Physical, Occupational, Speech and Restorative Therapy  Social Services
 Psychological Services
 Podiatry Services
 Chapel with Catholic Mass celebrated 6 days/week
 Dining Room and Common Areas
 Menu Style Dining with nutritious restaurant style meal options. All food prepared on premises.
 Rooms available for private gatherings
 Varied activities schedule
 We accept Commercial and Private Pay as well as Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Please call our Admissions Department at 908-754- 3663 Ext. 313 for more information.