A year in the making, multi-parish mission with well-known evangelist continues May 10-11
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
This article will appear in its entirety as part of a multiple story package on Faith in Our Future initiatives in the Diocese of Trenton in the May 18 issue of The Monitor.
By Rose O’Connor
Correspondent
Ask many who attended the first of a four-day, multi-parish retreat May 8 with evangelist Father Larry Richards, and the answers were the same: “I am blessed.”
“It was great. It was awesome. He met people where they are tonight, and you can feel the positivity; it just resonated from the people,” said Rosemary Constable of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Hightstown.
Constable was one of more than 1,000 who attended the “God’s Love and Prayer” presentation given by Father Richards in St. Gregory the Great Parish Church, Hamilton Square. The charismatic teacher and public speaker synonymous with his EWTN radio programs “Open Line” and “The Reason for our Hope” was invited to speak May 8-11 as part of a mission retreat that stemmed directly from the Faith in Our Future process. It is being sponsored by the parishes of Cohort 6: St. Gregory the Great, Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony, Hamilton; St. John the Baptist, Allentown; St. Raphael-Holy Angels, Hamilton, and St. Vincent De Paul, Yardville.
The mission continues May 10 and 11 with the topics “Passion of Christ and the Need for Confession” and “Adoration and Healing,” respectively.
Among the many who attended the mission was Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., who also shared his praise of Father Richards and the Cohort parishes who worked so hard to bring the message of Christ’s love to the people in the Diocese of Trenton.
"I was thrilled to be a participant in the first evening of the parish mission for the five parishes of Cohort 6,” said Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., who attended the May 8 mission. “St. Greg’s was packed – standing room only. Father Larry Richards was marvelous, truly inspiring.
“This evening was a great example of ‘what can be’ when we collaborate and work together in our cohorts with ‘Faith in Our Future’ in the Diocese of Trenton.”
Noting the Cohort 6 parishes had been planning the mission since July 2016, Brian McGrath, a Core Team member from St. Gregory the Great Parish, said, “We thought about how we can work together, how to get everyone re-energized and on fire with their faith. The planning team used all of their talents in presenting the mission with Father Larry.”
Those in attendance certainly were re-energized after the first night, which delivered strategies to pray more effectively using Scripture to ultimately develop a more meaningful relationship with Jesus.
“Prayer is a dangerous thing,” Father Richards said with a smile. “It may change you.”
He offered an opportunity for prayer and reflection and stressed throughout the evening God’s love for all. “God who knows you the most, knows all of our flaws, loves you the most.”
He encouraged the faithful to spend time with their Bibles to see God’s love and to stay with the Scriptures until “you know you are loved.”
As people left for the evening, stopping for pictures and taking selfies with Father Richards, the sense of knowing they are loved was certainly felt.
“We need to let that sink in – just how much God loves us,” said Margaret Maurio from Our Lady of Sorrows- St. Anthony Parish.
While there were more than 1,000 people in attendance, she acknowledged she was pleased to have attended the talk with members of her faith community. “It was still very intimate.”
John Peruggia, a member of St. Gregory the Great Council, Knights of Columbus Council, encouraged anyone who was thinking of the attending the mission to certainly do so. “Drop everything you’re doing, and don’t miss out on this opportunity,” he implored.
Kathleen Chaconis of St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish agreed. “We’ll be here every night this week,” she said of her and her husband.
The parish mission continues at 7 p.m. May 10 and 11 at St. Gregory the Great Parish, whose main church can seat 1,000 people, with a simulcast offered for additional seating available for 100 people in the adjacent chapel and in the parish center. The parish has accommodations in place to provide and devices to assist the hearing-impaired.
The event is free, though attendees are asked to bring a non-perishable food item to support the food bank at St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish.
St. Gregory the Great Church is located at 4620 Nottingham Way, Hamilton Square.
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This article will appear in its entirety as part of a multiple story package on Faith in Our Future initiatives in the Diocese of Trenton in the May 18 issue of The Monitor.
By Rose O’Connor
Correspondent
Ask many who attended the first of a four-day, multi-parish retreat May 8 with evangelist Father Larry Richards, and the answers were the same: “I am blessed.”
“It was great. It was awesome. He met people where they are tonight, and you can feel the positivity; it just resonated from the people,” said Rosemary Constable of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Hightstown.
Constable was one of more than 1,000 who attended the “God’s Love and Prayer” presentation given by Father Richards in St. Gregory the Great Parish Church, Hamilton Square. The charismatic teacher and public speaker synonymous with his EWTN radio programs “Open Line” and “The Reason for our Hope” was invited to speak May 8-11 as part of a mission retreat that stemmed directly from the Faith in Our Future process. It is being sponsored by the parishes of Cohort 6: St. Gregory the Great, Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony, Hamilton; St. John the Baptist, Allentown; St. Raphael-Holy Angels, Hamilton, and St. Vincent De Paul, Yardville.
The mission continues May 10 and 11 with the topics “Passion of Christ and the Need for Confession” and “Adoration and Healing,” respectively.
Among the many who attended the mission was Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., who also shared his praise of Father Richards and the Cohort parishes who worked so hard to bring the message of Christ’s love to the people in the Diocese of Trenton.
"I was thrilled to be a participant in the first evening of the parish mission for the five parishes of Cohort 6,” said Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., who attended the May 8 mission. “St. Greg’s was packed – standing room only. Father Larry Richards was marvelous, truly inspiring.
“This evening was a great example of ‘what can be’ when we collaborate and work together in our cohorts with ‘Faith in Our Future’ in the Diocese of Trenton.”
Noting the Cohort 6 parishes had been planning the mission since July 2016, Brian McGrath, a Core Team member from St. Gregory the Great Parish, said, “We thought about how we can work together, how to get everyone re-energized and on fire with their faith. The planning team used all of their talents in presenting the mission with Father Larry.”
Those in attendance certainly were re-energized after the first night, which delivered strategies to pray more effectively using Scripture to ultimately develop a more meaningful relationship with Jesus.
“Prayer is a dangerous thing,” Father Richards said with a smile. “It may change you.”
He offered an opportunity for prayer and reflection and stressed throughout the evening God’s love for all. “God who knows you the most, knows all of our flaws, loves you the most.”
He encouraged the faithful to spend time with their Bibles to see God’s love and to stay with the Scriptures until “you know you are loved.”
As people left for the evening, stopping for pictures and taking selfies with Father Richards, the sense of knowing they are loved was certainly felt.
“We need to let that sink in – just how much God loves us,” said Margaret Maurio from Our Lady of Sorrows- St. Anthony Parish.
While there were more than 1,000 people in attendance, she acknowledged she was pleased to have attended the talk with members of her faith community. “It was still very intimate.”
John Peruggia, a member of St. Gregory the Great Council, Knights of Columbus Council, encouraged anyone who was thinking of the attending the mission to certainly do so. “Drop everything you’re doing, and don’t miss out on this opportunity,” he implored.
Kathleen Chaconis of St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish agreed. “We’ll be here every night this week,” she said of her and her husband.
The parish mission continues at 7 p.m. May 10 and 11 at St. Gregory the Great Parish, whose main church can seat 1,000 people, with a simulcast offered for additional seating available for 100 people in the adjacent chapel and in the parish center. The parish has accommodations in place to provide and devices to assist the hearing-impaired.
The event is free, though attendees are asked to bring a non-perishable food item to support the food bank at St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish.
St. Gregory the Great Church is located at 4620 Nottingham Way, Hamilton Square.
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