April 2, 2003
The Church is there
With a characteristic deep sensitivity to the spiritual and emotional needs of his flock, Archbishop John J. Myers has reached out to Catholics of the Church of Newark with the nation at war in Iraq.

Hours before war began, the Archbishop acted. He has called upon the clergy to open their churches “to allow people of all faiths to pray during the day and in the evenings.”

In conjunction with the awesome power of prayer, Archbishop Myers also directed parishes to hold special liturgies “to pray that God may grant us strength, and our nation’s leaders wisdom, in the days ahead.” At each Mass, he said, there should be an intercession for “peace, for our troops and all victims.” Regardless of how one feels about the war, everyone can agree on that prayerful plea to the Almighty.

Special emphasis was given by the Archbishop to praying the Rosary as “a source of both healing and strength.”

The Archbishop acted in the context of an acute awareness of the impact of Sept. 11 on the Metropolitan Area.

In addition, Bishop Arthur Serratelli, Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia, declaring “we all share deeply the concern for the safety of American troops now in Iraq, especially for the men and women from our own Archdiocese,” has directed parishes to keep the Archdiocese informed of any information regarding parishioners or family members of parishioners serving in Iraq. We pray for all those in uniform.

In this trying time of anxiety, fear and even anger, the Church of Newark will be there.

Marriage celebrated
The Church of Newark is joining in the joy of couples who have reached major milestones in married life.

With Masses celebrated by Archbishop John J. Myers in the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, those who have answered God’s call to the Sacrament of Matrimony for five and 25 years have already been honored. Those truly blessed with a half century together living in Essex and Union counties were honored this past Sunday. Couples who call Bergen and Hudson counties home will have their Mass this Sunday.

The happy couples are powerful examples of what makes a successful marriage—commitment and fidelity. Unfortunately, both are under attack by a secular society that trivializes marriage.

The holiness and happiness of God’s gift of one another is abundant in the lives of the anniversary couples.

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