By Mary Stadnyk | Associate Editor
Throughout Lent, Catholics in Mercer County had a chance to spiritually refresh themselves with visits to different parishes. They gathered for Mass, shared faith, learned some history and built upon a tradition as a community of believers.
This longtime Lenten custom is called the Station Churches of Mercer County, an initiative replicating a longstanding Roman tradition that traces its roots to the late second and early third centuries: Catholics inviting others to visit their churches and participate in evening Mass during Lent.
PHOTO GALLERY: Station Church Mass in Sacred Heart Church, Trenton
This year, snow and ice caused cancellation of some of the evening Masses. In all, participants visited 16 parishes, with their pilgrimage culminating at the annual Chrism Mass celebrated March 30 in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold.
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., celebrated a Station Church Mass March 12 at Sacred Heart Church, Trenton. In his homily, he reflected on the effort it took for pilgrims to visit the various churches.
“As we move more deeply into this holy season of Lent, the Word of God today invites us to look honestly at the condition of our hearts,” the Bishop said.
“Lent is not simply a time of external practices; it is a time of interior listening,” he added. “The question placed before us is ‘Are we truly listening to the Lord, or have our hearts grown resistant to his voice?’”
Extending a welcome
Participating parishes offered various forms of hospitality. Before the Mass in Sacred Heart Church, parishioner Sally Lane shared with the pilgrims highlights of her parish’s more than 200-year history, noting that her parish is the oldest in New Jersey.
Lane said she appreciated the idea of the Station Churches of Mercer County pilgrimage experiences.
“We’re encouraged to use Lent as a time of self-examination and deepening of faith,” she said. “Sharing worship in different communities fits with that search for renewal.”
Msgr. Dennis A. Apoldite, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish and episcopal vicar of Mercer County, invited county churches to participate during Lent. He created a schedule of evening Masses to be held at responding parishes.
Msgr. Apoldite said he got the idea after Msgr. Emilio Cardelia, pastor of the former St. Joachim Parish in Trenton, shared experiences of participating in Station Churches in Rome in 1925, when he studied in Rome.
Lucy Gargione, a member of St. Ann Parish, Lawrenceville, also grew up in St. Joachim.
“Now I have an opportunity to experience the Station Church pilgrimage through visiting the different parishes in Mercer County” each Lent, said Gargione, a member of St. Ann Parish, Lawrenceville.
“It’s wonderful to see the very beautiful churches in our county. I’ve come to learn more about the parishes and appreciate celebrating our faith with others,” she said.