By Mary Stadnyk | Associate Editor

“Jesus tries to teach us that we are not the masters of our own lives or our own vocations,” said Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli to Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., and 160 priests of the Trenton Diocese during the annual Convocation of Priests.

Instead, Bishop Serratelli said, “We are the administrators of the gifts given to us by God and we are to use those gifts” as a means for giving glory to God.

Photo Gallery: Annual Convocation of Priests 2018

Bishop Serratelli of the Paterson Diocese was invited to serve as the keynote speaker for the annual diocesan Convocation of Priests held Sept. 11-13 in Galloway. Hosted by the diocesan Office of Clergy and Consecrated Life, the convocation provides a time for the priests to hear presentations from a guest speaker, gather for Mass and other prayer experiences such as Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, and enjoy time in fellowship.

Occasions to Pray, Reflect

Convocation attendees had an opportunity to gather for the celebration of two Masses; the first Mass Sept. 12 by Bishop O’Connell and the second Mass Sept. 13 by Msgr. Thomas N. Gervasio, diocesan vicar general.

Looking to the Gospel about how Jesus ministered to a great multitude of people and his proclaiming the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Plain, the Bishop incorporated its message into his homily on the life and ministry of a priest.

While human life “makes us as priests spiritually vulnerable, it also creates an opportunity for God to work in our lives,” Bishop O’Connell said, explaining that “when all is well, it’s human nature to become self-satisfied, complacent, it’s easy to skip saying our prayers and we feel we can do without God.” However, when the needs become greater, Bishop O’Connell said that “in those times, we realize we need God.”

“In these days of pain, suffering, anger, confusion, sense of scandal in our Church, remember the one who looks at you, not at you from the mountain, but the plain,” Bishop O’Connell reminded his men. “Reflect on his words… We can’t live without his Gospel.”

Bishop Serratelli also used Scripture in offering the Trenton clergy words of encouragement and inspiration on what it means to live a priestly life and the importance for a priest to maintain an active spiritual life.

Bishop Serratelli gave some practical applications on Jesus’ parable about the house built on a rock foundation and the house built without such a foundation then teased out the Scriptural allusions within the parable and showed how Jesus “is telling us that he himself is to be the very foundation and center of our lives, because he is God.”  Bishop Serratelli, in exploring the Parable of the Rich Fool who keeps storing up treasures for himself and then dies alone, said that in this parable, Jesus reworks traditional wisdom and “his portrait of an individual totally isolated and cut off from everyone else, completely self-absorbed, is the antithesis of the priest.” Bishop Serratelli, in referring to Jesus’ very first healing of a leper, explained how the miracle “is a challenge for all of us to come to Jesus each day like the leper – aware of our own brokenness and sinfulness and trusting in him to make us whole.”

Growing As Brothers

Priests agreed they enjoyed attending the annual convocation, especially having quality time to spend together.

“This year I was struck by the need for solidarity,” said Father James O’Neill, pastor of St. John Parish, Lakehurst. “With the present crisis in the Church, the need for priests to gather together and with our Bishop is even greater. We’re not alone. We’re in this together. We can then take this solidarity in the presbyterate back to our parishes and promote solidarity between clergy and laity. In our parishes, we are not alone. We help each other on this journey to the father’s house.”

Father O’Neill noted how Bishop Serratelli and Bishop O’Connell emphasized the need for the priests to stick close to Jesus.

 “Bishop Serratelli gave us great insight into the Scriptures including the message Jesus communicated that he is our rock, our foundation,” said Father O’Neill. “I’m also grateful for all that Bishop O’Connell is doing for the people of our Diocese and for us priests. Let’s pray for him and help him.”

Being that there are many one-priest parishes and the priests live alone, or perhaps with one other priest, “it is invaluable to gather once a year to be together to celebrate the Sacred Mysteries, to share in fraternity and to be elucidated on various topics by expert speakers,” said Father Joel Wilson, administrator of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Maple Shade.

“Bishop Serratelli shared his erudition and pastoral sensibility with us, truly a gift to hear and know him,” said Father Wilson, who added that at this year’s convocation, he found “the joy and solidarity among my brother priests to be the most refreshing, especially during these trying times.

“We are hopeful and confident that the Lord guides the Church and that she will remain true to him,” he said.

Bishop Serratelli said the time he spent with Bishop O’Connell and the priests at the convocation was something he “thoroughly enjoyed.”

“There was an obvious sense of fraternity and mutual support,” said Bishop Serratelli, who went on to describe Bishop O’Connell as being “an extraordinary man.

“Gifted with keen intellect and an attractive preaching style, he can touch the mind and the heart at the same time. His upbeat spirit spills over and lifts others up.”

“This was a great time to be together, as it always is, but this year due to the heaviness of the scandals, the waning of engagement in organized religion by so many, the polarization within our country and our Church, I found it heartening and affirming to be with my brother priests and to support them, listen to them and simply enjoy them,” said Franciscan Father Gabriel Zeis, diocesan vicar for Catholic Education, as he reflected on his three-day experience. Smiling when he said that the convocation was “time well spent, but time too short,” Father Zeis added, “We are so very blessed to have a truly wonderful community of priests serving this Diocese. They would not call themselves ‘holy,’ but it shines through them in so many tremendous ways.”