Dear Friends,

We received a communication last evening from Bishop Checchio in which we were informed that the public celebration of the liturgies of Holy Week (Palm Sunday and the Paschal Triduum, which includes Easter Sunday) will not take place in the Diocese of Metuchen this year.

It saddens me to tell you this since we had hoped to be back in church for Holy Week. However, the safety and protection of our people from the spread of the COVID-19 virus must, and will continue to be, our first priority.

In accord with with special directives issued by the Holy See, the private celebration of the rites of Holy Week will be live-streamed both from the cathedral church of St. Francis of Assisi in Metuchen, with Bishop Checchio presiding, and from our parish. The parish clergy and staff need to have an internal conversation about how we will do this at St. Peter, but once we have finalized a plan for Holy Week, I will inform you how and when you can watch the live-steam on our social media platforms.

In what will be an extraordinary event, Pope Francis will impart the "Urbi et Orbi" blessing from Rome today at 6PM Roman time, 1:00PM our time. The "Urbi et Orbi", which translates "to the city of Rome and to the world", is only given three times, upon the election of the Pope, and on Christmas and Easter. Today, the Holy Father will stand alone over an empty St. Peter's Square and impart this blessing to the world. This blessing carries with it an indulgence, which is the remission of temporal punishment of sins that are already forgiven; that is, it confers a plenary indulgence under the conditions determined by Canon Law and made explicit by the Catechism of the Church (Nos. 1471-1484).

The conditions for receiving a plenary indulgence are:

• having the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin, even venial sin;
• having sacramentally confessed sins;
• receiving the Holy Eucharist (it is certainly better to receive it while participating in Holy Mass, but for the indulgence only Holy Communion is required);
• prayer for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff.

During these times, the Vatican has determined that the 2nd and 3rd of those conditions can be fulfilled when it again becomes possible. If you can, watch the broadcast of the blessing which can be found on Catholic TV, and on the diocesan website today. Even if you can't watch the event, form the intention to receive the blessing and the indulgence it imparts, and pray for intentions of the Holy Father, especially for the end of this pandemic.

Let us continue to ask Our Lady's intercession for the sick, the dying, and for an end to this global pandemic:

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of God and of the people of Metuchen you always shine on our path as a sign of salvation and hope. We rely on you, Health of the Sick, you who, at the cross, united with Jesus’ pain, keeping steadfast your faith. You, Salvation of God’s people, you know what we need and we are sure that you will provide for us, as at Cana of Galilee, after the adversity of these days, may joy and celebration return. Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform to the will of the Father and to do what we are told by Jesus, who has taken our suffering upon Himself and has burdened Himself with our sorrows to lead us through the cross, to the joy of resurrection. Amen. Under your protection, Holy Mother of God, Our Lady of Guadalupe, we seek refuge, hear our prayer and intercede for us to the Father so that we may be free from every danger, Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.

Servus,
Msgr. Joseph G. Celano
Pastor