By Mary Stadnyk | Associate Editor

The phrase “united in Christ” that’s boldly printed on either side of the large Crucifix in the sanctuary of St. Michael Church, Trenton, took on added meaning Oct. 18.

In the congregation, a diverse population of women, men and children from the English-speaking community of St. Ann Parish, Lawrenceville, along with members of the Slovak and Korean communities who worship in St. Michael Church, came together for a tri-community Mass celebrated by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M.

“In the theology and teachings of the Church, the Bishop is the symbol of unity,” said Bishop O’Connell. “It is a great pleasure for me as your Bishop to be with you and celebrate the central prayer of our faith, the Eucharist.”

The gathering of the three diverse cultural communities traces its origins to 2005 when St. Michael Church was assumed by St. Ann Parish as a result of the Trenton Ward Study, which was a major study and restructuring process of parishes in the City of Trenton.

The Slovak Catholics has had a presence in the Trenton area since the 1880s and St. Michael Parish, prior to 2005, had served as a worship site for the Slovaks living in the East and North sections of Trenton since it was established in 1921.

While the number of Catholic Slovaks had fluctuated over the years, in 2002, in response to a new wave of Slovak-speaking people moving into the area, Msgr. James Innocenzi, pastor of St. Michael Parish at the time, invited Father Vladimir Chripko from the Slovak Oratory in Sparkhill, N.Y., to begin a new ministry among them.

The Church of the Korean Martyrs was established in 1986 to serve the needs of the Korean-speaking Catholics in the Princeton and Trenton area. The original worship site had been St. Michael Parish, however, the community had relocated two times, worshiping for several years in St. Paul Church, Princeton, and later in Blessed Sacrament Church, Trenton.

In 2006, about a year after St. Ann assumed oversight of St. Michael Parish, the Church of the Korean Martyrs began renting the rectory on the St. Michael campus and, at the invitation of Msgr. Vincent Gartland, pastor of St. Ann Parish, began holding their celebrations of Mass each week in the Korean language in St. Michael Church. Msgr. Gartland, at one point, suggested that the three communities join once a year for a Tri-Community Mass, which has been celebrated almost every year since 2011.

This year, the communities requested that Bishop O’Connell celebrate the Tri-Community Mass, which he did along with Trinitarian Father Gerard Lynch, current pastor of St. Ann Parish, and Father Peter Bujdos, who ministers to the Slovak community, and Father Siyoung Kim, who ministers to the Korean community. Music was sung and parts of the Mass were celebrated in English, Slovak and Korean.

Keeping with the theme of unity in his homily, the Bishop spoke of the “beautiful” history of the United States and how it was established as a result of people from other countries coming to live in America and forming a new society and creating a new culture.

Turning to the day’s Gospel passage, Bishop O’Connell spoke of how James and John began to question Jesus on what they would achieve by being his apostles.

James and John wanted a guarantee from Jesus that they would receive power and positions of authority, said Bishop O’Connell. Jesus, however, let James and John down easy telling them that being an apostle is not about obtaining power and glory, but is about “being of service.”

“Forget glory, power and ambition,” said Bishop O’Connell, and, instead, “see to serve one another, take care of one another. That is what brings us true happiness.”

Following the Mass, Bishop O’Connell and the parishioners convened in the church hall and feasted on homemade Korean and Slovak dishes.

Mark Rim, a member of the Korean Catholic community for 20 years, said he appreciates having Mass and Sacraments celebrated in his native language and sees membership in the community “slowly expanding.” He added that he would enjoy attending more tri-communal celebrations throughout the year.

While Michaela Partika, who was with her almost three-year-old daughter, Giuliana, concurred saying that she too would enjoy having the three communities come together more often.

“We may be of different cultures and races, but that shouldn’t matter,” said Partika. “We are here to celebrate God together because ultimately, we are all one.”