To the Editor:
On behalf of the parish family of St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church, I would like to thank everyone who helped to make our Divine Liturgy of Thanksgiving commemorating the first anniversary of Blessed Miriam Teresa’s beatification on Saturday, October 3, 2015, a wonderful success. There were 100 faithful in attendance. A reception featuring Slavic foods followed.
We would especially like to thank Rt. Rev. James G. Hayer, Archpriest of the Eparchy of Passaic, from St. Thomas the Apostle, in Rahway, NJ, for representing Bishop Kurt Burnette in his absence. Bishop Kurt was called to Rome to take part in the Synod of Bishops on the Family. Very Rev. Marcel Szabo, Pastor of St. John’s, celebrated the Liturgy along with Rev. Peter Wherle, and Rev. Phillip Sanders, from St. Mary, Star of the Sea parish; and Deacon Thomas Shubeck, from St. Thomas the Apostle Church. It was very inspirational and heartwarming to observe the priests from St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church with our Byzantine Catholic priests honoring Blessed Miriam Teresa during this special Liturgy.
We hold the Sisters of Charity very close to our hearts, and thank them for their presence at all the Liturgies we have at our parish in honor of Blessed Miriam Teresa. Sisters in attendance were Sr. Marilyn Thie; Sr. Mary Canavan, Vice Postulator, for the Blessed Miriam Teresa League of Prayer; Sr. Rita O’Farrell; Sr. Mary Pauline Hogan; Sr. Mary Walter Dwyer; and Patricia Lynch, Seton Associate. When the Sisters are present in our parish for the devotions to Blessed Miriam Teresa, the spirituality of the prayers is even more meaningful.
David Kimock, the liturgical music director of the various choirs that sang during the World Meeting of Families and for Pope Francis at the Cathedral Basilica of Ss. Peter and Paul, and the Mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, came back to St. John’s for this special occasion to sing in the choir. His parents, Evelyn and John Kimock, as well as all our parishioners, were overjoyed to see him. We also give thanks to Ken Dilks, our cantor, and the entire choir for a job well done. Fr. John Fencik, from St. Mary’s Orthodox Church, and Fr. Ken Ellis, from Manville, NJ also sang in the choir.
We would also like to thank Carla Aceti, Director of Bayonne Elite Cheerleading, as well as her family members and staff. They helped us tremendously by setting up all the tables, serving the food and beverages, and assisting with the cleanup afterward.
CAROL A. CHAMBERS